The Diamond Conspiracy by Pip Ballentine and Tee Morris

Series: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #4
357 p.
Publisher: Ace
Published: 3/31/15
Source: TBR pile

For years, the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences has enjoyed the favor of Her Majesty the Queen. But even the oldest loyalties can turn in a moment… 

Having narrowly escaped the electrifying machinations of Thomas Edison, Books and Braun are looking forward to a relaxing and possibly romantic voyage home. But when Braun’s emergency signal goes off, all thoughts of recreation vanish. Braun’s street-wise team of child informants, the Ministry Seven, is in grave peril, and Books and Braun must return to England immediately. 

But when the intrepid agents finally arrive in London, the situation is even more dire than they imagined. The Ministry has been disavowed, and the Department of Imperial Inconveniences has been called in to decommission its agents in a most deadly fashion. The plan reeks of the Maestro’s dastardly scheming. Only, this time, he has a dangerous new ally—a duplicitous doctor whose pernicious poisons have infected the highest levels of society, reaching even the Queen herself...

My thoughts:
Another great addition to the series and it starts where the last one left off. This is a series I would suggest you start from the beginning. Not just because of a story arc running through the series but also with the characterization. You really get to know Agents Brawn and Books though the series and each book builds from the last. There is also enough steampunk gadgets for it to make it interesting but not too much tech that you get totally lost. It is a good balance of gadgets and mystery.

For me, this one was a bit more harrowing as the Ministry Seven (a group of street urchins Eliza "adopted") become part of the mystery and not in a good way. They also become more important within the ministry itself. The action is harrowing and while the book is complete and there is a huge twist in the end there is still more of the mystery we need to resolve. In fact, with the twist it feels as if it has almost become important to our duo to really figure out what is going on. It may be the key to Welly's mysterious background. Oh and Welly, will we ever see your full face on the cover of these books? LOL

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It was a good addition to the series and I highly recommend it to those that enjoy steampunk and spy genre books. It has plenty of both within the pages.

Bloggy PS

Lookie what I got! :)

I won this on a promo tour for this book.

I know the kiwi came from NZ since they were just there. The ring is also quite comfy and cute in person! Steampunk rules! :D

Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Series: Finishing School #3
304 p.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 11/4/14
Source: NetGalley and Publisher for review

Class is back in session...Sophronia continues her second year at finishing school in style--with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown, of course. Such a fashionable choice of weapon comes in handy when Sophronia, her best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and the charming Lord Felix Mersey stowaway on a train to return their classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspected what--or who--they would find aboard that suspiciously empty train. Sophronia uncovers a plot that threatens to throw all of London into chaos and she must decide where her loyalties lie, once and for all.
Gather your poison, steel tipped quill, and the rest of your school supplies and join Mademoiselle Geraldine's proper young killing machines in the third rousing installment in the New York Times bestselling Finishing School Series by steampunk author, Gail Carriger.

My thoughts:
Another great installment to this series. Although the bulk of the mystery happened at the last part of the book, the action was throughout as well as the tongue in cheek world in which Sophronia resides. There is a romantic triangle that has built even more within this series. In this one you might root for one more than the other but you should have no idea who she ends up with in the end. There is this world to consider and not just what the heart wants. Plus, we don't know a lot about both suiters and what might be best for either one in the end as well. I hope we get to know both even more as the series progresses.

In this book I think the characters outshine the mystery and that may not be good for a mystery, but it is good for the series. This is a series where I not only love the main character, but the secondary characters. If you love great secondary characters, you need to read this one. They even have a mechanical dog with a great personality!

I give this latest installment 4 stars. I recommend it to those that love tongue in cheek worldbuilding as well as those that love great characters. YA mystery and steampunk lovers should really pick up this series.

Dawn's Early Light (Minstry of Peculiar Occurances #3) by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Series: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel #3
384p.
Published: 3/25/14
Publisher: Ace
Source: eARC from publisher for review

Working for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, one sees innumerable technological wonders. But even veteran agents Braun and Books are unprepared for what the electrifying future holds…

After being ignominiously shipped out of England following their participation in the Janus affair, Braun and Books are ready to prove their worth as agents. But what starts as a simple mission in the States—intended to keep them out of trouble—suddenly turns into a scandalous and convoluted case that has connections reaching as far as Her Majesty the Queen. 

Even with the help of two American agents from the Office of the Supernatural and the Metaphysical, Braun and Books have their work cut out for them as their chief suspect in a rash of nautical and aerial disasters is none other than Thomas Edison. Between the fantastic electric machines of Edison, the eccentricities of MoPO consultant Nikola Tesla, and the mysterious machinations of a new threat known only as the Maestro, they may find themselves in far worse danger than they ever have been in before…

My thoughts:
 Another great installment in this series. Only question... will we ever see Welly's face on the cover? I love those teases... :D

In this book our duo is shipped to the Americas finally getting some field work which ends up helping their American counterparts in taking down a notorious evil mastermind... Thomas Edison. Okay, well, he isn't completely evil, it's just good business to destroy any and all competition.

There are also many other elements at play here. There is a side mystery with the Prince, Her Majesty, and the notorious House of Usher (which we have seen in the other episodes/series) and a couple of assassins. The blurb has it right, it is quite convoluted indeed. While all these parts, which could become confusing if it went on for much longer, do come together in the end... there are still loose threads. Including one that will go on in the next chapter for our duo. We know they won't get a moment to just find out what is going on between them relationship wise. Still you know that Eliza will press the issue and Welly will try to dodge it, but we do have some answers regarding their relationship in this book.

I don't want to give away too much, but I was satisfied with the story and I really want the next one in my hot little hands now. I'm curious as to where the last thread leads and what personal developments we will have with Eliza and Welly. I give this book 4 stars and if you are looking for a good series with lots of steampunk gadgets, nods to iconic tv and movies, evil and good historical figures and some great interaction between characters, mystery and thrilling spy work do get this book! In fact this series is great in terms of steampunk and spy work. Get it!

Other books in the series:

Phoenix Rising (#1), The Janus Affair (#2)

Bloggy Note:

Last day to enter for some great prizes in this series. Go to the post HERE for deets. US/CAN only.

Wendell Black, MD by Gerald Imber

Standalone
412p.
Publisher: Bourbon Street Books
Available Now
Source: From publisher for review

A New York City police surgeon finds himself in the middle of an international drug-smuggling ring--or is it an even more dangerous conspiracy? 

After a heart-thumping drop in altitude on a flight from London to New York, NYPD police surgeon Wendell Black is called on to try to save a woman who has gone into cardiac arrest. He's just carrying out his duty, but his aid places him at the center of an international drug-smuggling investigation. 

As Black, and his English girlfriend, Alice--a knockout beauty and a surgeon to boot--digs deeper into the activities of the drug ring, he begins to suspect that a number of British doctors are involved. And when one of Alice's colleagues is brutally murdered and Alice suddenly disappears, the NYPD starts looking to Black for answers. His search peels away rings of conspiracy that expose a shocking threat to the nation.

My thoughts:
This is a spy thriller novel set in contemporary times. It's set around Wendell Black a MD in the NYPD. He isn't thrilled with his life as he knows it, but it is comfortable and he has a beautiful cosmetic surgeon girlfriend. He is on a flight from London when turbulence hits and suddenly there is an on-board emergency. The patient is lost, but even though Wendell is perplexed as to why the healthy, young patient died, he goes on with life. When questions arise after the ME examines the body, one strange coincidence builds upon another and suddenly he finds himself in the middle of a drug ring. Still more questions arise as more odd coincidences transpire. It starts looking less like a drug smuggling problem and more like terrorism. Now will anyone believe him.

I think the twists and turns as well as the way the book slowly builds the suspense and mystery would have made a great book. I enjoyed Wendell's character, but found the secondary characters lacking. I think it made the more suspenseful parts of the book weaker. I really didn't enjoy Alice's character. Someone who is supposed to be a surgeon and a spy should know what she is doing. Should be at least strong in mind. When she plays second fiddle to Wendell who has no prior experience with espionage in terms of skill, I had a problem with it. There were times when she suddenly had to capitulate to Wendell's greater observational skills or deductive reasoning, I rolled my eyes a bit. I needed her to be much stronger and even lead HIM by the hand a bit to make the story plausible. However, I totally admit that this might only bother me and it may not bother others at all.

There were also another great secondary character, Duce, who is his best friend. Again I would have liked him fleshed out more which would have brought more to the story. Also, a bad guy, Rodriguez who is part of the DEA could also have used more flesh. He had more time in the book, but still read a bit more like a one dimensional bad guy. Perhaps if there was more reasoning earlier, more nuance as to why he was a jerk to Wendell, it would have amped up the danger surrounding Rodriguez.

I give this book between 2 1/2 and 3 stars. I split it that way because the book is very readable and I did enjoy the twists to the plot. Despite the flaws and I think men in particular would enjoy it since Wendell is easily identifiable.

Impostor (Variants #1) by Susanne Winnacker with Giveaway!

1st in a series
288p.
Available Now
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Media Masters Publicity for review

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

 My thoughts:
This is a variation on the theme of kids finding out they have incredible powers and solving crimes. I usually love those kind of stories and this was no exception.

Tessa is a sensitive young girl who has had a life that was anything less than perfect. Rejected by her parents she finds a sort of home in the government program who identifies and then exploits their talents to solve federal crime, often those with other "variant" powers. Tessa is sent on a mission before she is mentally mature enough to handle the consequences, but decides that catching the killer is more important than her issues with posing as a dead girl. This is where I think the author shines. She does not shy away from Tessa's sensitivity but embraces it and shows how vulnerable this can make her. How this would affect someone who hasn't yet fully developed their own personality first.

As for the rest of it... what happens... you'll just have to read it to find out. *evil laugh*

I do have one niggle that bothered me from a sci-fi POV: How did she absorb scars and environmental "defects" when absorbing the DNA for the shift to another person? This wasn't addressed and I'm quite curious to the explanation. Perhaps I will get it as the series progresses. I hope so!

I give this book 4 stars. I think the mystery was done well, but what shined to me was the characterization. I liked the vulnerability of Tessa and the way she learned to do what was right for herself in the end. I'm so leery of her "handlers" and that is a great thread to have open for the next books in the series. Are the good guys really the good guys? ;) The main mystery is wrapped up so there are no cliffies, only threads that you would expect in a series that can go in several directions. Sign me up for that! :) I recommend it to those that enjoy a fun adventure reminiscent of the X-men.

Where to buy:

* Barnes and Noble

* Amazon

* Indiebound

Hopefully I have peaked your interest because:

Media Masters Publicity is offering this book as a giveaway! It's open to those that have US or Canada snail mail addys! Just fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter:

Headed For Trouble (Troubleshooters #16.5) by Suzanne Brockmann

New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann, whom USA Today calls “the reigning queen of military suspense,” breaks out a rapid-fire collection of pulse-pounding, heart-tugging stories and novellas featuring the intrepid men and women of Troubleshooters Inc., fiction’s hottest ultimate counterterrorism squad. 

• Tough-as-nails Troubleshooters operative Sam Starrett learns the agony of loving someone in danger—and the hell of waiting on the home front—as his wife, Alyssa, hurtles into a foreign hotspot that’s about to boil over. 

• Navy SEAL Frank O’Leary’s ill-fated holiday reunion with his older brother takes a turn for the better—when a chance encounter on a rainy New Orleans street gives Frank a reason to be thankful after all. 

• In a maze of tunnels deep beneath a military base in Germany, Jules Cassidy, Alyssa Locke, and their comrades in arms match wits with terrorists on a mission with explosive consequences. 

Plus more never-before-released adventures featuring Jenk, Izzy, Gillman, Lopez, Kenny, Savannah, and other members of SEAL Team 16—along with Suzanne Brockmann’s exclusive interviews with her beloved characters. 

Looking for the best kind of trouble? You’ve found it!

 This isn't actually a book for me... yet. This is a collection of stories, shorts, that give you a bit more insight to the characters in the Troubleshooters series. I haven't read them, but they are on my wishlist. I think that someone in the same predicament like me should hold off on reading this one, but go ahead and get it. Why? Because a lot of the stories happen early on in the series and you would have this book to fill in some of the gaps or just to enhance what you learned about them. There is a guide as to when these stories fit, so it is a perfect companion to reading the series. Unfortunately for those that haven't quite got to book 1 yet, it doesn't quite fit. You really do need at least some knowledge of the characters to really get into these shorts.

One thing I did discover while reading the shorts is that I do like the women in the stories. Often with romantic suspense the woman is a frail thing needing to be taken care of. While this isn't a horrible story, I tend to usually not like the women as much and they sometimes come off as whiny. In these stories often the women are working along side the men in covert operations or have their own case. These are women who could stand on their own and even save the men on occasion. I do think I will like that when I get into the stories.

I don't want to give the book stars. I think I would better keep the book and reread it when I start up the series. I think that would give me a better handle on the stories within this book.

I received this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers and no compensation for my review was given.

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

Yep, I nominate this nice cover for ToT even though we don't get eyes and the writing is a bit in the way... ;)

Thrill Ride (Black Knights Inc. #4) by Julie Ann Walker

Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux’s job is to get information, and he’s one of the best in the business. Until something goes horribly wrong and he’s being hunted by his own government. Even his best friends at the covert special-ops organization Black Knights Inc. aren’t sure they can trust him. He thinks he can outrun them all, but his former partner—a curvy bombshell who knows just how to drive him wild—refuses to cut him loose. 

She Won't Back Down 

Vanessa Cordova hasn’t been the team’s communication specialist very long, but she knows how to read people—no way is Rock guilty of murder. And she’ll go to hell and back to help him prove it. Sure, the sexy Cajun has his secrets, but there’s no one in the world she’d rather have by her side in a tight spot. Which is good, because they’re about to get very tight…

I have to admit it took me a little longer to get into this one at first. Both Rock and Bill seemed to be laminating way too much about not falling in love with the girl they were obviously in love with. I mean, I get those guys were really trying to convince themselves but it got old after a bit. It did ruin a bit of the jungle adventure in the first half of the book for me.

However, I really got into the second half. Even though they were still professing their non-love it was lessened by the action and twists on trying to figure out who was the bad guy and how to clear Rock's name. The book really took off for me then. Oh and Rock! Sorry, but I kept getting Gambit in my head from X-men. It was the accent that did me in. I can see why Vanessa fell for his accent.

I will say though that I really enjoyed Vanessa throughout the whole book. I liked how she threw herself into situations in which she knew she had fear. I also liked Eve (Bill's intended). Still a bit flighty but yet trying to conquer her fears. Somehow I find that more brave than facing down a bullet with the guys. Even so, it was nice to be surrounded by hot men at all times. :D

I give this book 4 stars. Despite the slow beginning, I did have some fun with the crew. I can't wait for Bill's arse to be kicked most likely in the next book. :)

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks and NetGalley and no compensation for my review was given.

I'm also nominating this cover for:

I have been enjoying this meme on Felicia's The Geeky Blogger's blog and have finally found some time to join in. The other players are Amanda from On a Book Bender, Christi from Smitten with Reading. Button made by Missie at The Unread Reader

So, any thrills in your ToT?

Targets of Revenge (Jordan Sandor Series #2) by Jeffrey S. Stephens

COUNTRY FIRST. All the bureaucratic scolding in Washington cannot stop resourceful CIA Agent Jordan Sandor when he’s hungry for revenge. This time he’s on the hunt for the cold-blooded sociopath known as Adina, whose indiscriminate slaughter of innocent people, including Sandor’s close friend, represents man at his worst.

Mobilizing a team of skilled and dedicated agents to carry out his secret operation, Sandor flies in the face of his superiors’ stern warnings—ultimately crash-landing in the heart of the Venezuelan jungle. Armed with little more than a combat knife and a deadly automatic weapon, he infiltrates Adina’s camp and discovers that the ruthless terrorist is smuggling not only cocaine into the United States, but also a deadly substance that could cost tens of thousands of lives.

Sandor develops intel that leads him to Egypt and then Moscow as he fights to prevent this disaster, but after he lands on Interpol’s list of international fugitives, the truth becomes clear: Adina’s evil web extends to the far corners of the globe. Meanwhile, someone Sandor trusts could very well be feeding the agent dangerous lies as he struggles to stay on Adina’s trail.

More focused than ever, Sandor refuses to end his perilous mission, even after he has been taken captive. In the end, when he uncovers the realities of Adina’s deranged plan for a catastrophic assault on New York City, Sandor has no choice but to risk his life to protect his country’s safety and freedom.

This is actually the second book in the series, but I did think it was the 3rd. The first book, Targets of Deception was actually the prequel but reads like one of the books in the series. And as I read these in order, it really feels like the 3rd book as past events are mentioned in this book that happened in the prequel. In other words, I personally consider this the 3rd in the series for those that have to read in order. Those that take chances like me, don't have to worry and can read this as a stand alone.

However, if you do read the other books you know why Jordan is seeking revenge and why he is out to assassinate Adina, the all around evil guy. As he nears his target, new information comes to light and Jordan abandons his attempt to solve a new puzzle Adina has given him unwittingly. Now it's up to Sandor and his colleagues to unravel what has happened and what is going to happen. A lot of innocent lives depend on his success.

This book is full of political intrigue as much as the others. The twists in this puzzle keep you on your toes and trying to figure out if you can stay a step ahead of someone who always has a contingency plan. In fact, for most of the book, you think it may not be possible because as soon as you discover one part of the plan, it changes.

Jordan is also a likable character, and he seems to genuinely care for the innocents that get caught in the crossfire. This helps humanize a almost indestructible character, but I admit I would like a bit more. I would actually love to see him be a bit vulnerable. Perhaps he meets a woman of intelligence and falls hard for her. Doesn't even have to be a romance, but perhaps a child from one of his one night stands and even if he can't be a true father, perhaps he just wants to make sure the child is well taken care of and loved. Just something to bring him further down to earth. That usually makes the harrowing parts a bit more harrowing. Especially if there is something major to be lost. Of course this also makes me want to throw the book... but in a good way. LOL His friends do give him some vulnerability, but that would just push it over the edge.

I give this twisty book 4 stars. If you like political thrillers, or good spy stories, do pick up this whole series. I don't think you'd be disappointed.

I received this book from Gallery Books and no compensation for my review was given.

Books in the series:
Targets of Deception
Targets of Opportunity
Targets of Revenge

Targets of Opportunity by Jeffrey S. Stephens

THE ENEMY HAS A THOUSAND WAYS TO STRIKE. WE HAVE JUST ONE WAY TO RETALIATE. HIS NAME IS JORDAN SANDOR. In Targets of Deception, which suspense master Robert K. Tanenbaum called “a fast-paced thriller,” Jeffrey Stephens introduced CIA agent Jordan Sandor, whom bestselling author Steve Alten praised as “terrific.” Now Sandor is back, playing for bigger stakes and facing deadlier challenges. 

Whisked from his Manhattan town house to a gabled CIA safe house in Virginia, Sandor faces off with a top terrorist agent from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. In exchange for protection from his own side, Ahmad Jaber is offering the CIA explosive information: word of a secret, unholy alliance forged among operatives in the Middle East, a ruthless South American, and Kim Jong-Il’s North Korea. Jaber claims not to know specific details, only that the strike will target the heart of America. 

The fanatics stage a stunning diversion in the Caribbean, mercilessly downing a passenger jet and unleashing an assault on a French intelligence installation. Sandor, however, has already moved in a different direction. Leveraging Jaber’s infor-mation, he assembles a small strike force to penetrate North Korea. The team knows they will not all return, but the intel they gather will be vital to American security. What they ultimately discover plunges Sandor into a frantic race against time, struggling to defeat a shadowy figure—a master terrorist with a plan of destruction so perfectly disguised that even with the new knowledge he has gathered, Sandor cannot guess where or how he will strike. 

As a storm rages in the Gulf of Mexico, word comes that two submarines have penetrated U.S. waters. With the U.S. military hampered by the hurricane, Sandor turns to a few daring U.S. Navy SEALs to duel with the enemy they cannot see . . . for now they know only that there are two nuclear weapons aimed at a target of opportunity whose destruction would change the world order forever.

 This book is the second book with Jordan Sandor as a "have his own rules" spy. The first is Targets of Deception. You do not need to read the first book to get caught up with this one, but in terms of having a connection with Sandor it helps. You don't get connected to him much, unless the first one is read. It isn't essential to the story since this one is mostly about international and political intrigue, but since Sandor is much more of a cad toward women in this one than the last, it helped me. :)

Now, Sandor isn't too bad of a cad, but he does seem to see women in one dimension, with the exception of Hea who plays a central part in this tale in getting his arse out of North Korea in one piece. I really liked the respect he had for her, with the exception at times I felt he was too forward. With so much going on all at once, this wasn't too often, but often enough I felt that he would have gone further if he had the time. Also, in the last book I complained about the woman in the book as not being competent. Hea, was not incompetent and in fact, I think surpassed Jordan in some ways. She never took anything for granted including her own family's safety. She is one character I'd love to get to know more.

The one character you did have sympathy for in a surprising way was Jabbar. You don't just get the one dimensional terrorist caricature. I appreciated that and even though he was a "bad" guy, you felt that he was truly trying to do what was right while trying to protect his own life as well as his wife's. I like it when you get a more rounded view of secondary characters.

I give this book 4 stars. It's much more about political intrigue than the last book which was more action oriented. It is a large book, but reads quite quickly. I recommend it to those that love international twists and turns in thrillers where the end goal isn't revealed until the end.

I received this book from Pocket Star books and no compensation for my review was given.

Original Sin by Beth McMullen

Description:

On the surface, Lucy Hamilton looks just like all the other stay-at-home San Francisco moms. She takes her three-year-old son, Theo, to the beach, to the playground and to the zoo. She feeds him organic applesauce and free-range chicken. She folds laundry and plays on the floor with Matchbox cars until her knees ache. What no one knows about Lucy, not even her adoring husband, is that for nine years Lucy was Sally Sin, a spy for the United States Agency for Weapons of Mass Destruction. And that's just the way she wants to keep it - a secret. But when Lucy's nemesis Ian Blackford, a notorious illegal arms dealer, hits the USAWMD's radar, the Agency calls Sally Sin back to action to lure Blackford out into the open. Racing against time, Lucy must fight to save herself, her loving family - and, oh right - the world. Hilarious and resonant, ORIGINAL SIN is the story of one woman’s quest to find that most elusive work-life balance in the face of danger, intrigue, and proper recycling habits.

 I thought this was a YA book when I first glanced at it. The bright pink just yelled YA to me. This is not the case. The book is actually a spy novel. One about a wife and mother of a 3 year old. Retired from her life of adventure and not quite willing to let go of the paranoia that plagued her as a spy. I found that part to be interesting as she would often compare motherhood to a toddler to her spying life. For example, she found that growing eyes on the back of your head with quick reflexes to be quite useful with a child. Scary useful. :)

The book is told in the way you might see in those old spy movies. Where the spy is reminiscing and telling a long story. This can really work for these types of novels, but in this case it made me feel as if I was kept at arms length from Sally/Lucy. I just didn't connect to her character like I should. The book also took a long time to get to the crux of what was presently going on with her. You did need that back story, but it should have been woven into the present's problems much earlier. I also didn't buy that the people closest to her knew she lied about her past but did not press it. There is also a possible story there and I wish it was told.

I give this novel 3 stars. Despite the flaws I did enjoy Sally/Lucy's story. If some of this is corrected in the next novel, I for one will enjoy it. This series does have potential.
I received this book from Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program and the Publisher and no compensation was given.