The Dog Park Club by Cynthia Robinson

The Dog Park Club by Cynthia Robinson centers around Max Bravo, a bisexual "mid-rung" opera singer. One afternoon while walking his best friend Claudia's dog he is invited to join a group that hangs out at the dog park down the street from her house. He tells Claudia about the group, and when Max is out of town she becomes an integral part of the "Dog Park Club." While initially wary of the group's socially diverse crowd, Max cannot avoid the siren call of drama. When one member of the group, the beautiful, pregnant Amy Carter, goes missing the Dog Park Club is thrust into the national spotlight. The group quickly develop their theory and go on a Sand Lot-esque mission to prove it.

Robinson's debut is quirky, sarcastic and fun- a great book for a day at the beach. Her unique cast of characters, Max Bravo being the most entertaining, wont let you put the book down. Robinson manages to keep a mysterious tension through the whole book, while allowing her diverse cast individual moments of comic relief. Don't miss this witty debut this summer!

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

One Man's Paradise by Douglas Corleone

One Man’s Paradise by Douglas Corleone is the second book I received from Minotaur Books; the first was Paul Dorion’s The Poachers Son, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. They must be doing something right over there because this book was even better than Dorion’s and you know how much I loved that one. Kevin Corvelli is a disgraced New York lawyer finding refuge on the island paradise of Oahu. After blowing the last big case he had in New York Corvelli has sworn off felony cases, convincing himself that misdemeanors will give him all the work he needs. Unfortunately his landlord, Jake, has other ideas and sets Corvelli up with a murder case soon after he opens up shop.

Corleone’s writing is fast and his plot enthralling. Legal thrillers are not my usual fare, but this book reached across the aisle and pulled me in. He doesn’t bog the reader down with legal jargon or technical bull-shit, One Man’s Paradise is mostly action with a good dose of wit. Readers will love the believably flawed Kevin Corvelli who never fails with his constant cynicism. Between the New York gangsters, Hawaiian gangsters, beautiful woman, and a bumbling Texas lawyer there is never a shortage of entertaining characters.

This is a quick, fun read that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you begging for more. John Grisham better watch his back because Douglas Corleone has the potential to be a great name in the legal thriller genre.

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

A Book Review of Josh Berk's The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

I had the pleasure of chatting with Josh Berk early last month and did a quick profile of him as one of the first posts on this blog. I spent the entire half-hour of the chat laughing my ass off, so needless to say I had high expectations for his book The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin. I am happy to say the book has lived up to and even exceeded them.


I learned a surprising amount about the deaf culture from Berk. Making his main character deaf really gives a unique perspective to the book. The main plot is a murder mystery that Will and his new friend Devon Smiley endeavor to solve. Since Will is deaf he tends to notice things that others don’t and can read conversations from a distance. This proves to be extremely useful in solving the murder and also provides for some hilarious and uncomfortable situations.

The only downside of the book are the first two chapters. It starts a little slow and Berk’s style takes a little getting used to. Once the story gets going though, you won’t be able to put it down. The deaf and overweight Will Halpin’s commentary on everyday occurrences will have you falling out of your chair. The story focuses on Will’s first year in a regular school (as opposed to a school for the deaf) and his attempt to assimilate into the mainstream culture.

Berk’s novel is a refreshing mix of the comedy of Christopher Moore with the mystery of a Hardy Boy’s book and Berk’s quirky sense of humor (see his release day video). I sincerely hope a sequel featuring Will Halpin, possibly my new favorite character in young adult, is in the works. I highly recommend this book to everyone, do yourself a favor and buy this book!

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

A Book Review of Kristina McBride's The Tension of Opposites

Kristina Mcbride's The Tension of Opposites is a story of two best-friends struggling to overcome the tragic events that tore them apart. Two years prior to the beginning of the narrative Tessa's best friend, Noelle, was kidnapped. In the first several chapters the reader learns that not only is Noelle alive, but she is returning home! Tessa is ecstatic for her friends return. Her joy turns to disappointment and sadness as she is faced with the oft overlooked realities of child-abduction survivors. McBride's heartbreaking yet realistic work is one of the most well crafted I’ve read in some time. The concept of child abduction isn’t original, but setting the entire story two years after the actual kidnapping and subsequent rescue gives it a fresh feel. Using Tessa’s photography project to personify the conflict she faces in her life adds a depth to the read often lacking in young adult fiction.

While I can recognize a talented writer when I see one, I can’t say I loved the book. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters and I tired of the constant blubbering over the various romantic relationships. Of course, I am not her the target demographic. I do recommend this novel to all girls thirteen to nineteen and most women over twenty. It is an emotional and gripping tale capturing the complexity a tragic event like an abduction can add to the life of a person. With a debut that is more impressive than most novels of this genre from veteran authors , McBride is definitely someone to keep an eye on.

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

A Book Review of Dan Wells' I am not a Serial Killer

John Wayne Cleaver is not your average teenager. He grew up working in a morgue, is obsessed with serial killers, is a clinical sociopath, and adheres to a strict set of personally imposed rules meant to keep him from becoming a serial killer. Dan Wells kicks off this fast pace novel by opening at the scene of a bizarre homicide. John surmises that this could be the work of a serial killer, here is his own quiet town!

Wells had me enthralled and the blurb on the front, “unputdownable” holds true for the first third of the novel. Until we find out who the “serial Killer” really is. I don’t want to give away the twist, but suffice to say, you won’t see it coming. I’m a fan of plot twists but this novels reads like a “Dexter Morgan” type story a only to take a jump off the deep end into the super natural.

The book remains immensely entertaining and Wells’ writing is superb. His dark comedic voice won’t have you rolling on the floor, but you will love John Wayne Cleaver’s unique perspective on life. The problem lies with the transition to the supernatural. You will be left saying, “WTF mate?” still, Wells is an author to keep an eye on and I will be purchasing the next two books in this series.

Keep an eye out for the I am not a Serial Killer contest coming your way later today!

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

A Review of Paul Doiron's The Poacher's Son

Paul Doiron’s The Poacher’s Son is a chilling murder mystery set in rural Maine. The story gets off to a quick start when novice game warden Mike Bowditch receives mysterious message from his estranged father. Mike is informed that his father, a well known poacher, is considered the prime suspect in a double homicide with one of the victims being a cop. As a law enforcement officer, Mike is in position to have intimate access to the case. At first, he is alone in his efforts to prove his father’s innocence until he is joined, in an uneasy alliance, by a retired game warden, Charlie.

Mike’s frantic search for the evidence he needs to exonerate his father forces him to reevaluate his life as a game warden. Doiron offers his readers a unique blend of family strife, internal conflict, and intense action to make his debut an unforgettable journey through Maine’s rugged wilderness. Readers will love his enticing and realistically flawed characters who take them on an emotional roller-coaster they won’t be able to put down. With great characters and page-turning plot development, Doiron is an author to keep an eye on.

The only downside to the book was an extended and obnoxiously graphic sex scene between Mike and his ex-girlfriend. While the sex is necessary for the development of the plot, the in-depth description was not. I am by no means a prude, but it crossed the line for me. That being said, this novel was still a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

A Review of Dexter Palmer's The Dream of Perpetual Motion

I’ve been putting off reviewing The Dream of Perpetual Motion for a few days. Honestly, it is because I don’t know if I can do Dexter Palmer’s work of art justice. But, since the really nice marketing people over at St. Martin’s Press sent me a copy of this book, I feel that I probably should give it a whirl.

This steam-punk novel is narrated by Harold Winslow, a writer for a greeting-card company. The story alternates between the first and third person as Harold writes to his imaginary reader in his journal. He knows that no one will ever read his work because he has been imprisoned on the zeppelin Chrysalis, which is equipped with a perpetual motion machine. His only companions are a host of mechanical men, the voice of the woman he loves, Miranda Taligent, and the body of her dead father Prospero.

Harold’s journal covers more than two decades; the writing of it spans the first year he is imprisoned upon the Chrysalis. The bulk of the journal is written in third person, which is odd seeing that it is written in a journal by the main character. It will leave you a little confused at first, but I urge you to let that go. When Palmer reveals why it has been written like that, or you figure it out from the text, the story will fall into place.

The novel follows Harold’s life and the events which lead to his imprisonment on the ship. The most important of these was his meeting Prospero Taligent and his daughter Miranda. Prospero is the genius who invented most of the machines that exist in Palmer’s alternate reality.

Palmer creates a dream-like reality for his readers, full of mechanical men, “shrink cabs”, and flying cars. His captivating prose draws you in as he uses his universe to examine love’s place in our increasingly chaotic world. One of my favorite images in the novel is that of phase interference, the idea that there is so much noise in the world that every possible sound is being made. Therefore every sound wave has its opposite, one that is exactly 180 degrees out of phase, effectively canceling each other out, leaving the world in silence.

Palmer’s world will draw you in, keep you turning the page, and leaving you begging for more at the end. Harold’s heart-wrenching and disturbing tale will leave you questioning your own reality. When I finished this strange but enthralling debut novel, I found myself unable to fully grasp what I had just read. The only answer I could come up with was to read it again.

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

Another Review of Teri Hall's The Line

Since I am a firm believer that every book has people who love it, I wanted to post a review of The Line that was more positive. So when I read Kelsey's review on her blog The Book Scout I asked if she would mind posting it here. She agreed! So make sure you run over to her blog and check it out. She has some great reviews of many other Young Adult novels.

" The Line was an original and captivating read. The beginning was a little slow and I was wary about whether I was going to like it or not. Soon I was sucked into the world Hall had created- filled with terrific characters and an original and terrifying world. Written in third person, The Line let each character develop and be understood by the reader. There was a lot of background information (at times what may seem to be a little too much) but it was all needed for the reader to understand what was going on. The world Hall created was both terrifying and exciting. The government was extremely controlling and the Line was a big part of the novel. I really like dystopian novels, and The Line was different than any I have ever read. It was suspenseful and had many sub-plots that all tied in with the main plot at the end. The ending was...OMG! Such a cliffhanger. I can't believe I have to wait until 2011 to find out what happens to all the characters.

Rachel was a unique character. I liked her, but at times couldn't understand her choices. Overall though she was a strong female lead, like many of the characters. I loved the scenes with Ms. Moore, especially her flashbacks. She added a lot to the novel and the twist involving her and Away was unexpected but awesome!

This was a novel of hope, survival, love, and trust. The reader experiences a wide range of emotions while reading and by the end you'll be rooting for Rachel, Vivian, and Ms. Moore. There are many surprising twists in the story, and some characters may be different than they originally seemed.

Taking place in the United States, The Line will have readers wonderingabout what the future may bring. This was a wonderful debut and I'm egernot only for Away (The Line #2) but for more books by Teri Hall!

This is out now, so I recommend picking up a copy soon :)

Rating;

Plot: 10/10

Characters: 9/10

Ending: 8.5/10

Enjoyment: 9/10

Cover: 9.5/10

--

Overall: 46/50 = 92% "

A Review of Teri Hall's The Line

The Line is a young adult dystopian novel set in the futuristic nation of The Unified States. Rachel lives with her mom Vivian on “The Property.” A piece of land owned by Elizabeth Moore that borders the infamous “Line”, an invisible and impassable defense border built by the government. The people that live on the other side serve as boogie man figures for children in the US and the media circulates stories of “the others” committing crimes.

While Teri Hall managed to create an imaginative world and a fun book, there are flaws that ruined the experience for me. The first was the introduction and naming of Hall’s world. We learn about The Unified States right along with Rachel as she is learning it from her mother. The information she is learning seems out of place, something she should already know. This introduction to an otherwise extremely interesting world is a cop-out by Hall. Also, naming the country “The Unified States” is a clear attempt to draw the reader to the similarities between the future she painted for her world and the realities of ours. Instead of driving this important point home, it cheapened it, taking out a lot of room for reader interpretation.

Another issue I had was with Hall’s characters. Rachel, the most dynamic of the characters, is a young girl whose motivations are not usually clear. Her transformation is shallow and a result of new information rather than any internal growth. Rachel’s mother Vivian is even worse. It is clear she is hiding something for the entire first half of the novel and the reader is left with little doubt as to what the secret is. Elizabeth Moore is my least favorite character. Hall tries to give her an air of mystery by making her an aloof old woman, but leaves the reader with a cliche. I was not surprised to find that Ms. Moore really has a big heart.

I can, however, forgive those shortcomings if it wasn’t for one thing. The ending. I know that this book is supposed to be part of a series, but come on. You can’t make a series of novels by taking one long novel and cutting it into parts. There wasn’t a story in this book; Hall left me hanging like a two-part television show where the next episode doesn’t come out for a year. I am a firm believer that each novel needs to stand on its own. There needs to be an overreaching plot that spans the entire series, but each book needs to have enough plot so that I can pick it up, out of order, and enjoy it. Jeff is angry!

Anger aside, the book was entertaining. I tore through it like a tornado through a trailer park and became absorbed in the world Hall created. The Line won’t ever make one of my top ten lists, but it is worth reading and I will be buying the second one.

Jeff’s Debut Novel Awards*



*hold your cursor over the icon to get a description of the award or click on any of them to be referred to the award guide.

A twenty-two-year-old University student, Jeff is the founder and coeditor of The Debut Authors Blog. He is an aspiring author and a self-avowed bibliophile. Also, he is not above shameless self-promotion and talking in the third-person.

Jeff's New Review System

I don't like five star, out of 10, or any numerical type review. Even if it gives a rating on specific features of a book, it leaves something to be desired. In my experience a book either has something or it doesn't. I wouldn't give a book with a plot I didn't enjoy a 2/5 stars for plot, I would just state that I didn't like the plot.

That being said, I feel like I need some sort of system for my reviews so that books can be compared on some level. So the following is a system of awards I created which I will include, along with an explanation, with each book review that I do. This will not include reviews that are submitted by readers or other bloggers (unless of course you want to; I ask only that you credit me). Please comment and let me know if I should add any awards, you think I missed something important, or anything you want to say about them. The first review using this system will be posted tomorrow (I am finishing up Teri Hall's The Line (which I am also giving away; don't forget to enter!)

Positive Awards

The Page Turner - I couldn’t put it down; give me more please!


Emotionally Evocative - I cried, I laughed, I loved you, I hated you. My male brain can’t handle all these emotions, I’m going to explode!

Explorer of The Deep - Whoa! Don’t come up too fast, you’ll get The Bends!

World Builder - Can I move there? No? Okay, well then at least write another book.

Plot Weaver - Holy Cow! I Didn’t see that coming!


Originality - Okay maybe the Simpsons did it, but you did it better!


The Rubber Chicken - If writing doesn’t work out for you, maybe try stand up.

Seal of Approval - Go buy this book... now. Seriously, what are you waiting for!

Negative Awards

No Diving - Don’t break your neck on the shallow characters


Couch Potato - Lazy Plot


Yawn - Boring


The Hulk Smash - You made Jeff angry, you won’t like it when he's angry!

Don’t Read - Don’t waste your money on this one