The Kari AnnAlysis

Archive for May, 2010

Published: 8/31/10

I won this copy from Goodreads.com

Katharine, formerly Katie, has seen more in her teens than most of us seen in a lifetime. She can’t help but blame herself for the murder of her 14-year-old sister and finds it easier to go live with her aunt instead of staying at home with her miserable parents. She meets Alice, extrovert, flamboyant, completely opposite of Kate. This is definitely an instance of opposites attract. But things start to get strange with Alice around. She could easily be described as a stalker and when Alice dies, she takes Katharine’s world with her.

This very dark book takes us back and forth through three time periods of Katharine’s life. She tells us the story of her sister’s death, we learn about her life a year after the death and we get a sneak peak into her life 5 years later. The first couple of times, this is a bit confusing. I am not sure where we are and why we are there. But after it happens, I was ready for it to happen again! I wanted to know how Rachel died and why Katharine felt the need to take the blame. The book was written well and kept me turning the pages. It only took me a couple of days by the pool to get through it.

Now, there was one problem I found with the book. Maybe I was just having a hard time of understanding, but I felt like there were a lot of errors in the book. If I would have thought it about it at the time, I would have written them down, but I felt like there were some wrong words in there. At one time it said “maintain” instead of “mountain”. This is an ARC, so I know they will be fixed before hitting the shelves. I just get sidetracked by errors.

Although this is a little darker than what I normally read, I really enjoyed it and was stunned by connection that the characters had. I had an inkling, but talked myself out of it! I always do that lol. I give Beautiful Malice 4 bookmarks.    

It’s Thursday, another meme day! I haven’t participated in BTT in a while, haven’t thought I could offer a worth response. But today, we have a very loaded and fun question: 

What books do you have next to your bed right now? How about other places in the house? What are you reading?

Wow! Where to start on this! I actually have two bookshelves in my bedroom. One on top of my dresser, the other, by my bed. So, I have TONS of books next to my bed. Half of the top shelf contains “read” items – starting with J.K. Rowling and finishing out the alphabet by author. The rest of the book case contains my “to be read” books. The ones on my top shelf are the urgent ones. Some of these include the Jessica Darling Series, Last Christmas by Kate Brian and Anna Karenina, which I keep putting off. I have actually started a second row on my second shelf. And my third shelf are “to be read” hardback books. Most of my second and third shelf books I received from library sales.

The book that I am currently reading, which is with me at all times, is an advanced copy of Beautiful Malice. I just started this last night, but the first line is:

“I didn’t go to Alice’s funeral.”

Can’t get much more dramatic that than.

When it comes to other books in the house, the book Michael is currently reading resides on the couch in the living room. I have a wire bookshelf in the living room that holds books from college that I have kept. We also have books in our entertainment center. We have actually run out of room. We each have two shelves of books on the bottom, and our movies are on the top.

I got rid of 7 books last week, just to buy 15 more. I am definitely going to have to get some type of reader, otherwise I am going to have to part with beloved books. I definitely don’t want to do that

When we last left Reed Brennen, she was treading water in the middle of the ocean in a couture ball gown. When we meet Reed again, well, she’s still treading. She’s been pushed of a boat on Casino Night in St. Barths. While she thought this would be a great way to relax after finding out her roommate at Easton was trying to kill her, it’s been nothing but. She’s had three near-death experiences, but that’s nothing compared to what she’s got coming. Someone on the island is trying to kill her and not until she is seeing visions of her dead boyfriend do people realize how serious this is.

Kate Brian AKA Kieran Scott has done it again. Once I think that there can’t be much more drama than we’ve already witnessed, my heart sinks as death looms over the characters. I  must admit after reading this though, an exotic vacation is not going to be in my near future. I am going to be paranoid even to go to my dad’s closed-in pool!

Oh and I think I forgot to mention that the drama doesn’t end in St. Barths. There’s a little surprise waiting for the girls when they get back to Easton. And my hunch after reading Paradise Lost was correct. We haven’t seen the last of Sawyer, and I’m kind of happy about it.

I must admit, I am kind of bummed to get this far in the series. I am loving these girls, but I only have Last Christmas left on my shelf. Looks like I am going to have to get to the bookstore and pick up Scandal  and I’m ready to start the Privilege series. I did not like Ariana, but if these books are anything like the Private series, I will love them!

Anyway, back to the point of the post, I give Suspicion 5 bookmarks!

Today is Wordless Wednesday. I am never wordless, but here are some shots.

My brother works at a greenhouse, so my mom and I went the other day and I took bunches of pictures. The first one I focused close.

The second, I focused far.

And I kept my focus far again, but changed the shot a little bit!

For some reason, I love these things. I have no idea what they are, but they are pretty and I love how much a shot changes when you change your focus.

Teaser Tuesdayis brought to you by MizB at Should Be Reading. The rules say to open your current book to a random page and pick a random, 2 sentence passage. I cheat, but you can always count on great teasers

Today’s comes from Suspicion by Kate Brian.

Pg1: “I had been treading water in the dark of night for maybe ten minutes, but it might as well have been ten hours. The floaty chiffon gown that had seemed so light and airy when I had selected it for the Ryans’ Casino Night now clung to my skin and tangled around my legs, threatening to pull me down. Down into the deep, dark depths of the ocean where who-knew-what disgusting, slimy, razor-toothed things were waiting to nibbled on my toes and fingers and –”

Bahaha don’t you wish you knew what happened next? That’s the point What are you reading?