The Geekish Reader

Title:   Casual Vacancy Author:   J K Rowling Genre:  Fiction Pages:   503 Published:   September 2012 Publisher:   Little Brown Source:   Publisher Synopsis: A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN ... When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations? To be honest I hate having to admit I didn't finish a book or didn't enjoy a title that was sent to me - but on occasion it does happen. I have st...

Title:   The Marriage Bundle Author:   Earlene Gleisner Genre:   Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Pages:   388 Published:   January 2011 Publisher:   Magic Valley Source: via Author Where to buy:   Amazon Synopsis: "Feel the light pouring from behind the back of your head. Breathe in, now hold, then blow your breath to the center of the circle. As you do this, let your breath carry the color you have been holding behind your eyes, and stop lolly-gagging around. This is too important " These are the first words of Amach - a spirit guide - speaking through the mouth of Selena Howells in 1985.  Although Selena, with Amach's help has learned to understand and use her gifts as a psychic and healer, their relationship was so tumultuous, it terminated at the death of Selena's husband in 1995.Out of the blue, Amach returns to warn Selena of imminent danger to them both and offers clues that will solve mysteries in both their worlds.  The Marria...

Title:   The Social Climber's Handbook Author:   Molly Jong-Fast Genre:   Contemporary, Murder Mystery Pages:   240 Published:   April 2011 Publisher:   Villard Synopsis: HIGH SOCIETY CAN BE A KILLER. Upper East Side socialite Daisy Greenbaum is accustomed to the finer things—designer clothes, summers in the Hamptons, elite private school educations for her daughters, and a staggeringly expensive Park Avenue apartment. But Daisy finds her well-heeled lifestyle on precarious footing after her husband, master of the universe Dick Greenbaum, learns about some shady dealings that threaten his position at The Bank. Daisy refuses to allow her family to slip down the social ladder, so she devises a madcap plan: Anyone who jeopardizes her place at the top will simply have to be dispatched—six feet under. From Dick’s arrogant boss to his scheming former mistress to a pair of nosy bloggers, Daisy’s hit list is a who’s who of big names with e...

Title:   Naamah's Blessing Author:   Jacqueline Carey Genre:   Fantasy, Romance Published:   June 2011 ISBN:   0446198072 Publisher:   Grand Central Publishing Source:   NetGalley for honest review Synopsis: Returning to Terre d'Ange, Moirin finds the royal family broken. Wracked by unrelenting grief at the loss of his wife, Queen Jehanne, King Daniel is unable to rule. Prince Thierry, leading an expedition to explore the deadly jungles of Terra Nova, is halfway across the world. And three year old Desirée is a vision of her mother: tempestuous, intelligent, and fiery, but desperately lonely, and a vulnerable pawn in a game of shifting political allegiances. As tensions mount, King Daniel asks that Moirin become Desirée's oath-sworn protector. Navigating the intricate political landscape of the Court proves a difficult challenge, and when dire news arrives from overseas, the spirit of Queen...