Book Review: Unmasking Maya by Libby Mercer

Title: Unmasking Maya

Author: Libby Mercer

Pub date: Dec. 12, 2012

Source: The author












Summary from Goodreads:

 Fresh from a career-killing scandal, New York fashion girl, Maya Kirkwood, arrives in San Francisco to reinvent herself as a fine artist. She's offered the opportunity to create an installation at the Silicon Valley headquarters of a hot new tech company. Fabulous, right?

Not so much.

She can't stand Derek Whitley - wunderkind software genius and CEO of the company. Hot as he may be on the outside, inside the man is a cold, unemotional, robotic type. Way too left-brained for her right-brained self.

As Maya and Derek get to know each other, however, their facades begin to crack. She catches her first glimpse of the man behind the superhuman tech prodigy, and he starts to see her as the woman she used to be. But is this a good thing? Once that last secret is revealed, will it bring them closer together or will it tear them apart?

My summary/thoughts:

 Unmasking Maya is about Maya Kirkwood an artist who falls for Derek who is a nerdy workaholic while she installs her artwork for his company.  This wasn't so much of a romance. It felt more like a chick lit novel. There was a lot of flirting and mysteriousness.  This was a short, light read with some warm and fuzziness at the end. The main character has a lot of male issues because of what her father did. Overall, it was a fabulous read.
 

Follow Friday

Q: Activity! Who do you want to be? If you could choose any character from a book. What do you think that character looks like and what do you have in common?

I have no idea. I'm thinking Chloe from Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Corriell. I think we might have the same optimistic, peppy personality. I think the character looks like Bella Thorne from Disney's Shake It Up. I don't look like Chloe except for Bella's hairstyle with the bangs. I get bangs every winter/spring. :-)

Bella Thorne

Stacking the Shelves

I got these from the library.

Book Review: Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin

Title: Killer Librarian

Author: Mary Lou Kirwin

Publish date: November 27, 2012

Publisher: Pocket Books











Summary from Goodreads

FILE “M” FOR MURDER. . . .

Champion of the mystery section at a small-town Minnesota library, Karen Nash is about to embark on a dream trip to London—a literary tour inspired by every murderous intrigue, wily suspect, and ingenious crime found in the pages of the British mysteries that she devours. But she’s clueless why the love of her mid-life, Dave, would dump her hours before takeoff—until she spies him at the airport with a young honey on his arm! She decides the best revenge (for now) is to get on that plane anyway . . . and entertain schemes for Dave’s untimely demise while crossing the pond.

 After touching ground in the hallowed homeland of Christie, Sayers, and Peters, she checks into a cozy B & B run by charming bibliophile Caldwell Perkins. Soon she’s spilling tears in her pint at the corner pub, sharing her heartbreak saga with a stranger. That night, a B & B guest drops out of circulation—permanently. And when Dave and his cutie turn up in London, Karen realizes they are an assassin’s target. With the meticulous attention to detail that makes her a killer librarian, Karen sleuths her way through her own real-life mystery—in which library science meets the art of murder.

My Thoughts/ review:

Karen is a feisty librarian who gets dumped by her plumber boyfriend Dave for a young thing right when they were supposed to go to London together. This book was crazy. I didn't like Dave because he did Karen wrong. In London, Karen befriends Caldwell who owns the B&B where she is staying at. When somebody mysteriously dies in the B&B, Karen tries to find out who did it and why. She also does some book shopping amidst all the craziness. I really liked the ending of this book. It was the best ending I have read in a long time.

Bohemia By Veronika Carnaby

Title: Bohemia

Author: Veronika Carnaby

Publish date: 9/12/2012













Summary Goodreads:

In her debut novel, Veronika Carnaby picks up where the Beat Generation left off. Set in 1960, Bohemia chronicles a group of twenty-somethings who defy the "ideals" of a mid-twentieth century society to seek creative fulfillment. In the process, they spotlight the creative path that artists of all mediums tread, all the while depicting the challenges faced by youth in the decade that changed the world.

My thoughts/review:

This book is about a bunch of friends who party and come of age in the 60s. The main character is V. She goes through all of these adventures and changes with her friends. I don't really know much about the 60s, but I guess this is how I would envision life in the 60s would be like. Sometimes I was confused as to what was happening in the story. To me, this group of friends reminds me of today's version of hipsters. This book isn't what I usually read since I can't relate to that decade, but if you are a fan of 60s culture or want to have an idea of that decade then you would enjoy this book.

Follow Friday

Question: Books are turned into movies all the time! Turn it around. What movie would make a great book?

Hmmm. Ok, I wouldn't mind Grey's Anatomy having a book. I think they tried it once but I want a whole series with everybody's points of view. I've thought about this for a long time, seriously. Even thought it's not a movie, it is my favorite show.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly book meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights upcoming releases that we're all eagerly anticipating.

Title: Friends and Foes

Authors: ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Publisher: Gallery Books











Summary from Amazon:
The drama is still fresh between Rachel Jackson Adams and Jasmine Larson Bush after each woman attempted to get her husband elected to the coveted position of President of the American Baptist Coalition. Now, everyone’s favorite First Ladies are going at it again.

When Rachel learns that Jasmine is going to be featured on a national television interview—thanks to the publicist she hired—the gloves are off and Rachel is set to do battle.  But unexpectedly Rachel finds herself caught up in a much more ominous plot—one that involves murder—and must navigate these troubled waters with her least-expected ally, Jasmine.
Combining light-hearted action with a message of faith, this book is a delightful read featuring two beloved characters from two exceptional authors.