Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Combat Ops by David Michaels

Publication date: March 29, 2011 (Berkley)

Captain Scott Mitchell, leader of a unit in the elite fighting force known as the Ghosts, is sent to Afghanistan with his team. Their mission: to locate and kill or capture Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Zahed. Of course, this isn’t going to be an easy breach and clear mission and not just because Zahed is a top terrorist leader. Forces within Mitchell’s own comrades make things difficult for him to achieve his mission. With different missions clashing with Captain Simon Harruck and Mitchell’s own protegee Captain Fred Warris trying to undermine Mitchell’s control, Mitchell fights to keep his cool under pressure and to keep pressing forward with his mission.

For the most part, I liked this book but I would liked to have see more character development in the Ghost Leader and other characters in this book. However, it did do a very good job at being able to keep one on the edge of their seat, turning page after page. Although the novels are based on the Ghost Recon games, the novel has its own plot but it does share similar aspects with the game campaigns.

Besides the Army acronyms and such that are sometimes used, this novel still provides some of that raw grit and heart stopping action that war novels never lack.

“This is not the war you expected. This will never be the war you expected.”

(4 out of 5)

~ SynysterShadows

Bookish Beaus #1

SynysterShadows'

Bookish Beaus

So we all have those characters that we nurse a soft spot for. Whether they be the love interest or have a 5 second appearance, they're there and we love them for it. HERE ARE MY MEN:

1. Fang from Maximum Ride

Fang is your typical dark haired, mysterious bad boy love interest. Although cliche, Fang’s witty  and sarcastic lines when he does choose to speak have a reader laughing when he decides to open his mouth. Not to mention he has wings and plays a mean harmonica.

2. Patch from Hush, Hush

Yet another dark haired, mysterious bad boy with a dark past. Mystery and bad asses tend to be a trend apparently. The plus side though is he speaks more than Fang does. His dialogue, although suggestive, bring humor to the usual tense atmosphere.

3. Tariq from A Thousand Splendid Suns

Oh the classic childhood best friend turned lover. His tough act around Laila makes a reader want to laugh because he’s trying hard to impress her. Not to mention he travels thousands of miles many years afterwards just to see her again when they get separated.

4. Taylor Ambrose from My Sister’s Keeper

First things first, the guy that played him in the movie was pretty cute, bald or not. Second thing, he saw past the cancer to the girl that Kate really was. His caring personality and gentle gestures show that he really cares for her.

5. The infamous Edward Cullen and Jacob Black from Twilight

Let’s get things straight: Yes, I like Twilight but I’m the farthest thing from a Twihard. I just happen to like the series. ANYWAYS, the infamous Cullen or Black debate. It’s a tie between them in my eyes. Stalker characteristics aside, Edward does care for Bella even if his care can sometimes cross the is-clingy-and-sometimes-over dramatic-about-his-love-for-her line.  Now Jacob is also awesome because he wanted to make sure Edward didn’t hurt Bella again even if he tried to steal Bella from Edward. And fell in love with their child. BUT THAT DOESN’T DIMINISH THE FACT THAT HE CARES FOR HER. Not to mention that he was probably a better choice than Edward, but...

Consider yourself tagged.

Waiting on Wednesday (5/25/11): Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

For my first Waiting on Wednesday post, I have picked... (drumroll)

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

Publication date: ~July 19th, 2011 (MTV Books)

From Amazon:

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions—it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment? 

Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

- Tabbyc

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Publication date: May 10, 2011 (Penguin)

  

Gus Sweet’s job keeps him busy reinventing local restaurants. His daughter Mclean on the other hand, is busy reinventing herself.

Sarah Dessen’s newest novel What Happened to Goodbye is Mm-Mm-Good to the last drop - warts and all. A public divorce having torn her family apart, Mclean chooses to tag along with her father as he moves from here to there flipping restaurants. Four towns in two years and they all know Mclean as an entirely different person. Once they reach Lakeview, however, she finds herself showing her true colors.

The budding romance between the main character and the boy next door is more of an added bonus. What Happened to Goodbye focuses mainly on the drama and such within the Sweet family, but the heaviness manages not to smother you. I laughed, in fact. It’s the perfect realistic fiction recipe.


It’s so easy to relate and fall in love with Sarah’s whimsical characters, so I’m loving how she has on more than one occasion pulled our old acquaintances into the new books. While not an all time favorite (see Along for the Ride), it definitely does not disappoint and should be given a chance from fans new and old.

"After all these years of just passing through, I was beginning to finally feel at home."

(4.5 out of 5)

- Tabbyc

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush #1)

Publication date: October 13, 2009 (Simon & Schuster)

At first glance, this book may seem like another Twilight. Being a fan of the Twilight series, when I read the blurb and the first couple of pages, I was strongly reminded of Twilight. A mythological creature, or in this case, a biblical creature, arrives at a regular school and starts talking to a normal, human girl. But as you read on, Hush, Hush shows that it is not just a Twilight look alike.

Fallen angel Patch arrives at a small school in Portland where he has Biology class with human girl Nora Grey. Very much like in Twilight with Edward and Bella, Patch begins to not so subtly flirt with the unsuspecting Nora. She finds herself being drawn to him for a reason unknown to her. Cue entrance of cute human boy. Nora finds herself in the middle of a love triangle. While in the middle of her teenage conundrum, she also finds that she is being followed and targeted by someone. Trying to figure out the mystery of her attacker, Nora is also trying to solve the mystery that is Patch.

One of the problems I had with the book was with how quickly it delved into building a relationship between Patch and Nora. While in the end Fitzpatrick makes it work, it was a bit odd that she would introduce the love interest in the first chapter..Other than that the other problems were more like pet peeves.

The fast pace movement of the plot had me turning page after page. Fitzpatrick certainly knows how to keep a reader interested and wanting to read the next installment in this series.

"One more secret smile. One more shared laugh. One more electric kiss. Finding him was like finding someone I didn't know I was searching for."

(4 out of 5)

~ SynysterShadows