Call these reviewlets – books I didn’t get around to writing much on compiled here. Something like those tiny 100 calorie sized snacks that seem to be popular these days?
The Agency by Ally O’Brien, St. Martin’s Press, 2009
Liked the insider’s look at agency life, but I didn’t really connect with protagonist Tess. Things at the end were wrapped up rather quickly. There are many London/British references, which I didn’t mind because I got some of them. Ally O’Brien is actually writing duo Brian Freeman and entertainment agent Ali Gunn. 3/5
If you live in the US or Canada there’s still time to enter Bookshipper’s contest to win a copy – ends February 27.
The Art Thief by Noah Charney, Atria, 2007
Entertaining look into the high art world. I skimmed over a lot of the symbolism/iconography explanations, but Professor Barrow’s lectures were so entertaining and they were my favourite parts. It felt like I needed to draw a diagram to keep the twists straight though. 3.5/5
A Date With the Other Side by Erin McCarthy, Berkley Sensation, 2005
Cuttersville, Ohio’s haunted house tour operator Shelby and Chicago city boy Boston – their first meeting involves Boston’s nakedness. Not sure I’ll view eyelet quite the same way again and the momentum from that opening fizzled out. 2.5/5
Moongazer by Marianne Mancusi, Love Spell/Shomi, 2007
Matrix-like plot. Manhattan video game designer Skye has dreams of a postapocalyptic world where the people, particularly a man named Dawn, think she’s some resistance leader named Mariah who betrayed them. Dawn and Mariah have history, but Skye can’t be Mariah, even though they look alike, right? The pacing seemed a bit slow at the beginning, but I enjoyed Skye’s journey and the reveal at the end. 3.5/5
chartroose said
It doesn’t sound like any of them were real page turners. Drats!
icedtea said
The Agency was actually a quick read despite my okay rating.