Cart
|
|
my account
|
wish list
|
help
|
800-878-7323
Hello, |
Login
MENU
Browse
New Arrivals
Bestsellers
Featured Preorders
Award Winners
Audio Books
See All Subjects
Used
Staff Picks
Staff Picks
Picks of the Month
Bookseller Displays
50 Books for 50 Years
25 Best 21st Century Sci-Fi & Fantasy
25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
25 Books From the 21st Century
25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
25 Women to Read Before You Die
25 Books to Read Before You Die
Gifts
Gift Cards & eGift Cards
Powell's Souvenirs
Journals and Notebooks
socks
Games
Sell Books
Blog
Events
Find A Store
Don't Miss
Big Mood Sale
Teen Dream Sale
Portland Like a Pro Sale
Powell's Author Events
Oregon Battle of the Books
Audio Books
Get the Powell's newsletter
Visit Our Stores
Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
(0 comment)
Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
Read More
»
Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
(0 comment)
Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
(0 comment)
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
Customer Comments
NightOwlReviews has commented on (6) products
Devils Punchbowl
by
Greg Iles
NightOwlReviews
, June 17, 2010
By Terri Penn Cage is the mayor of Natchez, MS after being the assistant DA in Houston and a published author. He ran for mayor because he wanted to revitalize Natchez back to the way he remembered it as a youth. So far, he’s just getting frustrated and feels nothing is changing. The schools are still the same, gambling is booming and many citizens are resisting any kind of change. Penn is seriously thinking of giving up and resigning. When childhood friend, Tim Jessup contacts Penn for a meeting at the local cemetery just after midnight, Penn goes to meet him based on his memories of the past. Shortly after high school Tim turned to drugs and though it appears that his new wife has kept him clean since they’ve been together Penn isn’t sure that it will last. What Tim tells Penn and shows him though knocks him for a loop. There are a lot more vices going on around Natchez then Penn realized and as mayor he needs to do something about them. Only Tim warns Penn that not everyone who should be doing something, like the DA and some of the police, is clean. Some of them are deeply involved in things that they shouldn’t be. Things really get murky when Tim arranges to meet Penn the next night, same place and time, and Tim is killed. The DA swears it was suicide but Penn knows better. Then, when the operator of the one gambling boat threatens Penn and his family, Penn has to call in some friends for help. This is a lot bigger than he thought and a lot more dangerous for not only Penn but his family and close friends. Besides extremely long, this book is extremely intense. Mr. Iles takes you into places you never wanted to be like dog fights and rapes. The emotions and descriptions will leave you torn as you merge into his written words. The coldness and coolness of murder and mayhem gave me chills. The depth of the corruption was amazing and believable. The characters were very well developed. Penn is a family man and that comes out. He cares about those close to him and he cares about the city of Natchez. Penn’s friend, Kelly is former Special Forces. He does what needs to be done and stands loyal to those he calls friend. Yet, you are given glimpses into cracks into his hard as nails persona. Penn’s former girlfriend, Caitlin shows some of the biggest character change when she ends up in the middle of a power struggle and her core values are challenged. These characters have been in previous books written by Mr. Iles. Readers of his books will enjoy seeing them in action once again. Those that have not read them, don’t fret. This book can be read without having read any others as the characters are so alive and well rounded that you don’t really feel as if you’re missing out on anything. Okay, occasionally references are made to previous things but extremely seldom and not in any way that really counts. I think one of the best aspects of this book is the absolutely fantastic descriptions of Natchez and the area around it. Though Natchez is referred to as a some what smallish place, it felt to me as a largish one. I guess it’s all in what you are use to. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the Mississippi River and the land around it. What really kept my interest though were the quirks of the area; the cemetery and its divisions as to where one was buried, the smallish cult churches abounding in the rural areas, and things of that sort. While I enjoyed this book, I did feel that it was too long. I was ready for it to be finished a few hundred pages before it was. There are some subplots that I felt weren’t needed though they did bring some fullness to the story. Intense and hard hitting, this thriller makes you give serious thought about what could be really happening in even your own neighborhood.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Ancient Whispers
by
Marie Claude Bourque
NightOwlReviews
, May 30, 2010
From Sapphire of Night Owl Reviews: Ancient Whispers is a unique and intriguing story. Marie-Cluade Bourque develops a world of mages and sorceresses unlike any other. Here, they can invoke the elements, change shape, and even perform alchemy. Gabriel was a strong and flawed character. Yes, flawed sounds like a bad thing; however, in this case, it allowed the characters to seem more real and open. Gabirel has searched 250 years for his soul mate. Now he has finally found his Evangeline reborn into Lily Bellefontaine. She is a nurse with the ability to calm, but Lily has always suppressed her powers. Now that she has met Gabirel and his "family" she is ready to learn more about everything she missed out on. I really enjoyed the characters. Lily and Gabriel were a good match, even if they fell for each other a tad quickly. The plot had a few holes and dragged at times, but the concept of the story was very interesting. I look forward to reading more from this talented debut author.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
The Untamed Bride
by
Stephanie Laurens
NightOwlReviews
, April 03, 2010
Stephanie Laurens is one of the queens of regency romance for a very good reason. She’s exceptionally good at it. Her stories are always full of intrigue, passion, wit, wisdom and lots of great historical tidbits. Her heroes and heroines are always strong, intelligent and completely believable. With The Untamed Bride, Ms. Laurens begins a new quartet, with some old friends thrown in for good measure. The Black Cobra has been terrorizing parts of India and Colonel Derek “Del” Delborough and four of his officers have been charged with seeing the fiend stopped and prosecuted. The problem is that the Black Cobra happens to be the son of a very powerful peer of the realm and only irrefutable and conclusive proof will do. When the proof is found and one of the officers is murdered the need to get that proof into the right hands becomes of utmost importance. Del and his remaining officers head home to England with the proof, one real, and the rest fake. Along the way Del meets Miss Deliah Duncannon, a neighbor to his estate and a woman his aunt’s had promised he would escort home. Deliah is headstrong, impulsive, intelligent and intrigues Del in ways he can’t understand, but fully appreciates. She gets herself entangled full force into the scheme to get the proof to the proper authorities as well as the plot by the Black Cobra to stop that from happening. Deliah consistently throws herself into the fray when battles erupt and nefarious villains abound. Del and Deliah get lots of help along the way from members of the Bastion Club as well as the Cynster family. And while these familiar and favorite characters are brought into the fray in this newest quartet by Ms. Laurens, they instantly feel like old friends, even if you haven’t read the previous works containing these characters. Del and Deliah also find something more important than any evidence, a deep and abiding love that brings them both home in more ways than one.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Red Wolf
by
Li Thomas Sundstrom
NightOwlReviews
, February 18, 2010
Heather of Night Owl Reviews Linda Thomas-Sundstrom’s latest release, Red Wolf is an intelligent and fascinating paranormal romance that will thrill you from beginning to end. Tory McKidd understands exactly what kind of monster is stalking the moonlit streets. She, too, is a werewolf and is ready to bring the rogue shifter to justice. What she isn't prepared for is Adam Scott, the sexy detective whose investigation crosses paths with her own—a human who inexplicably stirs her senses. Adam Scott is searching for a killer, not a lover, but with one look at the flame-haired beauty, he is ensnared. When one steamy night ignites their animal passion, there is no denying their fate. But when werewolf meets human, danger lurks—and the one they hunt may be the one hunting them.... Ms. Thomas-Sundstrom has written a wonderfully suspenseful story that blends the normal with the supernatural in an extremely successful way. Her characters are intelligent, believable and attention getting. The plot is captivating, intriguing and passionate. The sexual tension between the main characters is so scorching that sparks seem to leap right off the page. I am delighted to recommend this book to others. www.NightOwlReviews.com
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
My Sister's Ex
by
Cydney Rax
NightOwlReviews
, February 15, 2010
Reviewed by Angi of Night Owl Reviews - www.NightOwlReviews.com Marlene Draper and Rachel Merrell are half-sisters. They share a father, an apartment and plenty of family issues. Their childhoods were different yet shared. When Marlene starts dating Rachel's ex-fiancé, the family issues come to the front as well as their own personal issues. There is an unwritten rule that you do NOT date a friend or siblings ex. EVER. And this book points out EXACTLY why that rule is in place. Jealousy (even if the friend or sibling was the one to end the relationship), anger and hurt are the feelings that come to the forefront. Ms. Rax tackles the challenges of family and feelings and dating with aplomb, sensitivity and a little bit of humor thrown in. She addresses the issues of infidelity and the effects it can have not just on a spouse but on the children involved in such situations. The characters are genuine and true to life and loved and hated all at the same time. I enjoyed the interactions of all the characters and saw some members of my own family in many of them. And while I never dated any of my sisters' exes (if they weren't good enough for them they SURE weren't good enough for me) I have felt all the other feelings these two sisters go through. I liked how in the end both sisters realize that family is more important than anything else and learning to forgive those we love the most can be one of the hardest things we'll ever do. Learning to let go of the past and live in the now and support each other as sisters and women and family becomes the key to forgiveness and moving on to a better future. A lesson all women can benefit from.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
The Triumph of Deborah
by
Eva Etzioni-Halevy
NightOwlReviews
, January 31, 2010
By Lisa of Night Owl Romance - www.NightOwlRomance.com This is a gripping story of a woman’s triumph in a time where women weren’t usually prominent in leadership positions. Told well, it traces a leader’s questions, a woman’s triumph, a mother’s agony, and an individual’s angst in decision-making and personal growth throughout the leadership of the small but growing nation of Israel. Halevy has done not only her profession proud, but also her heritage. Deborah was a joy to read, a true midrash of a pivotal woman in biblical history. Deborah is a wonderful book to add to the bookshelf, do a reading group on, or pass on to a friend.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment