Sharp Shooter – Marianne Delacourt
Synopsis: Tara Sharp should be just another unemployable, twenty-something, ex-private schoolgirl… but she has the gift - or curse as she sees it - of reading people's auras. The trouble is, auras sometimes tell you things about people they don't want you to know.
When a family friend recommends Mr Hara's Paralanguage School, Tara decides to give it a whirl - and graduates with flying colours. So when Mr Hara picks up passes on a job for a hot-shot lawyer she jumps at the chance despite some of his less-than-salubrious clients. Tara should know better than to get involved when she learns the job involves mob boss Johnny Vogue. But she's broke and the magic words 'retainer' and 'bonus' have been mentioned. Soon Tara finds herself sucked into an underworld 'situation' that has her running for her life.

At times absolutely hilarious, this book is a fantastic escapist easy read – perfect for a rainy Sunday or a long day at the beach. I read it in a day. Really enjoyable.

Gloss Rating: 4 out of 5
RRP: $35
Published by: Allen and Unwin

Flesh & Blood - Jonathan Kellerman
Synopsis: Psychologist Alex Delaware hasn't been in private practice for a long time, but when the mother of a former patient calls and asks for his help, he can't turn her down. He couldn't help Lauren Teague when she was alive, but something about his failure with the beautiful, sullen teenager who grew up to be a high-priced call girl won't let him walk away after her bullet-ridden body turns up in an L.A. dumpster.

This book is an enjoyable read, although it could have been grittier and it’s not Jonathan Kellerman’s best work, it’s still really good.

Gloss Rating: 3/5
RRP: $24.99
Published by: Hachette

Ox-Tales Series (Earth, Air, Water, Fire) – Various Authors

Synopsis
A series of collections of short stories, with each one built around one of the four elements — air, earth, fire and water. Each is packed with well-known British authoes and every copy sold contributes at least 50 pence to the charity. Some interesting, some quirky and others utterly absorbing it’s nice to see the short story genre revitalised in this series – particularly as the money goes to a worthy charity.

Gloss Rating: 4/5
RRP: $15.99
Published by: Allen and Unwin

Life According to Lubka - Laurie Graham

Synopsis: Buzz Wexler is an old hand at the music PR business: Angry Belgians, Cheesy Boyz and Ear Waxx were all her babies. And for a woman who was forty last birthday she certainly keeps up the pace. But that's about to change.

Now some twenty year old has been given Wasabi Gymslip, the Japanese group predicted to go stellar and Buzz is being sidelined into something called World Music. It'll be a blast, her boss assures her. The Gorni Grannies may not be the tantrum-throwing celebs Buzz is used to, but they present other challenges. Like how to stop Lubka straining yogurt through M&S knee highs and how to persuade Mara that Tail Waggers' Gravy Bones aren't intended for human consumption.This is just the funniest story I have read in a while. Perhaps I identified with Buzz as I would be seriously pissed off to find myself shipped off to another office to work with a bunch of old ladies. (Obviously couldn’t think of anything worse).I think what I liked most about this story was that it was written in a first hand way with the accents of the different characters reflected in the writing therefore making it not your typical chic lit book. Gloss Rating: 4/5
RRP: $35

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters – Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters

Synopsis: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, angry octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other freaks of nature. As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels? This masterful portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen’s biting social commentary with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting. It’s survival of the fittest—and only the swiftest swimmers will find true love!

This quirky classic adaptation is wonderful. Laugh out loud funny but with a touch of romance for the soft at heart. It’s even better than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Gloss Rating: 5/5
RRP: $29.99
Published by: Southern Publishers Group

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