Friday, January 31, 2014

Takedown Twenty/Janet Evanovich/307 pgs

I enjoyed #20 much better than the last two installments.  Typical Stephanie stumbling through attempts to apprehend her "bond skippers and finding mayhem along the way.  Ranger asks for her help to find the person murdering old ladies and putting them in dumpsters.  Add Joe's mafia boss uncle, crazy Grandma Bella, Grandma Mazur and a giraffe and you end up with a fun romp.  I will read #21.

Upon a Winter's Night/Karen Harper/373 pgs

Though she is deeply loved by her parents, the fact that Lydia Brand is adopted has always made her different from her close-knit Amish community. But as Christmas approaches and she begins to search for answers about her biological parents, more questions surface.

Soon it seems that the deaths of two women in her small town may not be coincidences, after all. And her pursuit of the truth has left her only with hints of a dark secret—and threats from an unseen adversary.

While she does her best to stave off advances from her parents' preferred suitor, Lydia discovers that her heart truly belongs to the man who's been there all along: her friend Josh Yoder. It's only with his help that Lydia can ensure that the stillness of a winter's night means peace…and not danger.

Did I say that I really like this Amish mystery series?  Karen Harper really knows how to keep you on the edge while adding romance and Amish life.

Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble/Ann B. Ross/354 pgs

I had mixed feelings about this installment of the Miss Julia series.  It still had the same quirky characters with problems for Julia to solve. Miss Julia is trying to come up with a cookbook for Hazel Marie comprised of recipes given by friends and family.  She is also incorporating cooking lessons along the way.  Add an injured James, new twins and a relative faking illness you have a frazzled Hazel Marie.  The premise is good, however, too much space is taken up by the recipes and not enough by plot.  I hope this was a one time shot and Ms Ross gets back to her regular style.

Sugar / Jewell Parker Rhodes / 272 pages

In this book for young readers, Jewell Parker Rhodes shares a bit of history about the South after the Civil War.  The main character is an orphan and former slave girl, Sugar, who works the sugar cane fields.  This is the story of the mindset of freed slaves who remained in the South, the use of Chinese workers to replace the freed slaves who moved North, and the changing attitudes of plantation owners.  It's a story of a time of transition and what it takes to grab a new life.  Great addition to historical novels for children.

Love Overdue / Pamela Morsi / 427 pages

Here's a light bit of fluffy romance featuring a librarian who is the new director of a small town library and hand-chosen by the meddling president of the library board who has picked the librarian as her future daughter-in-law.  D. J. deals with the most resistant to change staff member ever and a shelver who hides in the stacks.  If you've ever gone on a vacation and done something that you thought would remain in your past....don't count on it is the message of this book. It's a romance though so all turns out well.

Help for the Haunted / John Searles / 360 pages

Great read but disturbing when you think about the life of the main character, Sylvie Mason.  Her parents help the "haunted" when there is no one else to turn to.  They store the relics of the people they help in the basement.  Creepy.  Her sister Rosie is soooo unlikable yet she has had her trials & tribulations too.  Sylvie is so bright, always doing as expected, and wondering if her parents are fakes or the genuine thing.  Sylvie must solve her parents murder and endure and survive her quirky life. Again...a disturbing book.

W Is for Wasted / Sue Grafton / 484 pages

I wonder what Sue Grafton is thinking each time she finishes one of her alphabet mysteries..."oh no! only 3 more books to go" or "thank goodness only 3 more books to go."  I feel for her yet I thank her for continuing to write about Kinsey Millhone with all of her crusty quirks and her colleagues Henry, William, Rosie, etc. In "W" Grafton manages to work in some interesting thoughts about our homeless population as well as giving us another "whodunit."  Thank you for keeping Kinsey in the world of 1988!  Now on to "X"

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Anonymous Sources/Mary Louise Kelly/345 pgs.

Alexandra James, a.k.a. Alex, is a journalist for the New England Chronicle. She usually covers the education beat, but happens to be available when a man falls to his death from the Harvard bell tower. It initially looks as if his death is an accident or a suicide. However, the deceased is Thom Carlyle, son of Lowell Carlyle--the White House counsel. Alex thinks there might be more to Thom's death, and begins to pursue various leads. There are twists and turns, suspense, and a great plot. I hope we get to see Alex James in other books.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Supreme Macaroni Company/Adriana Trigiani/338 pgs

From Booklist

The final novel in Trigiani’s Valentine trilogy (Very Valentine, 2009; Brava, Valentine, 2010) finds shoemaker Valentine Roncalli planning her wedding to Gianluca Vechiarelli, a handsome Italian nearly 20 years her senior and the son of her grandmother’s new husband. As Gianluca adjusts to life amid the boisterous, extended Roncalli clan, the fiercely independent Valentine, an ambitious and talented shoe designer, struggles to balance work and home life, with her marriage often taking a backseat to her career. Cultural differences between the pair widen as her plans to open a factory as she becomes a first-time mother clash with his vision for the couple’s future, which includes a home in Tuscany. Though the conflict is plausible, it comes across as vaguely overplotted. For those who have followed Valentine’s ups and downs from the start, Trigiani’s send-off is bound to feel bittersweet in more ways than one. For readers new to the series, missing the occasional insider reference has its advantages—they still have two books ahead of them and the chance to meet Valentine where she began. --Patty Wetli
I didn't realize that this was a trilogy when I started reading it.  However, in my opinion,  it didn't affect the story line.  I enjoyed it but didn't think that it was as good as "The Shoemaker's Wife."

Up at Butternut Lake/Mary McNear/384 pgs


In the tradition of Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, Mary McNear introduces readers to the town of Butternut Lake and to the unforgettable people who call it home.
It's summer, and after ten years away, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake, where as a teenager she spent so many carefree days. She's promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, they will be happy there. She's promised herself this is the place to begin again after her husband's death in Afghanistan. The cabin holds so many wonderful memories, but from the moment she crosses its threshold Allie is seized with doubts. Has she done the right thing uprooting her little boy from the only home he's ever known?
Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances—her friend Jax, now a young mother of three with one more on the way, and Caroline, the owner of the local coffee shop—are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford (also hiding a tragedy from his past) who create mixed feelings in Allie.  She must deal with her desires and feelings of betraying her dead husband.  This is the first book in a trilogy (pub. date is April).  

The Sound and the Furry/Spencer Quinn/311 pgs

From Booklist

Spencer Quinn, pseudonym for award-winning adult and youth writer Peter Abrahams, continues his clever, dog-narrated private-eye series with a strong sixth volume. Canine narrator Chet and human PI Bernie head to Louisiana to find a missing nephew of a criminal they previously put away. Ralph is the straight arrow in the crazy Boutette family, but no one has heard from him or seen him recently. Chet uncovers clues right and left, but readers are left to interpret them amid his musings on his next meal. Humor scores every scene, and while Chet’s thoughts are not linear, they are clear enough to derive what has happened, usually before the human characters do. Bernie, while sharp, needs Chet to find Ralph’s glasses and to protect him when they are both viciously attacked. A missing shipment of shrimp and an intertwined family web of blackmail and crime keep the private-eye team guessing until Chet forces Bernie to see what is going on in a decidedly sinister situation. This will appeal to fans of dog mysteries and possibly even to any mystery fan who doesn’t mind the occasional talking pooch. --Amy Alessio
I have read all the Chet and Bernie mysteries.  The story told from the view of the dog is a hoot!


Big Girl Panties/Stephanie Evanovich/324 pgs

From Amazon:
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich is a rollicking and poignant romantic comedy about a young widow who decides to get in shape...and winds up getting her groove back—and a whole lot more!
Holly Brennan used food to comfort herself through her husband’s illness and death. Now she’s alone at age thirty-two. And she weighs more than she ever has. When fate throws her in the path of Logan Montgomery, personal trainer to pro athletes, and he offers to train her, Holly concludes it must be a sign. Much as she dreads the thought of working out, Holly knows she needs to put on her big girl panties and see if she can sweat out some of her grief. 

 Stephanie Evanovich is a little spicier than Janet, however, it's a fun romp.

Finding Mercy/Karen Harper/329 pgs

This is another Amish mystery by Karen Harper.  I am really enjoying these.  They combine suspense and romance with Amish life.  Ms Harper is good at keeping you guessing until the end.  Alex Caldwell is put in Amish country as a witness protection plan to keep him safe until he testifies.  Surprise....the plan doesn't work and his interest in Ella puts them both in danger.  Along the way to romance, Ella battles with her faith and her growing attraction to Alex.  Fun read.

The First Phone Call from Heaven/Mitch Albom/326 pgs

Publishers Weekly:
Starred Review. Albom (The Five People You Meet in Heaven) has a nose for thin places: places where the boundary between secular and sacred is porous, and ultimate meaning is easier to encounter. In his new novel, Coldwater, Mich., is this thin place, a town where people who have lost loved ones begin receiving phone calls from the dead in heaven. Sully Harding's wife died while he was in prison, and their young son, Jules, hopes his mom will call, even while Sully smells a hoax. Albom weaves a thread of satire into a narrative braided from the lives of smalltown residents; Coldwater becomes a media hotspot as well as battleground for religious and antireligious zealots, all awaiting the revelation they expect. A historical thread—popping into the narrative like a change-up in baseball—deals with Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone and how the instrument came to be the premier human connector. This brisk, page-turner of a story climaxes at Christmas. Another winner from Albom; this book just about shouts Give me for a holiday gift. Good for discussion.

Looks That Deceive by Braxton DeGarmo (464 pgs)

The press calls “him” the L.A. Rapist, a misnomer in all ways for this serial assailant whose attacks on legal assistants leaves them in a vegetative state. Now, the deaths of two prominent medical malpractice attorneys have put authorities in an uproar and detective Lynch Cully is under extreme pressure to find the perpetrators.  Has the L.A. Rapist upped “his” game? Amy Gibbs, RN is a newly recruited med-evac flight nurse who left the E.D. and its stress behind, along with memories of a certain detective who “dumped” her. On one fateful call, she hears the deathbed confession of a man who police are seeking as a person of interest, perhaps the killer’s accomplice. Within hours, the lives of Amy Gibbs and detective Lynch Cully again intertwine in a story that unravels a web of identity theft, electronic eavesdropping, and stalking amid a confusion of identities. This is written by a local author.  A friend gave me this title (1st in Med-Evac series).  I liked it so much I bought the 2nd from Amazon.  We don't have these in our collection (pod from TS3).  It definitely kept my attention and wanting to read the next.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Saints/ Gene Luen Yang/ 170 pages

You need to read Boxers first, but this is a great book.  Again about the Boxer rebellion in China.  Only this is the story of Vibiana, who joined the Christians.  She has visions of Joan of Arc.  This would make for an excellent discussion.  But, I am wondering why Boxers and Saints were published separately, because I think you really need to read them both to appreciate the full story.

Lies You Wanted to Hear/ James Thomson/ 401 pages

I don't know how to classify this book.  Realism for adults?  This is a sad story.  At first I thought it might be a book that was good for "People who like 50 Shades".  I am an adamant disliker of 50 Shades.  So, at first this book and I were not getting along.  I say the 50 shades thing, because I think some scenes were just thrown in there to shock and could be left out and the story would not be hurt.  But, about half way through when tragedy strikes, I was hooked.  I still don't know which characters I like or don't like.  But, this is the story of two people who met, married, and lied to each other repeatedly.  

The Innocent / Taylor Stevens / 10 disks / 352 pages

  I am becoming quite the fan of Vanessa Michael Munroe. The stories crafted by Taylor Stevens are unnerving, thought provoking and quite topical. Michael has been contacted by her best friend Logan who has received the news he has been waiting for. It has been 8 long years and the time to act is now. He has a daughter Hannah that was kidnapped by a cult known as The Chosen. Hannah's mother and her had left the group and had begun a 'normal' life outside the closed walls. Unfortunately they were betrayed and Hannah was taken back. Logan now has the information on her whereabouts. Michael knows this will be a tricky problem and contacts Miles (see Volume 1) for backup. Michael's personal demons as also loose and are causing problems, enough so that Logan and Miles are seriously concerned if the plan will go off without a hitch.
  This is quite a ride, often twisting off the conventional path. The typical action thriller plot takes a back seat as we learn how Michael will go about infiltrating the compound. Plus once Hannah is found what happens next is a great twist and may set up more for later books. The background to the plot is close to what the author herself had experienced. She is a former member of the Children of God group. My one quibble is there was a lot left on the table. Characters and story arcs not quite closed. I am hoping these will be taken care of in the next book. It isn't a big thing just something as a reader I would like to see fixed. I heartily recommend these for an answer to bitterly cold Winter nights.

6 degrees of Reading:  The Keeper of Lost Causes; The First Department Q Novel by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Stranded: A Maggie O'Dell Novel by Alex Kava, Crashed: A Junior Bender Novel by Timothy Hallinan.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand / Helen Simonson / 358 pages

This book was recommended to me by several co-workers over the past few years, and I finally got around to listening to it while on a long road trip.  The book had me laughing out loud from its humorous qualities, which included outrageous insensitive comments and a great deal of wit and dry humor. It’s about a lonely and somewhat rigid widower, Major Pettigrew, who has a taste for the traditional English ways of life.  In the beginning of the story, he suffers a loss that actually sparks a new friendship with the local tea shop owner, which quickly becomes the talk of the town -- you know rumors and small towns!  (And what makes the gossip even juicier is that the shop owner is from Pakistan!)  I actually recommend listening to it because you get a better sense of the dry humor, plus, who doesn't want to listen to British accents?  

A Thousand Splendid Suns/Khaled Hosseini/372 pgs.

Hosseini brings to life the daily struggles and history of the Afghanistan people. He takes the reader on a journey set around Afghanistan's last thirty years--from the Soviet invasion to post-Taliban time. The story centers mainly around two women--Mariam and Laila. Each has her own story, but become part of each other's story when they end up married to the same man--Rasheed. The book gives a glimpse into the lives of families trying to not only survive invasions and war, but also to make life better for future generations. This is one of the best books I've ever read--I'm so glad it's our book club selection for February!

What I Had Before I Had You/Sarah Cornwell/278 pgs.

This debut novel by Sarah Cornwell is told from Olivia Reed's perspective. Olivia is fresh off of a divorce, and is taking her daughter, Carrie, and son, Daniel back to her hometown of Ocean Vista on the Jersey Shore. Olivia, as a teenager, had left her single parent mom, Myla, in search of her "dead" sisters. Once in Ocean Vista, Olivia becomes distracted when thinking of her past, and without her noticing, Daniel disappears. The reader gets a look into Olivia's past, while in the present the search is on for her missing son. This is a powerful novel dealing with family issues, bipolar disease, and unknown secrets. It has an air of melancholy, but is a very good read.

Airframe / Michale Crichton / 351 pages / USA Today Bestseller

The summary on the library website is a bit misleading.  No midair collision happens in this book.  Rather a single plane experiences violent midair turbulence resulting in death and injury.  An investigation is launched into the  safety of the aircraft and its record.  Based on real events, Airframe is a suspense-filled tale of the workings of the aircraft industry, and human error and misdirection.

The Cinderella Deal / Jennifer Cruise / 278 pages / 5 Gold Rings December Challenge

Daisy Flattery quit her teaching job to become an artist and storyteller.  She dressed "like somebody from Little House on the Prairie on acid" which was why Lincoln Blaise, her upstairs neighbor, avoided her.  He like dignity, calm, control, and quiet.  But Linc lied in his interview for Prescott College.  They were disappointed that he was not married, so he invented a fiancée.  He needed the quiet academic atmosphere at Prescott to finish his book.  He had a plan.  "All he needed was a woman reasonable and reasonably attractive...who was willing to lie through her teeth and then quickly disappear."  Daisy Flattery was a storyteller, so truth was not one of her virtues.  Linc proposes a Cinderella Deal - a temporary arrangement with Daisy posing as his fiancée to secure his coveted position.  All bets are off "at midnight" when he gets the job...or are they?  This is a delightful, light-hearted, a bit-too-good-to-be-true romance suggesting that balance, compromise, and being true to oneself are essential to being happy ever after.

"Without struggle and adversity no story was really a story."

Honeymoon / James Patterson / 468 pages / USA Today Bestseller

Are there really women like Nora Sinclair - women to whom all men are attracted and want to make their own?...I just wonder!  Nora takes advantage of this attraction to capture, kill, and reap financial rewards from a series of men.  Federal agent John O'Hara has the task of investigating what appears to be a serial killer.  He is also following a money trail.  He, too, falls for Nora.  "With the irresistible attraction of the greatest Hitchcock thrillers, Honeymoon is a sizzling, twisting, tale of a woman with a deadly appetite and the men who dare to fall for her."  The denouement a welcome surprise in this 2005 International Thriller of the Year.

Eleanor and Park / Rainbow Rowell / 325 pages / Five Gold Rings December Challenge

"Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen year olds - smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave enough to try."  Eleanor and Park meet on the school bus.  Eleanor is somewhat large, has massive red hair, and dresses eccentrically.  Park is half Korean, strong in martial arts, and a disappointment to his father.  Drawn to each other by common interests - music, comics, and similar senses of humor, the unlikely couple proves to everyone that love truly can conquer all.  Great, heart-warming and heart-rending family dynamics add texture and depth to this meaningful romance.  This is YA! - objectionable language and mature scenes are plentiful.

92 Pacific Boulevard / Debbie Macomber / 513 pages / USA Today Bestseller

My goodness!  Most authors are content to follow one couple in a romance.  Debbie Macomber, however, has given several couples in various stages of relationship in this Cedar Grove romance.  The story opens with a body being discovered in a cave by teenagers and Faith's cottage being vandalized.  Are the two incidents connected?  Romance and strained relationships abound in this romantic mystery.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Finger Lickin Fifteen / Janet Evanovich / 385 pages / USA Today Bestseller

In this Stephanie Plum installment, the bound enforcement officer is at odds with her steady boyfriend, Joe Morelli.  She is working with Ranger, investigating a series of break-ins at Range Man protected sites.  Ranger and Lula are helping Steph with her collars.  Lula is being chased by machete-wielding killers because she witnessed the beheading of Stanley Chipolte.  Lula decides to enter and win his Bar-B-Que cook off.  Steph's eccentric Grandma Mazur is Lulu's willing assistant.  Laughs abound in this riot of murder, mayhem, and romance.

Fearless Fourteen / Janet Evanovich / 423 pages / USA Today Bestseller

Once again fearless bond enforcement agent, Stephanie Plum, is neck deep in murder and mayhem.  This time, however, she and Joe are left babysitting Joe's cousin Loretta's gamer teenage son.  Assorted nutcases, including Stephanie's grandmother, are digging for treasure in Joe's yard and basement.  Loretta is kidnapped and parts of her are being delivered to force Stephanie's and Joe's co-operation.  Not for the faint of heart, Fearless Fourteen is entertaining, shocking, and totally unbelievable.

Innocence / Dean Koontz / 338 pages / 5 Gold Rings December Challenge

Considering Gwyneth's psychological problems and the limitations they imposed on her; considering Addison could venture from his underground haven only in the quietest hours of the night, cloaked and hooded and at risk of being murdered on sight, their encounter and the way that their friendship continued to be unfold seemed miraculous.  Gwyneth in being stalked by a truly evil librarian; the Archbishop is corrupt; and Addison is an unlikely knight-in-shining armor.  When North Korea unleashes a deadly plague and a violent snowstorm hits the city, Gwyneth and Addison team up, discover secrets, and pledge love without end.  This is a truly inspiring, mesmerizing work about the redeeming, life-giving value of love.

Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion / Leslie Margolis / 245 pages

A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery
Maggie Brooklyn Sinclair is trying to solve the case of the sabotage of Sonya's Sweets.  Simultaneously, she is determined to ferret out the secrets of the Chocolate Mansion.  Are ghosts real?  Is the Irish cleaning woman who died in the elevator still haunting the Adams Mansion?  Maggie investigates multiple suspects, including a Girl Scout determined to be the top seller.  Maggie's tiff with her boyfriend, Milo, leads to interesting discussions on the reality of ghosts.

Allegiant / Veronica Roth / 526 pages / USA Today Bestseller

Evelyn and her followers don't want to leave the city.  They don't want to respond to the pleas for help from the people beyond the wall.  They are ready to do anything to stifle the truth...to be king's of their tiny little world.  Evelyn's son, Tobias, a Divergent like Tris, agrees.  He is not sure he wants to offer himself to them to solve humanity's problems, whatever that means.  But Tris, Tobias, and others escape the city, learn the truth about the origin of the factions, and risk all to right past wrongs.  As with the other books in the Divergent series, this is an engaging, thought-provoking YA read.

Insurgent / Veronica Roth / 463 pages / USA Today Bestseller

This is the second book in the dystopian Diverse Trilogy.  "One choice can transform you - or it can destroy you, but every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in all the factions around her, Tris (Trice) Prior continues trying to save those she loves - and herself - while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love."  Tris is unusual even for a divergent.  She had predilections for three factions - Abnegation, Dauntless, and Erudite, and is able to escape the simulations devised by the Erudite to control the minds of the other factions.  Her brother, Caleb, appears to be a traitor, but only because he knows what is outside the city (Chicago) walls.  It has been said that this series is the next great read after the Hunger Games series.  I'm not sure I would go this far, but it certainly is an engaging read, encouraging each of us to examine who we are, what we stand for, and ask if our actions support our beliefs.

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat / Edward Kelsey Moore / 549 pages / 5 Gold Rings Christmas Challenge

Earl's All-You-Can-Eat was the first black-owned business in downtown Plainview, Indiana.  It opened in the mid 1950's and the Supremes (not the famous singing group) - Clarice, Odette, and Barbara Jean, had been meeting there at the window table for over forty years.  They overlooked each other's flaws and treated each other well, even when they didn't deserve it.  Beautiful Barbara Jean dressed too young for her years; Odette was fat; and Clarice's husband was a dog.  This book was recommended on the Blog and it was a truly remarkable, action-packed read.  It deals with black-white relations when this was considered taboo, cheating husbands, life threatening cancer, ghosts, Eleanor Roosevelt, a proposal, and the painting each of us paints with our own life...


"What we call miracles is just what's supposed to happen.  We either go with it or stand in its way."

Friday, January 24, 2014

The Beautiful Mystery / Louise Penny, 373 p.

Not just another "murder in the monastery", The Beautiful Mystery is lyrical and engaging, playing on the name of the elusive first written Gregorian chants.  Hidden deep in the back country of Quebec, the cloistered monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups is the setting for murder, and where Chief Inspector Gamache discovers all is not as it seems among the peace-loving monks.  Thoughtful and engaging, I recommend this and look forward to reading more by Penny, a new author for me.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Signs and Wonders / Philip Gulley 208 p.

Phillip Gulley returns to Harmony, Indiana in this third in the series about Sam Garner pastor of the Harmony Friends Meeting.  Sam preaches about love while Dale Hinshaw practices balloon ministry (he sends loads of balloons aloft with scriptural readings).  Barbara, Sam's wife wins a trip to the Caribbean and goes with a neighbor when Sam can't get away--until he wakes up.  Deena Morrison is struggling with being single.  The Friendly Women's Committee takes on the challenge.  When the library board decides to let Miss Rudy, the elderly librarian, go, they draft Sam to deliver the bad news.  This scene is a laugh out loud one.

Those who enjoy the Father Timothy series by Jan Karon may enjoy this.  And fans of Garrison Keillor small town Lake Wobegan may enjoy this.  The humorous small town life may appeal to Fanny Flagg readers.

Ordinary People / Judith Guest 263 p.

Cal, Beth and Conrad Jarrett seems to be the ideal family -- ordinary  middle class people you meet everyday.  A boating accident takes the life of the eldest son, leaving the rest of the family reeling from the death.  Con, loaded with guilt, attempted suicide, is hospitalized, and returns home.  Home is the place where one doesn't talk.  He has a inaccessible and indifferent mother; a father who is somewhat overprotective-- all with issues to deal with.  Con is making the effort.  He connects with a girl at school.  He still needs his shrink.  All is not perfect as one may think at first glance.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

All American: two young men, the 2001 Army-Navy game and the war they fought in Iraq / Steve Eubanks / 276 pgs

All American follows the lives of two military academy graduates, Chad Jenkins (West Point) and Brian Stann (Naval Academy) and their role in the famous 2001 Army v. Navy game when Army beat Navy 26-17.  Reading the stories of what these teams saw and felt during the football season after September 11th is enough to give anyone goosebumps.  The book is not just about football (in fact, only a short part of it is) but about what these men experienced once they graduated and delved immediately into two wars.  It goes through each of their careers with one immediately going into combat and the other one being held back due to some accusations brought against him by a female officer.  You learn what officers go through in combat and training missions, multiple deployments, and what they experience after they get out of the military with one becoming a famous MMA fighter and fighting in the UFC.  Highly recommend this book.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Unbroken: a World War II airman's story of survival, resilience, and redemption / Laura Hillenbrand / 473 pgs

Unbroken chronicles the life of famed Olympic runner and World War II POW, Louis Zamperini.  Having a rough life growing up, Louis turned to running to settle his frustrations and anger and ended up participating in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.  When World War II started, he ended up with the Army Air Corps in the Pacific flying bombing missions in the not-so-great B-24.  After his plane is shot down, he survives in a raft for weeks and ends up in the possession of the Japanese Navy where he was taken as a POW.  

I listened to the book and it was very hard listening to some of the things the Japanese did to the POWs but it gave you a sense of what these men went through everyday and the fear they faced -- listening to it really brought it to life.  I usually need a break from audio books when I’m taking road trips, but I did not touch the radio until I hit my destination with this book.

Red Rising / Pierce Brown / 400 pgs / Dec. challenge - Swans-a-Swimming

A science-fiction book where humans have the technology to colonize other planets and genetically modify their bodies to create "superior beings" with inhuman strength, speed, etc; yet are still under a caste system society.  Humans are categorized by color with the "Reds" being the lowest level as they are virtual slaves working in the mines on Mars.  The highest are the "Golds" who are modified to have every physical advantage and are trained from birth to value power.  Darrow, a "Red" is taken from his mining colony and is trained to infiltrate the Gold Society and try to take it down from within.

This book is being marketed as the "Next Hunger Games" but for Adults.  I would say due to the violence and implied sexual violence, this is not a book for younger teens.  This is book #1 in a trilogy, and I cannot wait to read book 2!!

(I got an Advance Copy from NetGalley.  This Book is due out: January 28, 2014 - Get on the list Now!)

Playing Dirty/Susan Andersen/330 pgs.

Back in high school, Cade Gallari did Ava Spencer wrong: she lost her virginity to him not knowing that his friends had orchestrated a bet. Years later, even though she is a successful businesswoman, Eva hasn't forgotten that humiliating incident. Cade is back in town planning a documentary about "Miss Agnes"--Eva's (and her two best friends, Poppy, and Jane)  deceased mentor. He wants to use Miss Agnes's mansion (owned by Eva, Poppy, and Jane) for the shoot, and hire Eva as his concierge on the  project. The reader knows how it's all going to turn out, but the fun is in the journey getting to the conclusion. It's an enjoyable read, and concludes the trilogy begun with Jane's story.

Rude bitches make me tired (Slightly profane and entirely logical answers to modern etiquette dilemmas)/Celia Rivenbark/254 pages/Coworker Recommended

There's not much more to say about this book after you say the title. If you've read any of Rivenbark's other books, then you know how wickedly funny she is. Her Southern sensibilities make this a delight to read. I chuckled throughout most of the book and just outright laughed often. Take the subtitle at its word: it is slightly profane. If you are offended by that, don't read the book! If you can overlook a few words here and there, then enjoy!


This was recommended to me by a coworker. Thanks!

Size 12 is Not Fat/Meg Cabot/345 pages/4 Calling Birds Challenge Met

Heather Wells, former teen pop singer (4 Calling Birds), is trying to start a new life as an assistant dorm--I mean residence hall--director after her singer career is over and her fiancé dumps her. When two freshman girls are killed in the same freakish way, she suspects they were murdered. Now she just has to convince the police and her PI landlord Cooper who is also her almost ex-brother-in-law.


This is the first of the Heather Wells series. I was looking for fluff after my last book, and this book fit the bill. I've read The Bride Wears Size 12, so I know how things turn out for Heather eventually, but this was a nice introduction to her character. A fun, fluffy romp even if two things get a little tiresome. One, Heather's constant self-correcting of dorm--I mean residence hall, and two, her explanation to everyone that size 12 isn't fat. It's average. Not that I don't agree, but you have to wonder if she's just trying to convince herself.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

The Impossible Knife of Memory / Laurie Halse Anderson / 391p.


Hayley has her hands full. Her father is an Iraq vet with severe PTSD. After several years on the road as a truck driver, with his teen age daughter in tow, Andy has decided to return to his childhood home so Hayley can attend a real high school for her senior year. As her father has struggled to suppress memories of battle and death, Hayley suppressed her own memories of good times before his illness overtook everything. She is suddenly being confronted by some of those memories. Along with being used to a freer life style, finding herself falling for handsome, quirky Finn and dealing with her father's free-fall into total depression, Hayley is herself losing the ability to cope. Can friendship and love prevail?

Friday, January 17, 2014

Boxers/Gene Luen Yang/ 328 pages

This graphic novel is about the boxer rebellion in China, which took place between 1899-1901.  Through a series of circumstances Little Bao is able to call on the gods to help fight the Christian Foreigners who are invading their land.  It's mostly a sad story.  The Christian invaders are not very sympathetic, but I don't feel a lot of sympathy for the boxers at this point either.  It will be interesting to read Saints and see how that perspective is portrayed.  Sad story.

The Weird Sisters/ Eleanor Brown/ 366 pages

This is the story of 3 sisters who are brought back together due to their mothers illness.  However, the mother and her illness have very little to do with the story.  The girls grew up in a college town, daughters of the famous Shakespearean professor and are consequently all named after Shakespearean characters.  Told in first person plural, it's a heart warming story of sisters all coming into their own.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Children of Green Knowe / L.M. Boston 183 p.

Toby is sent from Burma to live with his great-grandmother, Oldknow.  And that is just fine with him.  Oldknow treats him as an equal.   His curiosity is piqued by Oldknow's stories, a mixture at times of the past and present, of children who have lived there since the 17th century.  At the ancient castle of Green Knowe, he comes to see things, things that perhaps aren't real.  He comes to appreciate these relatives of his, these playmates of his in the gentle fantasy.

"H" is for Homicide / Sue Grafton 256 p.

Kinsey Millhone goes undercover when she discovers a massive insurance scam.  She becomes a confident of Bibianna Diaz when they are jailed together in the police round-up after the murder of one of Raymond Maldonado's cohorts.  Bibianna is petrified of Raymond (they have a history).  Kinsey stays in character while gathering the goods on Raymond.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Bending the Rules/Susan Andersen/379 pgs.

Poppy Calloway uses art to inspire and redirect troubled teenagers. She gets involved with three such teenagers when they are caught "tagging" the outside wall of a building. Instead of charges be brought against them, Poppy wants them to "pay" for their crime, but in a way that will make them aware of their role in society. This goes completely against Detective Jason de Sanges' philosophy, who of course, is assigned to oversee Poppy's project. He and Poppy have clashed before, so of course, there is instant attraction. There is a little suspense, good dialogue, and an altogether satisfying conclusion.

The 9th Girl/Tami Hoag/405 pgs.

Detectives Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska are on the hunt for a serial killer. "Zombie Doe" is a victim who falls out of the back of a car trunk New Year's Eve. They need to find out who the victim is, and if she is the 9th victim of the unknown killer called "Doc Holiday." They determine the victim's identity, which brings the nightmare closer to home for Detective Liska. This is one of Hoag's better novels, in my opinion. There is suspense, plus a few twists in the plot, before all is resolved. Highly recommended.

Inferno / Dan Brown / 461 pages

     First book read on a Kindle.  I chose it because it was the first author I had read before.
Nice positive topic: human population is growing at such a rate that the world needs something drastic like a plague to cull the population by 1/3 in order to survive.
     Okay, that being said, Robert Langdon is off on another adventure deciphering clues from paintings and Dante's Inferno.  Will he prevent the apocalypse?
     I did enjoy the book even with the grim topic.  There is a bit much of travelogue in it.
Dan Brown obviously spent a lot of time in Italy to "research" the book and get tax breaks..
Hmm.  What location should I use when I write a book?
     Not as good as The Da Vinci code, but still pretty good.



There's more to life that this / Theresa Caputo / 240 pages

Yes, this is Theresa Caputo aka the Long Island Medium from tv.  Her book reads very much the same way she talks on her show.  I don't think that she is faking.  A lot of what she says agrees with observations of others who have had near death experiences or who are also mediums.  She believes that people can come back multiple times and that the dear departed are able to help those left behind.  She does not go as far out as Sylvia Brown,
but there are similarities. 
      I do like that she only channels positive spirits which is probably why she never sees anything negative on her show.  She does go a little into negative energy, but thinks it should be avoided.  Interesting book. 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Accused / Lisa Scottoline / 351 pages

In this novel, Scottoline returns to her Rosato & Associates legal thriller series which I really enjoy.  In Accused, Mary is trying to adjust to her new status as partner and becoming engaged.  Her client is a precocious 13 year old girl who hires Mary to solve her sister's murder and free the man convicted for the crime.  Scottoline keeps you turning pages as Mary doubts herself and her client.  Of course the DiNunzios and the three Tonys add just the right touch of love and humor.  In the acknowledgements, Scottoline states she is going to start writing a Rosato & Associates every year so there's more to look forward to...yeah!

The Whole Enchilada / Diane Mott Davidson / 372 pages

Goldy's catering business is threatened by an impersonator, one of her best friends mysteriously dies, Father Pete is attacked, and something very special happens to Goldy.  Don't worry, Goldy & her friend Marla are on the case though Goldy becomes the target of the murderer. These are fun cozy mysteries and the recipes are interesting if you like butter and cream and spicy brownies!  Recommend this series to customers who like chopping, whipping and lots of espresso in their mysteries.

The House of Hades / Rick Riordan / 597 pages

Riordan reels you in with his fast-paced action adventure books in the Heroes of Olympus series. The Roman & Greek demigods must join forces to travel to the House of Hades to rescue their friends Percy & Annabeth who fell into Tartarus in the last book.  All kinds of monsters, smooth-talking demi-gods, and some secrets revealed make this a great read.  I even read the glossary with the definitions of the Greek & Roman gods and vocabulary.  Yeah for kids who can't wait to read books that are nearly 600 pages long...awesome.  PS Now that the demigods are older there is some mild kissing...wonder if that's going to turn off our boy readers?

Saturday, January 11, 2014

WELCOME TO 2014

Okay, Folks if you are reading this, then it means you are awake, and it's time to get back into the Habit of READING!!!

We are currently in 3rd place, and the competition is very hungry. Let's give them a run for their money.  Remember to encourage your Coworkers to READ, READ, READ!!!  and BLOG!! most importantly BLOG!  We need to get some new blood into this competition, I know you are all getting a little sick of those tote bags, (I DO notice you all when you run in the other direction, when I walk down the hall bag in hand).

So, your challenge this month is to Read and Blog about a book that was recommended to you by a co-worker.  I will give you "10" bonus points, and you can only collect this one time.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Christmas Beau / Mary Balogh 251 p. Christmas stories 5 Gold Rings December Challenge

Christmas is the setting for this sensuous Regency-era romance where the desire for evening the score with an old flame sends the Marquess of Denbigh back into Judith Easton life.  Judith jilted him for another--and landed in a very unhappy marriage.  With her husband's death, she and her sister-in-law and her small children come to London.  There the Marquess starts his plan.  Setting to rest her uneasiness...thinking he is seeking revenge.  The wonderful dialogue, how he delightful he is with her children, the secondary romance that blossoms makes it a fun read.

Christmas Bride / Mary Balogh 260 p. Christmas stories A Partridge in A Pear Tree December Reading Challenge

Mary Balogh turns to Christmas for the setting of this sensuous Regency-era romance about the very wealthy Edgar Downes (of the merchant class) courting a titled lady.  There are many single ladies still in London after the season, all just too young.  Edgar's eye is caught by the widow Lady Stapleton.  He is not in her class but she is intrigued by him.  Marriage is not in her plans, just a dalliance.  However it is Christmas and stranger things do happen.

Cold Sassy Tree / Olive Ann Burns 391 p. December Challenge: 5 Gold Rings

E. Rucker Blakeslee, owner and proprietor of the general store, sets the town of Cold Sassy, Georgia on its ear in 1905 when he marries Miss Love Simpson, his employee and a Yankee three weeks after losing his beloved wife.  No one can doubt his love for his first wife....lining her grave with roses.  The town is a buzz.  But to marry a woman much younger... On that day, Will Tweedy's life takes a turn for more excitement.  He starts on the road to adulthood, kisses a girl for the first time, gets to drive his grandfather's new automobile.

Tangled / Mary Balogh 384 p. December Challenge: 6 Geese-a-Laying

Mary Balogh continues to create characters with flaws.  Here David Tavistock has always protected Julian, taking the blame for his indiscretions including fathering an illegitimate baby.  David has shielded Rebecca, the love of his life, from Julian's faults.  Rebecca turns to Julian as a marriage partner since David is wild and reckless.  When Julian dies in the Crimean War, David convinces a very reluctant Rebecca to marry him.  During Rebecca's difficult pregnancy, she comes to rely on David. Both come to the marriage with secrets, secrets that may shatter the fragile marriage they share.

Christmas Carol / Charles Dickens / 80 pages

Spurred by a discussion among friends, I realized that I had never read this classic work by Charles Dickens.
What better time to read it than over the holiday season. It is the story of miser Ebeneezer Scrooge, who is taken through Christmases past, present and future in his own life. From the terrifying experience, he learns to become less selfish and reach out to others.

Analysis
Dickens is a brilliant writer. The wry deftness with which he tells the story and the amazing details he includes are amazing. I found myself with a smile on my face during my entire reading. The book is short, well under 100 pages and moves at a rapid pace. Scrooge is no lukewarm villain. He is all villain until his transformation begins. And then the transformation proceeds at a measured pace until we have the joyful ending with which virtually everyone is familiar.

Recommendation
It is obvious that the best time to read this book is during the Christmas season. It takes on more meaning and can make your season more giving and fulfilling. It is an easy read and so can be read from middle school-age children on up to senior adults. It is a fine read-aloud or a nice cozy read by the fireplace. But wherever or whenever it is read, this is definitely a must read!    

Mrs. Kimble / Jennifer Haigh / 400 p.

This is a personal look into the lives of three women who were all married to the same man over the course of 25 years in the 1960s to the 1980s. It is the pitiful story of how one man can affect the lives of the women who put their trust in him.

Analysis
Author Jennifer Haigh is possessed of impressive literary talent, although it took me halfway through the book before I appreciated what she was trying to do. What she does is create honest, individual characters who all deal with their life circumstances in unique ways. One woman is handles things with maturity while another totally loses control of her life. There are no cookie-cutter characters here.

The historical depiction of American in the late-90s is interesting. The author presents an America that is not perfect but is very different from the one we have today. And the portrayal of the children in the story is heartwrenching.

Recommendation 
Another person who read this book called it a "manhater" book, but I disagree. It is true that this book will likely appeal more to women than men, especially to women older than 30. But, rather than a novel about gender issues, this book is a depiction of how the decisions of one person can affect the lives of those around them. While one of the male characters is truly worthy of some ill feeling, not all men  (albeit few) in the book  are so bad. The book shows women strong and weak and children affected by abandonment.

If you are seeking a feel-good story, this is not it. It is a serious book for readers looking for a novel that deals with the consequences of human dishonesty.

Street Cat Named Bob / James Bowen 279 p. December Challenge: 8 Maids-a-Milking

When street musician James Bowen found Bob curled in a doorway in his apartment building little did he know how his life would change.  He was living hand-to-mouth in London, barely making enough money for himself let alone a cat.  James was taken by Bob.  He took him in and worked to get money to get Bob well.  Bob made such an impact in his life.  Bob became a draw for his work on the streets, making friends wherever they went.  For Bob, James worked to improve his life, making the bid kick his heroin habit.   Just a wonderful story.

Truman / David McCullough 256 p. December Challenge: 3 French Hens

David McCullough presents a spellbinding biography of Harry Truman.  He shows Truman's humble beginnings in Missouri.  His courtship of Bess.  His spirit, humbleness, honesty, let-the-stop-here philosophy comes through.  This is the president who fought in WWI, came home to experience the depression.  He worked on the local roads - and they were better when he was in charge.  He had his political beginnings with the Pendergast machine, responsible for the Marshall Plan, dropping the atomic bomb, integrated the armed forces, ignored the pollsters, and more.

Make the Connection / Bob Green and Oprah Winfrey 240 p. USA Today Bestseller Challenge

Bob Green and Oprah Winfrey discuss weight issues.  Each present a side.  Oprah shares her personal stories of her weight ups and downs.  She and Bob provide ten simple steps towards a healthier and
happier existence.  

USA Today Bestseller Challenge

The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy) BK. 1 / Jennifer A. Nielsen / 342 pgs. / Dec. Challenge "Lords-a-Leaping"

To avoid civil war (and gain power), Nobleman Conner gathers four orphans to train them for one of them to go on to impersonate the Kingdoms long-missing prince.  One orphan Sage, has the street smarts and wits to convince the nobles that he is the missing prince, but his willful nature and stubbornness may lead to his undoing.

Engaging, with lots of twist and turns as the story unfolds and you learn more and more about the plot to replace the prince.  The main character Sage is very sure of himself, similar to Eoin Colfer's "Artemis Fowl", which at times can be annoying.  However, Sage does have a softer side as he gives his opponents second chances and helps them try to save face.

Recommended to any YA reader - even young/middle YA readers.

Natural Born Charmer / Susan Elizabeth Phillips 392 p. December Challege: 7 Swans-a-swimming

Chicago Stars quarterback Dean Robillard is driving cross-country to figure out about his life.  He has got it good.  He is a star of the NFL and a billboard model for End Zone underwear.  His interest is piqued when he sees a young woman dressed in a beaver suit marching along a Colorado road.  He gives her a ride to her apartment, becomes intrigued by her situation and offers her a ride.  Blue Bailey is broke and needs to get to an urban area to get work as an itinerant portrait painter. She plans to keep him entertained, clothed, and in the dark as to just how desperate she is.  They head for his summer home being rehabbed by a 52 year-old former rock-n-roll groupie.   More and more people get involved in their lives.  And attraction grows in the contemporary romance.

Split second / David Baldacci 496 p.

Eight years after failing to protect a presidential candidate, Sean King is out of the Secret Service and practicing law in a rural area.  Agent Michelle Maxwell lets presidential candidate out of her sight for a few minutes, only to have him abducted.  Even with the similarities, Sean is reluctant to join the search.  When Joan Dillinger, former flame and ex-agent, hire him to find the kidnapped victim, he and Michelle are racing around the country checking out leads. The plot is fast-paced and the ending unexpected.  Look to see more of these two.

Slightly Tempted / Mary Balogh 357 p. December Challenge: 5 Gold Rings

The youngest member of the Bedwyn family is feature in this sensuous Regency set in the Belgium capitol on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo.  Lady Morgan is the instrument for revenge against her eldest brother by Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn.  Rosthorn is banished from England these many years after been accused of seducing an innocent woman.   Revenge takes a back burner as they become friends as he searches for her missing brother and takes her for breaks as she, Morgan, nurses the wounded.  When the revenge plot becomes known to Morgan she hardens her heart against him as his wish turns to marriage--only to her.

Singing in the Comeback Choir / Bebe Moore Campbell 372 p.

Highly successful producer of a TV talk show, Maxine McCoy returns to her childhood roots in Philadelphia to help her grandmother, Lindy.  Lindy, once a successful jazz singer, refuses to give up her cigarettes and alcohol and her home in a declining neighborhood after suffering a stroke.  Bebe Moore offers insights into the life of a TV producer as the shows encounters many issues.  She is facing the delight of a child as well as trust issues with her husband after his infidelity.  She moves mountains to get rifts healed so that Lindy gets the musical support Lindy needs to be featured on a show.  Moore creates interesting characters with believable modern situations.

Cinnamon Roll Murder / Joanne Fluke 333 p. December Challenge: 12 Drummers Drumming

Hannah Swensen, owner and operator of the Cookie Jar Bakery, is featured in her 15th book.  Joanne Fluke combines murder and recipes in equal sweet portions.  Hannah, amateur detective, investigates the murder of  Buddy Neiman, keyboard artist with the Cinnamon Roll Six jazz band.  Dr. Bev, now the fiance to Hannah's former boyfriend, knows more about Buddy than she admits.  Hannah draws upon all her contacts and skills to solve this murder.  Along the way enjoy her Special Cinnamon Rolls, Hamburger Bake, Janet's Texas Jalapeno Pimento Cheese, and Chocolate Caramel Pecan Bars.

Then Comes Seduction / Mary Balogh 419 p. December Challenge 5 Gold Rings

In this the second of the Huxtable quintet series features Katherine whom Jasper Finley, Baron Montford, has wagered he will seduce.  Monty claims defeat to clear her honor.  Fast forward three years when a new wager is made, she to make this rake fall in love with her.  The stakes rise when a scandal rises and she agrees to be his wife.  Mary Balogh writes sensuous Regency-era romances with flawed characters that charm the readers with their conversations, situations and issues.

Duchess / Jude Deveraux 316 p. December Challenge: 11 Pipers Piping

In 1883, American heiress, Claire Willoughby, is well on her way to being the Duchess when she visits Harry, the 11th Duke of MacArran, at home in Scotland.  Marriage is very necessary so as to gain control of her considerable inheritance, so very necessary because of her spendthrift parents.  While there she is drawn to the mysterious Trevelyan.  Trevelyan keeps a secret that he is the author of the travel books that Claire enjoys and that he is Harry's adventuring brother. Claire's young sister, Sarah Ann, has free run of the house and noses out its many secrets in the historical romance.

Chance / Robert B. Parker 307 p.

Robert Parker's Spencer returns with his pardner Hawk to find the husband of the daughter of Boston's big mafia-type hoodlum, Julius Ventura.  Spencer suspects that cash has gone missing with Anthony's disappearance.  Spencer runs into unexpected complex complications.

Promise of Spring / Mary Balogh 266 p. December Challenge: 10 Lords a-Leaping

Grace Howard committed an indiscretion in her youth that estranged her from everyone in her family except her impoverished minister brother.  His death leaves her in such deep straights that her brother's good friend, Sir Peregrine Lampman, offers her marriage.  He doesn't put her down for her folly after she confess it...but she doesn't tell all.  And now the rakish lord that caused her downfall is back in her life.  Mary Balogh writes sensous Regency-era romances with interesting dialogue.

Temporary Wife / Mary Balogh 245 p. Christmas Challenge: 10 Lords-a-Leaping

Mary Balogh, Regency-era romance genre, tells of Miss Charity Duncan who agrees to be the temporary wife of Lord Anthony Earheart after answering his ad. Lord Earheart wishes a wife who will antagonize his father and then disappear.  In return, Charity gets an income that her family desperately needs. As it happens she falls in love.  And he, ah, that is the story.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Chill Factor / Sandra Brown / 680 pages / USA Today Bestseller November Challenge

What a perfect book to listen to during a snowstorm!!  Lilly Martin is stranded at the Cleary, North Carolina mountain cabin she had recently sold after the divorce from her eight year marriage to Cleary's police chief, Dutch Burton.  As she attempts to leave she accidentally hits Ben Tierney, a well known outdoorsman.  Why is Tierney on the mountain during the storm?  Is he the serial killer?  Sandra Brown has crafted a tense, spine-tingling thriller with a multitude of suspects, surprises, and suspense.

Lean Mean Thirteen / Janet Evanovich / 465 pages / USA Today Bestseller November Challenge

Warning!  Do not listen to this audio book when your children are present!  It is rife with objectionable language and mature situations!  Having said this, one cannot help but chuckle throughout as Stephanie  Plum, Joe Morelli, and Ranger look for, find, and babysit Stephanie's ex-husband, Dickie Orr.  What kind of trouble has Stephanie gotten herself into this time?

Twelve Sharp / Janet Evanovich / 413 pages / USA Today Bestseller November Challenge

Dessert is the base of Stephanie Plum's food pyramid.  Ranger claims to be the dessert in her life.  Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is being stalked by a crazed woman who claims to be Ranger's wife.  When the woman is found murdered, Stephanie and Ranger join forces to find the murderer, rescue a missing child - Ranger's , and stop a lunatic from raising the body count.  As usual, bad language abounds as do humorous situations, and a plethora of disasters, as Stephanie walks a fine line between the two men in her life.

Eleven on Top / Janet Evanovich / 405 pages / USA Today Bestseller November Challenge

Caution!   Do not listen to this audio book when young children are present!  It contains mature subject matter and inappropriate language.  Stephanie Plum has quit her job as bounty hunter, holds a succession of menial jobs, assists Lula, who has replaced her as a bond enforcement officer, agonizes over her sister's wedding, and is instrumental in solving four missing persons cases.  Filled with mayhem, laughs, and a girl juggling two boyfriends, Eleven on Top is a fun read!

Never Go Back / Lee Child / 596 pages / USA Today Besteller November Challenge

This Jack Reacher novel has Jack paying a visit to his old unit to meet Major Susan Turner, an intriguing voice he has heard on the phone in snowbound South Dakota.  She currently holds his old position - CO of the 110th MP unit.  When he arrives in DC, however, he discovers that she has been removed from her position and incarcerated for accepting a bribe.  Jack is reinstated in the army and charges with two crimes - assault which lead to death, and abandonment of a child.  He strives to clear his name and Susan's in this action-packed, humor-filled page turner.

Whiskey Beach / Nora Roberts / 758 pages / USA Today Bestseller November Challenge

"His life, he decided, if you didn't count murder, break-ins, and clouds of suspicion, was pretty __ good at the moment."  Eli Landon has had a truly horrible year.  Accused of the murder of his soon-to-be ex wife, he has been dogged by Detective Wolf, alienated from former friends and associates, and asked to resign his position in the law firm.  When his grandmother suffers a serious fall, he returns to his ancestral home, Bluff House, as caretaker.  When he meets his grandmother's housekeeper and friend, Abba, his life is forever changed.  This is a tale of liberated women, pirates, treasure hunts, multiple murders...something for everyone!

Rooftoppers / Katherine Rundell / 377 pages / 3 French Hens December Challenge

Charles Maxim is a scholar and as such he understands books far more readily than he understands people.  He does, however, rescue a one year old baby from a shipwreck.  Sophie is wrapped in the musical score of a Beethoven symphony and adrift in a cello case in the middle of the English Channel.  Sophie and Charles live a most unique life until a child services organization threatens to remove Sophie to an orphanage.  She and Charles flee to Paris to find the one thing that might save her:  her long lost - presumed dead - mother.  Sophie encounters a most unusual segment of French society - the Rooftoppers, who are instrumental in her search.  The plucky heroine, the audacious urchins, and the eccentric guardian, the tour of Paris, and the sprinkling of French make this an especially appealing and satisfying read.

"Books crowbar the world open for you."

"Never ignore a possible."

The Sleeping Beauty Proposal / Sarah Strohmeyer / 312 pages / 5 Gold Rings December Challenge

Thirty-six year old Genie Michaels has been jilted - on national television.  Fortunately - or unfortunately - no one is aware of this.  When her British boyfriend of four years proposes on the Barbara Walters Show, everyone assumes it is to her.  She knows this is not the case.  With encouragement from her BFF, lawyer Patty, she decides to fake her engagement.  This deception changes her life.  This in a humorous, engaging story of a college admissions professional, a writer publishing his first major work, a hunk of a Greek carpenter, and an interesting family dynamic.  On page 175 there is an interesting discussion of God's presence in our lives and free will.

"All I need to do is do my best and trust in God and all will be well."

"Anything worth having in life begins by taking a risk - love marriage, childbirth, even loving one's neighbor as thyself.  Risk is the universe's way of pushing us to become more than what we are.  Risk is faith at the edge..."

The Silence of Murder / Dandi Daley Mackall / 327 pages / 7 Swans-a-Swimming December Challenge

"In one single moment, things can change forever - like Rita's hand smacking Jeremy's cheek...like the bat picked up and swung, and Coach Johnson's life leaving his body forever."  Now Jeremy - 18 - is on trial for murdering the coach.  He is silent in his own defense as he hasn't spoken a word since that day his mother slapped him ten years ago.  Sixteen year old Hope Long is the only person who believes her brother is innocent and is determined to prove it.  Hope's list of suspects grows and she is horrified when she discovers a piece of evidence confirming the guilty party.  Read this one in one sitting.  It won't allow you any other choice.

Dance to the Piper / Nora Roberts / 251 pages / 9 Ladies Dancing December Challenge

Maddy O'Hurley is 26 and has been dancing for over 20 years.  She'd spent her formative years as one the O'Hurley Triplets, singing and dancing in bars and clubs with her family.  She has paid her dues as a chorus gypsy and now has the starring role in a Broadway bound musical.  Her life is radically changed by a chance encounter with the bankroll behind the production, Reed Valentine.  He has serious trust issues.  Will Maddy be able to break down his barriers and win his heart?  This is one the the O'Hurley series by Nora Roberts, each is a romance sure to warm the heart.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Hostage/Kay Hooper/306 pgs.

This is a "Bishop/Special Crimes Unit" novel.  Cole Jacoby is hiding in the Appalachian Mountains after robbing a bank of ten million dollars. Cole Jacoby is no typical bank robber--it appears that he is being taken over by an "evil" entity. Luther Brinkman, a private investigator with clairvoyant abilities, is sent to track down Jacoby. When Brinkman runs into trouble, Callie Davis, an FBI agent with  telepathic abilities, comes to his rescue. Together, they go after the evil embodied by Cole Jacoby.  Working a different case are Special Agents Hollis Templeton, a medium, and Reese DeMarco, an "open" telepath.  All four agents' abilities are needed to combat the evil existing in Cole Jacoby.  I enjoyed the book, but didn't find it as suspenseful as some of the other entries in this series.

Night Film/Marisha Pessl/602 pgs./January Challenge

I have both thanked and cursed Cindy B. for bringing this book to my attention. I thanked her because it sucks you in right from the beginning, and I cursed her because I stayed up reading it until I thought my eyes would fall out! It begins with the death of Ashley Cordova, daughter of the reclusive horror film director, Stanislas Cordova. Ashley's death is ruled a suicide, but investigative reporter Scott McGrath is convinced there is more to her death than meets the eye. It's a psychological thriller in the vein of an Alfred Hitchcock movie--it keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat! Highly recommended!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

The Circle/Dave Eggers/491 pages

What if everyone had one user id for everything with one password, and everything you did was linked by one company? What if Facebook, LinkedIn and the Social Security Administration merged? And then your health insurance companies, Twitter and your bank joined in? Transparency is the goal; privacy is the enemy. You are just beginning to learn about The Circle. When Mae gets a coveted job with The Circle, she thinks she has it made. She has a lot to learn.

Read this at your own risk. Maybe because I was under the weather when I read most of it, but I was creeped out by this book. This is the 1984 of this generation. I have no doubt that this will be made into a movie sooner or later. I'm looking forward to reading fluff next. 


After the Prophet / Lesley Hazleton / 211 pages

This fascinating book is non-fiction about the struggle and history that came after the death of Mohammad.  The history of how the sunni and shia groups split go back to the 900's.  There is not going to be a reconciliation.  The book starts with Mohammad's wives. First, Khadija who was Mohammad's only wife until she died, then Aisha, his young second wife set the tone for the history.  Khadija had a daughter, Fatima, while none of his other nine wives ever had any children.  Aisha was the controversial, beautiful, most-loved (next to Khadija) and the most difficult to deal with.  Principally, Aisha did not get along with Ali, Mohammad's cousin and right hand man.  Ali married Fatima and they had two sons: Hasan and Hussein.  Those boys were the only grandchildren for Mohammad and very special to him.  Aisha's father was Abu Bakr, another of Mohammad's oldest supporters.  The other was Omar, who also gave a daughter for Mohammad to marry.
     As you can see, relationships are tangled, but vitally important.  That is the start of the disputes of the centuries.  Each side is sure that their brand of Islam is the correct one.  It all goes back to the beginning.
     This history is so readable it is like reading fiction.  the author used many ancient resources for this book.  Highly recommended for anyone who wants to sort out what the heck happened in the Mid east.

Valley of Dreams/ Lauraine Snelling/ 342 pages

This  is the first in the Wild West Wind series and is set in the early 1900's in north and south Dakota.  Cassie is the surviving daughter of Wild West Show performers.  She, herself, is a sharp shooter, but unfortunately the show has gone broke.  Her "uncle" sold the show and then gives her the wagon, team, and cattle, and tells her that she needs to go to South Dakota to the valley her father always talked about.
She journeys off with the company of an old Indian, a young man (not romance material) and her dog.  The journey and everyday occurrences are what drive the story.  It is interesting, but long in minor details so unless the how of things is of interest, it will be a slow read. 
The ending is abrupt and necessitates book two immediately to continue.

Friday, January 3, 2014

King and Maxwell/David Baldacci/422 pgs


This is the sixth title in the Sean King and Michelle Maxwell series and was a very good book.  This is also the series that the TV series "King & Maxwell" is based on.  In this one, Sean and Michelle find a teenage boy running along the side of the road one night and pick him up.  They find out that he has just been told that his father died in Afghanistan but he doesn't believe it and hires them to look into his father's so-called death.  The more questions they ask about it though the more trouble and questions they seem to be finding.  A very good book and I love this series - I am glad that he is continuing it and the TV show isn't bad either.

Under the Baseball Moon / John H. Ritter / 283 pages / 12 Drummers Drumming December Challenge

" A rep is a lot like a tattoo, easy to get, but a lot harder to get rid of."  Skateboarder Andy Ramos was on a mission, to become a world class trumpeter.  His grandfather has played with the great and both his parents are musicians, so music is in his roots.  Andy's childhood nemesis is back in town.  Glory Martinez was always a flamboyant odd duck and was linked to Andy.  She has radically changed, but is still remarkable, still attached to Andy, and has dreams of her own.  She wants to be a top softball player and compete in the Olympics.  Their dreams are not incompatible until a mysterious stranger interferes.  "Under the Baseball Moon is a brilliant blend of music, softball, and friends that will capture the heart and soul of any reader who marches - or skateboards - to a different drummer."

"A song's journey is not complete until it reaches the audience, and they respond."

Everything's Eventual / Stephen King / 665 pages / USA Today Bestseller Challenge

This is a collection of fourteen dark tales, short stories, by the master of horror and suspense, Stephen King.  If you are one of his fans, as I am, you will love this book.  If you are like me, however, you will bemoan the fact that the stories are indeed short.  Stephen King always leaves you wanting more.  A most adroit addition to each tale is a note from the author giving his rationale for writing that particular story.

Six Years / Harlan Coben / 467 pages / USA Today Bestseller Challenge

This is a real page turner!  Perhaps it would be best to wait until after Christmas to read it!  Jake Fisher was devastated when the love of his life, Natalie, broke up with him six years ago and married Todd whom she claimed was an old boyfriend.  At the wedding, she made him promise that he would not try to find her - to leave her alone.  Now he sees Todd's obituary and is determined to offer condolences.  When he arrives at the address given as Todd's residence, he discovers that Todd has been married to another woman for almost two decades.  Was he a polygamist?  Jake is determined to find out what is going on...and puts many live in danger doing so...

Q Is for Quarry / Sue Grafton / 620 pages / USA Today Bestseller Challenge

P.I. Kinsey Millhone has been asked to help two veteran police officers solve an eighteen year old cold case.  Stacey has been diagnosed with terminal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and would like to see this murder solved and the young victim identified.  Dolan likewise is in poor health due to unhealthy lifestyle choices.  Kinsey copes with providing support and expertise as she attempts to solve the crime, discovering interesting facts about her own disconnected family.

Will & Whit/ Laura Lee Gulledge/ 192 pages

This is the story of Will (short for Wilhelmina), who lives with her aunt since her parents died last year.  She is afraid of the dark.  And then Hurricane Whitney comes to her town and the town goes dark.  I feel like there was more potential to this story, but it wasn't bad.  I was mostly checking it out to see if was really a teen graphic novel and it is. 

Thursday, January 2, 2014

The Fiend and the Forge / Henry H. Neff / 540 pages

In this third book of The Tapestry series, Max McDaniels suffers a terrible loss and embarks on a quest of revenge that takes him to the land of the demons.  Max finds out more about who he is, shows compassion and bravery, and in a grand finale works with his friends David Menlo and Agent Cooper to make a very important rescue.  This series is perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.  There's plenty of action, monsters, demons and character development to keep upper elementary and middle school readers turning the pages. 

Takedown Twenty / Janet Evanovich / 295 pages

Poor Stephanie, she still can't decide between Ranger & Morelli.  In this 20th book of the series, Stephanie and sidekick Lula get themselves into the usual number of fixes, total the usual number of cars, and eat the usual mind-numbing amounts of donuts and cluck in a bucket.  Still funny and still ridiculous characters that that keep you chuckling throughout the book and somehow Evanovich manages to work in a giraffe lurking in the Burg as well!  Thank goodness Stephanie's brief stint as a butcher ends quickly and she returns to her bounty hunting profession.

BADASS: THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND / Ben Thompson / 384 pages

The actual full title of this book is: BADASS: THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND: SPINE-CRUSHING TALES OF THE MOST MERCILESS GODS, MONSTERS, HEROES, VILLAINS, AND MYTHICAL CREATURES EVER ENVISIONED. Don't you just love a book with a really L--O--N--G subtitle ... :-)

Picked this one up on a whim -- it not only reminded me of my teenage interest in mythology but it just looked like fun. I was right, it is fun plus easy to read due to the arrangement - there are individual chapters for each 'mythological' entity and occasional sidebars for shorter entries on related subject matter. The author stretches the definition of mythology just a bit by including characters from film and television but that just makes the reading even more entertaining. The book is broken up into four main sections with headings such as: '
Gods, Goddesses, and Other Kickass Celestial Beings', 'Heroes, Heroines, and Over-the-Top Do-Gooders', 'Villains, Sorcerers, Antiheroes, and Psychotic Merciless Bastards', and 'Monsters, Fiends, Hellspawn, and Worse'.

Thompson has a rather snarky (and sometimes crude) sense of humor but also appears to have a genuine fondness for his topic. And readers may actually learn a bit (I did say "a bit") about actual figures from mythology or literature by perusing this title but DO beware of the snark! My only complaint is that while 'Dirty' Harry Callahan and Captain Kirk both got their own chapters in the book, there is no mention of similar FEMALE icons such as
Xena: Warrior Princess or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. These strong, badass women, using Thompson's own terminology, deserve to be included!! :-)

Want even more snark, check out Ben Thompson's website at:
http://badassoftheweek.com/