Verity/ Colleen Hoover/ 333 pages

           Verity Crawford was a  famous author when she suffered an accident leaving her unable to finish her series. Verity’s husband, Jeremy, hires Lowen Ashleigh to come stay at the Crawford home to look through Verity’s notes and complete the series for his wife. While Lowen is staying with them she discovers an unfinished autobiography that Verity was working on and learns some bone-chilling secrets about the Crawford family. 

           This book is a fast read that you won’t be able to put down. Such an addicting story that leaves you speechless.

The Girl Who Knew Too Much/Amanda Quick/355 pgs.

I almost didn't read this book because I'm not a big fan of fiction based in the 1930's--especially in Hollywood, California. I am, however, a big Amanda Quick fan, so I thought I would give it a try, and I'm glad I did. Anna Harris stumbles onto a murder scene--and it happens to be her boss, Helen Spencer, who is dead. Helen has left her a message, in blood, to run, and not to trust anyone. Helen left Anna a substantial amount of money, and a notebook that could get Anna killed. Anna heads west to California, takes on a new name (Irene Glasson), and becomes a reporter for a Hollywood gossip newspaper. Other murders occur, and Irene comes to partner with ex-magician Oliver Ward to get to the bottom of the murders, and the mystery of the notebook. It's a fast read, well developed characters, and one that I can recommend!

When All the Girls Have Gone/Jayne Ann Krentz/341 pgs.

Charlotte Sawyer tries to contact her step-sister, Jocelyn, to inform her that her close friend, Louise, is dead--seemingly from a drug overdose. Jocelyn is away on a "tech free" retreat, and when Charlotte stops by to take care of her plants, she discovers a padded envelope in the mail. It contains keys and a cryptic message from Louise. When Charlotte goes to Louise's place, she encounters Max Cutler, an investigator who has been hired by Louise's cousin, Daniel, to look into Louise's death. Charlotte joins forces with Max to uncover Jocelyn's mysterious disappearance, and the truth behind Louise's death. It's fast paced, interesting characters, with a little romance thrown in. Recommended.

All the Missing Girls/ Megan Miranda/ 368 pages

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda is a mystery story with a twist.  Nicolette Farrell has come home to Cooley Ridge, North Carolina, ten years after the disappearance of her friend Corine.  Recently engaged to lawyer, Everett, she packs up her belongings, sublets her apartment and drives home to help prepare her father's home for sale.  Her Dad has been moved to assisted living, his funds are almost gone, and he has sent her an odd letter about Corine.  Shortly after Nic arrives, a second girl disappears just as Corine.  Nic, her brother Daniel, and ex boyfriend Tyler work together to solve the mystery of the vanished girls.  The twist is that the book follows the story backward.  Once Nic arrives in Cooley Ridge the countdown begins with Day 15 and works backward to Day 1 and the final result.  Using this trick makes the story more compelling as more details fall into place to clarify what  has come before.

Crimson Heart / Heather McCollum 371 p.

Crimson Heart / Heather McCollum 371 p.

Highland warrior, Searc Munro, sets off alone after he uses his dark magic to save his father's life.  His family is known as healers.  His ability to kill makes his clan cast suspicious glances at him.  Erica is on the run from those that support the fiercely Catholic queen.  She has hidden her lineage for years-- seeking to live quietly.  When her Protestant caretaker is targeted, she flees.  Searc and Erica meet in the forests where she is soon to be a victim of thieves.   After rousting the band, Searc vows to take her to her cousin in Edinburgh.  Refuge seems out of their reach when women are being attacked and ritually murdered there.    Even when Searc's power foils an attempt to assassinate Scotland's regent, suspicion grows against him.  They must turn to each other to circumvent all the political plots and cross political plots.

Third in the Highland hearts romances series.

Mean Streak/Sandra Brown/409 pgs.

Dr. Emory Charbonneau is a pediatrician, plus a marathon runner. She and her husband, Jeff, are having marital issues. He doesn't want her to run a mountain road in North Carolina, but Emory goes anyway in order to give herself time "to think." On the run, she is knocked unconscious, and awakens to find herself at the mercy of an unknown man in a mountain cabin. Her "rescuer" won't tell her his name or anything about himself, leaving Emory's imagination to run wild. All is not what it appears to be: was Emory's concussion an accident? Why does Jeff wait so long to report her missing? Most importantly, who IS the mysterious rescuer, and why is he being hunted? It's a fast read, and pretty standard "Sandra Brown." I will admit, I felt "duped" by the end of the novel.

Takedown Twenty/Janet Evanovich/307 pgs

This is book number 20 of the Stephanie Plum series and one of the best.  Stephanie is still having her car shot up or stolen but now she is trying to find Morelli's godfather - who just happens to really be a Godfather.  There is also a giraffe running the streets of Trenton and no one seems to notice.  Another great story - can't wait for #21.

The Witness/Nora Roberts/488 pgs.

At the age of 16, Elizabeth Fitch is a witness to murder--it happens to involve the Russian mob.  In the course of being "hidden" so that she can testify against the mob, her protectors are murdered, and Elizabeth manages to escape. Twelve years later, Elizabeth has become "Abigail Lowery" a computer security specialist, and somewhat a recluse in Arkansas. Then she draws the attention of local police chief, Brooks Gleason. After that, it is pure Nora Roberts: suspense, romance, etc. It's a fast read, and pretty entertaining.

Love in a Nutshell / Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly / 310 pages

Why oh why can't rich authors just write their own books?  I don't care if Janet Evanovich writes more books; I want to really enjoy the ones that she does write so I wish she'd take her time and do her own thing.  This is a very, very light romance jointly penned by Evanovich and the President of the Romance Writers of America.  I did not find it all that interesting in terms of plot or character.  The resolution seemed totally unbelievable.  Sigh.  It did make me thirsty for a beer.

Faithful Place / Tana French / 679 pgs

The story is set in Dublin, Ireland. Young Frank plans to run away with his girlfriend to London in the hopes of escaping poverty and a horrible family life. Rosie, his girlfriend fails to join him. He decides to leave anyways. His life takes a turn he never imagined it would.

More than 20 years later he discovers evidence of foul play from that fateful night. He winds up back home trying to make sense of relationships, both of friends and family members. It took a chapter or two to get my mind wrapped around the language but from then on.....I could almost hear the voices and picture the characters. I liked it.