Against Medical Advice/James Patterson/283 pgs

This book was written by James Patterson and Hal Friedman and it is the story of Hal's son, Cory. He woke up one morning when he was 5 with an uncontrollable urge to twist his head. This is the beginning of his 13 year battle with Tourette's syndrome and OCD and the inability of the medical community to help him. It was a quick read due to Patterson's signature use of short chapters but also because it will maintain your interest. What he went through was his own personal "hell" of earth.

The Secret Mistress / Mary Balogh 309 p.

Lady Angeline Dudley is off to London for the marriage mart. She loves her rakish brothers but wants someone very different to love and to marry. Enter Edward Ailsbury, new Earl of Heyward described by her brother as a "dry stick". She knows he is the one but he's thinking she isn't the one. Well you know-- Its a romance. Readers of Mary Jo Putney or Jo Beverly may find this of interest.

The Pioneer Woman / Ree Drummond 341 p.

Ree tells the straight up facts of her courtship and marriage to her Marlboro Man in such a delightful way. The subtitle tells it all: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. You will laugh and then you'll cry. Just a wonderful love story! Suggest this to your romance readers.

P.S. She includes her favorite recipes from the past and the present including ones she cooked for her Marlboro Man.

Oh, and Ree went off the vegetarian boat when she meet her Marlboro Man!

Pioneer Woman

Charlie the Ranch Dog - Ree's children's book illustrated by Diane DeGroat

The South Beach Diet / Arthur Agatston 512 p.

Dr. Agatston, cardiologist, developed an eating plan for his chronically overweight patients that is safe, satisfying, healthy and doable. He has the research to back up this program. He explains the why and wherefores very nicely behind the eating program.

This World We Live In / Susan Beth Pfeffer / 239 pages

This World We Live In is the sequel to two apocalyptic novels, Life As We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone.  The two main characters come together from these two books and share the horror of the world after the moon-related catastrophes of the first two books.  It appears that things might be improving as food is being distributed on a regular basis and electricity returns for longer and longer periods.  Amanda and her brothers scavenge nearby houses for much needed necessities.  Miranda's father returns with his wife and new baby and two strangers.  Matthew returns from a fishing trip with Lil, his new wife.  Amidst the struggle to survive and the difficulties of interpersonal relationships, the protagonists battle a tornado and strive to look toward the future with hope.

Life As We Knew It was a Truman Award winner.

The Real Macaw/Debbie Andrews/309 pgs

I have always enjoyed this series - the Meg Langslow mysteries - of books and this book is one of the best I think. Meg is a new mother of twins and she wakes up one evening to find a menagerie of animals in her living room. Her grandfather, father and brother have broke them out of the local animal shelter when the county manager states that it will no longer be a no-kill shelter. Unfortunately they don't know that the person who was supposed to pick up the animals and deliver them to their foster homes has been shot. From then on, Meg is torn between her duty to her children and wanting to find out who the murderer is and get rid of the animals. It all works out in the end of course. Another very funny and very quick read.

Eighth Grade Bites/ Heather Brewer/ 182 pages

I am excited to read the next book in the series & I really didn't need to get into a series, but I think I'll be seeing Vlad through 12th grade.
This is the story of Vladimir Tod's 8th grade year of school. He is 1/2 vampire and he thinks his teacher might be out to get him. His parents died in a myserious fire "accident" 3 years ago and he has been living with his Aunt Nelly ever since. Luckily, she is aware of his dietary concerns and her position as a nurse allows her to help him out. Poor Vlad is picked on by bullies, if only they knew what he was capable of...

The Apprentice/Tess Gerritsen/344 pgs

This is book two in the Rizzoli & Isles series and the first in which they are actually the main characters. "The Surgeon" has escaped from prison and has found a new partner. Now there are two serial killers after Rizzoli. I enjoyed this one much more than the first. Maybe it is because I have also been watching the "Rizzoli & Isles" series based on the books or it was just a better story - not sure but I will continue to read the rest on the series.

Starcrossed / Josephine Angelini / 487 p.

This book starts out like another YA paranormal romance where the Beautiful, shy, "odd-girl"; of course catches the eye and undying devotion of the New Gorgeous guy in there high school.  Oh yeah, turns out that the girl actually have magical powers, so powerful that she becomes a key player in some paranormal war that is going on unbeknowst to the rest of us humans.  And finally, as always, even those the main teenage girl and boy turn out to be soul mates; there is something that stands in there way so they can never "be together".

So okay, the main plot line is pretty tired; but at least this book was engaging with the right balance of action and romance.  Instead of the characters being Vampires this time they are called "Sions" which are descendants from Greek Gods and have superhuman powers.  It was kind of like watching the TV show "Heroes" where each person was given certain powers, which they could use in various action packed situations.  The book is very clean romance-wise, but the fighting scenes were a bit graphic with characters getting their faces smashed in and teeth knocked out.  At the end of the book you could tell that the author is setting this up to be a series, and I would be more than happy to read the next volume. 

White Lies/Jayne Ann Krentz/371 pgs

This is book 2 of the Arcane Society series and I enjoyed it very much. This one takes place in the present and Claire Lancaster is a human lie detector. She is summoned by her father to go to Arizona and help him with his company. While she is there, she meets Jake Salter, a consultant hired by her dad. Soon people are trying to kill both of them and they decide to join forces (as well as other things) to find out why. Some of the paranormal aspects are a little hard to believe but I am enjoying this series and will continue to read them. On to the next one - "Sizzle and Burn".

The Kingdom / Clive Cussler & Grant Blackwood / 392 pages

Sam & Remi Fargo are at it again in another rollicking romp in a story with links to history, cliffhanging adventure, and exotic settings. This is Indiana Jones for adults. Fun...nothing but fun and all good endings. I do enjoy that Cussler puts himself in every book...look out for that guy with twinkling green eyes.

Escape/Barbara Delinsky/308 pages

"Have you ever woken up in a cold sweat thinking you're stuck in a life you don't want?" I think we've all have those days. Delinsky writes about Emily and her husband who are both fast-track attorneys in large NY firms. But when Emily feels like her life is out of her control, she makes an impulsive change. Returning to a place from her past, will she be able to have it all?

84, Charing Cross Road / Helene Hanff 97 p.

From NYC, Helene Hanff inquires about second hand books from a bookstore at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. Thus starts a long correspondence with Frank Doel of Marks & Co. You follow a loving exploration of out-of-print “Olde English books” as well as a witty, charming relationship between Frank, the staff at Marks & Co. and Frank's family.
Movie

84, Charing Cross Road

Sixkill / Robert B. Parker / 315p

OMG-oodness. At the end it mentions that Robert Parker past away in 2010. I guess this was the last of the Spenser novels. I wonder...have I read them all?

When infamous actor Jumbo Nelson is accused of rape and murder, the Boston PD calls on Spenser to make heads or tails of the case. Although the evidence is mounting against Jumbo, Spenser makes a break when he teams up with Jumbo's bodyguard, Zebulon Sixkill, and uncovers some secrets involving the murder victim.

The Purple Emperor / Herbie Brennan / 431p

Henry and his friend Mr. Fogarty return to the Faerie Realm to help their friends, the royal siblings Pyrgus and Holly Blue, in their continued fight against the treacherous Lord Hairstreak and the evil forces of the Faeries of the Night.

Book 2 of the Faerie Wars.

Faerie Wars / Herbie Brennan / 496p

Troubled by family problems, Henry finds his life taking a whole new dimension when he and his friend, old Mr. Fogarty, become involved with Prince Pyrgus Malvae who has been sent from the faerie world in order to escape the treacherous Faeries of the Night.

Sounds sort of like Harry Potter....family problems, supernatural settings. It's cute.

Smoking Seventeen/Janet Evanovich/309 pages

Poor Stephanie Plum. She has two men in her life, and her mother has picked out a third for her to marry. Plus, those inconvenient bodies addressed to her like gifts. And two people out to kill her. But the burning question always is: how many cars will she destroy? This book actually comes with I (heart) Ranger and I (heart) Morelli stickers in the back. One, I'm surprised they were still the copy I read and two, that sounds a lot like a Twilight gimmick.

Janet Evanovich puts out a numbered Plum novel every year in June like clockwork. The next one is due out in November. Is she taking a page from Patterson's book?

Perfectly Prima / Whoopie Goldberg / 152 pages

Another good Sugar Plum Ballerinas book. This time, the character featured is Jerzey Mae, one of the triplets. She seems to have a mild obsessive-compulsive disorder and really wants to always do things in a particular way and to always dance perfectly. This, of course, is the problem. She is so obsessed that she can't even dance without messing up.

Without spoiling the plot, the answer for her comes via her little brother, the basketball fanatic. This is another really good plot that is also helpful for some of those little perfectionists out there that stress out a lot. These books are "co-written" by Deborah Underwood and I want to say that she does a really good job of writing. I only have one more ballet book to go.

Forever / Maggie Stiefvater / 390 pgs.

This, finally, is the third book in the trilogy about the werewolves.

Grace has finally turned and is running with the wolves. Sam had finally turned totally human. It makes dating difficult.

It was good to finally have a resolution to the whole werewolf as the good character vs. those who want to hunt them down and kill them. However, there really wasn't that much more to explore in the way of new plot. It was also printed in that reddish brown print which was more annoying than green. It just wrapped up the story and Maggie Stiefvater notes that she is moving on as well. So all the werewolf lovers can just go out and howl on the next full moon.

Agnes and the Hitman / Jennifer Crusie 368 p.

Food writer Agnes Crandall knows how to use a frying pan and not just to cook delicious food but to take out a dognapper. Shane comes to help via the bedroom window—sent by Joey – a friend. Agnes tumbles from one crisis to another and all in the few days leading up to her god-daughter’s wedding. Bad men plot to steal her dog, break into her house, plant bombs, and, commit murder; she busy ending her engagement to Taylor when she learns he’s her best friend’s stepfather, catering the wedding, and having wild sex with Shane. Sparkles of humor are infused when Agnes hears advice from her court-ordered counselor during her most frantic times. A zany fast-paced romantic suspense that will please Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Jayne Ann Krentz fans.