Mr. Patterson's books are always quick reads for me, and this one was no different. I always have high hopes for his books because the first couple of books I read of his were so great. However, Judge and Jury did not meet those standards and while I did finish it in two days, I could have had it done much sooner but I wasn't that interested in it. I give it a C+.
From Amazon:
Senior FBI agent Nick Pellisante is closing in on the notorious mob boss The Electrician, when the scheduled sting goes spectacularly awry. Two FBI agents are dead, the boss is wounded, and Pellisante vows the Electricians next move will be from a jail cell. Andie Echeverra, a part-time actress and a single, full-time mom, is assigned her next role as Juror #11 in the landmark trial against Mafia Don Dominic Cavello. Everybody is on edge. No one has ever crossed the man whose orders have made entire families disappear. Though Cavellos influence extends across blue uniforms and black robes, the case should be open-and-shut. But the legal system fails with devastating results, and Nick and Andie are the only ones left to seek justice. To stop the Electrician, they must take matters into their own hands. They are the judge and jury now.
I think the main problems with this book was my issues. First of all, I am not that interested in legal thrillers. I do enjoy them sometimes, though maybe it was the mood I was in. I think I was also looking for a bit more suspense and there wasn't very much. I kind of felt like the book was rushed and the reader knew who the bad guys were. I was even looking forward to the usual Patterson shocking ending, but there wasn't one. I wouldn't say I regretted reading it, but there was nothing terribly memorable about the book.
Up next is another library book. I finally got Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz which I have been dying to read. However, I have three other library books ahead of it and I always try to read in order of when I got them. The next one is Dead Center by David Rosenfelt. I have heard his name before but never read anything by him. I got this book because it centers around a cult, and I recently watched a documentary about cults and it got me interested in reading a fiction book surrounding it. I hope I enjoy it. I had more dental work today, so I will be spending the afternoon curled up on the couch reading and catching up my Tivoed shows. I also need to input all of my books in another database since I lost it from when my computer crashed. I made a small dent in some of them yesterday and got about110 books entered, but still have a lot more to go. And keep in mind that these are books that haven't been read. Now that my self-imposed book buying has ended, I wanted to go buy some right away, but as I am entering these in, I am finding a lot of books I forgot I had that seem really interesting. I hope everyone is getting plenty of reading done and enjoying all of your books! Happy Reading!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Abduction by Mark Gimenez
This is yet another book I got from reading Book Bitch's website. When I started reading it, I almost put it down because part of the book was about the Vietnam war, and history isn't one of my favorite topics. However, I kept reading... and reading and finished this 500+ pages book in one day. I give it an A-.
From Amazon:
Ben Brice lives alone in the New Mexico wilderness where he battles memories of Vietnam with oceans of Jim Beam. Miles away in Texas, his estranged son, John, an Internet geek-turned-billionaire, half watches his daughter Gracie's soccer game while conducting business on his cell phone. When her mother Elizabeth arrives, the coach reports that her uncle has already collected Gracie. But Gracie has no uncle--she was kidnapped.
From international best-selling author Mark Gimenez comes a terrifying thriller in which dark family secrets make the finding of ten-year-old Gracie Brice more uncertain with every passing minute. And so begins a furious race against time to save Gracie from unknown kidnappers. With the FBI camped out in the Brice mansion, the family offers a reward of $25 million. Somehow, Ben and John Brice must find Gracie before it is too late. As the story unfolds with riveting twists and turns, the reader discovers that behind the kidnapping is an extraordinary government plot that could change the course of American history. And time is running out....
This was an excellent book. The suspense was well done, but even better was the fact that we got to learn a lot about the characters. I immediately fell in love with the little girl, Gracie. She had such spunk and was funny. Her father was also a wonderful written character, and the pain that the family is going through is so clear. While some of the things that happened seemed a little far-fetched, it was still an excellent story. With flashbacks about the Vietnam war, I learned a lot about the war, which as being born after the war was over, I sadly do not know a lot about it. I just really cannot rave enough about this book. I highly recommend it and am really happy that I stuck with it.
I went to the library yesterday and stocked up on books. My book buying can now resume since Lent is over, however I found so many great books at the library. Up next is another James Patterson book I got from the library. It's called Judge and Jury and I hope it is another good one. I hope everyone had a great weekend and is having a good week. Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Ben Brice lives alone in the New Mexico wilderness where he battles memories of Vietnam with oceans of Jim Beam. Miles away in Texas, his estranged son, John, an Internet geek-turned-billionaire, half watches his daughter Gracie's soccer game while conducting business on his cell phone. When her mother Elizabeth arrives, the coach reports that her uncle has already collected Gracie. But Gracie has no uncle--she was kidnapped.
From international best-selling author Mark Gimenez comes a terrifying thriller in which dark family secrets make the finding of ten-year-old Gracie Brice more uncertain with every passing minute. And so begins a furious race against time to save Gracie from unknown kidnappers. With the FBI camped out in the Brice mansion, the family offers a reward of $25 million. Somehow, Ben and John Brice must find Gracie before it is too late. As the story unfolds with riveting twists and turns, the reader discovers that behind the kidnapping is an extraordinary government plot that could change the course of American history. And time is running out....
This was an excellent book. The suspense was well done, but even better was the fact that we got to learn a lot about the characters. I immediately fell in love with the little girl, Gracie. She had such spunk and was funny. Her father was also a wonderful written character, and the pain that the family is going through is so clear. While some of the things that happened seemed a little far-fetched, it was still an excellent story. With flashbacks about the Vietnam war, I learned a lot about the war, which as being born after the war was over, I sadly do not know a lot about it. I just really cannot rave enough about this book. I highly recommend it and am really happy that I stuck with it.
I went to the library yesterday and stocked up on books. My book buying can now resume since Lent is over, however I found so many great books at the library. Up next is another James Patterson book I got from the library. It's called Judge and Jury and I hope it is another good one. I hope everyone had a great weekend and is having a good week. Happy Reading!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
By The Time You Read This by Giles Blunt
This is another book I read about at the BookBitch website. Several contributors rated their favorite reads from 2007 and this book was on several lists. Read the book's description prompted me to place a hold from my local library, and while the description sort of mislead me, I still enjoyed it. I rated the book a B.
From Amazon:
Autumn has arrived in Algonquin Bay, and with it an unusual spate of suicides. The most shocking victim yet is Detective John Cardinal’s wife, who has finally succumbed to her battle with manic depression. As Cardinal takes time to grieve, his partner, Lise Delorme, handles an unsavory assignment: a young girl appears in a series of unspeakable photos being traded online, and background elements indicate she lives in Algonquin Bay. Delorme is desperate to find the girl before she suffers more abuse.
When Cardinal receives a string of hateful anonymous notes about his wife’s death, he begins to suspect homicide. His colleagues believe he is too distraught to think clearly, and he’s forced to investigate alone. In doing so, he comes up against a brand of killer neither he—nor the reader—has ever seen before.
In his most masterful and thrilling novel yet, Giles Blunt confirms his reputation as a rising international star in crime fiction, and positions Detective John Cardinal among the finest characters in the genre.
I would have a hard time calling this book a suspenseful novel, though there were two mysteries that had to be solved. I thought the author did a wonderful job letting the reader really getting to know the characters and understand their motivation behind everything they did. While this was the fourth book of a series, I certainly did not feel like I was missing out on any backstory or history. This book can definitely be read as a standalone which is always a bonus for me. The graphic pictures of child molestation was done in a way that disgusts the reader because of the concept and not because of the descriptions in the book. I also thought that the reader really had a great understanding of what truly depressed people feel and go through. My only complaint was that the ending was kind of rushed and not fully finished. However, I do expect that of a series book.
Up next is another book I got from the same website which is titled The Abduction by Mark Gimenez. It is another new to me author and I hope it is as good as some of the reviews I read. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Autumn has arrived in Algonquin Bay, and with it an unusual spate of suicides. The most shocking victim yet is Detective John Cardinal’s wife, who has finally succumbed to her battle with manic depression. As Cardinal takes time to grieve, his partner, Lise Delorme, handles an unsavory assignment: a young girl appears in a series of unspeakable photos being traded online, and background elements indicate she lives in Algonquin Bay. Delorme is desperate to find the girl before she suffers more abuse.
When Cardinal receives a string of hateful anonymous notes about his wife’s death, he begins to suspect homicide. His colleagues believe he is too distraught to think clearly, and he’s forced to investigate alone. In doing so, he comes up against a brand of killer neither he—nor the reader—has ever seen before.
In his most masterful and thrilling novel yet, Giles Blunt confirms his reputation as a rising international star in crime fiction, and positions Detective John Cardinal among the finest characters in the genre.
I would have a hard time calling this book a suspenseful novel, though there were two mysteries that had to be solved. I thought the author did a wonderful job letting the reader really getting to know the characters and understand their motivation behind everything they did. While this was the fourth book of a series, I certainly did not feel like I was missing out on any backstory or history. This book can definitely be read as a standalone which is always a bonus for me. The graphic pictures of child molestation was done in a way that disgusts the reader because of the concept and not because of the descriptions in the book. I also thought that the reader really had a great understanding of what truly depressed people feel and go through. My only complaint was that the ending was kind of rushed and not fully finished. However, I do expect that of a series book.
Up next is another book I got from the same website which is titled The Abduction by Mark Gimenez. It is another new to me author and I hope it is as good as some of the reviews I read. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and Happy Reading!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Dead Connection by Alafair Burke
I read a review of Dead Connection on one of my favorite websites, Book Bitch, as one of the reviewers rated Dead Connection as one of their favorite thriller books of 2007. I was intrigued by the description of the book and place it on hold from the library. It was a quick read, though to tell the truth, I was a little disappointed. I would rate this book a B-.
From Amazon:
When two young women are murdered on the streets of New York, exactly one year apart, Detective Ellie Hatcher is called up for a special assignment on the homicide task force. The killer has left behind a clue connecting the two cases to First Date, a popular online dating service, and Flann McIlroy, an eccentric, publicity-seeking homicide detective, is convinced that only Ellie can help him pursue his terrifying theory: someone is using the lure of the Internet and the promise of love to launch a killing spree against the women of New York City. To catch the killer, Ellie must enter a high-tech world of stolen identities where no one is who they appear to be. And for her, the investigation quickly becomes personal: she fits the profile of the victims, and she knows firsthand what pursuing a sociopath can do to a copback home in Wichita, Kansas, her father lost his life trying to catch a notorious serial murderer. When the First Date killer begins to mimic the monster who destroyed her father, Ellie knows the game has become personal for him, too. Both hunter and prey, she must find the killer before he claims his next victim who could very well be her.
I think part of the reason why I was disappointed with the book was because I as expecting a book about a psycho who killed women he met and stalked through an internet dating site. However, as the story progresses, we come to realize that that is really not the true reason. I also had a hard time keeping ,some of the characters straight, as we were introduced to a lot of different names in a very short period of time. However, the story was a quick read and there were times I was very captive while reading. The ending was a bit disappointing, so I had to lower the rating.
Over the past two days I have had 4 different library books come in that were on hold and then picked up another one today. The next book I am going to read is one of those holds which I also got as a recommendation from BookBitch best thrillers of 2007. I have high hopes for it as the premise downs seem to be very interesting. I should have plenty of reading time tomorrow and Saturday since I have to work at my mom's and things on my end are somewhat slow, at least on Saturday. My Red Wings are playing tonight which is always when I get some reading time in between the periods and on commerical breaks. I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
When two young women are murdered on the streets of New York, exactly one year apart, Detective Ellie Hatcher is called up for a special assignment on the homicide task force. The killer has left behind a clue connecting the two cases to First Date, a popular online dating service, and Flann McIlroy, an eccentric, publicity-seeking homicide detective, is convinced that only Ellie can help him pursue his terrifying theory: someone is using the lure of the Internet and the promise of love to launch a killing spree against the women of New York City. To catch the killer, Ellie must enter a high-tech world of stolen identities where no one is who they appear to be. And for her, the investigation quickly becomes personal: she fits the profile of the victims, and she knows firsthand what pursuing a sociopath can do to a copback home in Wichita, Kansas, her father lost his life trying to catch a notorious serial murderer. When the First Date killer begins to mimic the monster who destroyed her father, Ellie knows the game has become personal for him, too. Both hunter and prey, she must find the killer before he claims his next victim who could very well be her.
I think part of the reason why I was disappointed with the book was because I as expecting a book about a psycho who killed women he met and stalked through an internet dating site. However, as the story progresses, we come to realize that that is really not the true reason. I also had a hard time keeping ,some of the characters straight, as we were introduced to a lot of different names in a very short period of time. However, the story was a quick read and there were times I was very captive while reading. The ending was a bit disappointing, so I had to lower the rating.
Over the past two days I have had 4 different library books come in that were on hold and then picked up another one today. The next book I am going to read is one of those holds which I also got as a recommendation from BookBitch best thrillers of 2007. I have high hopes for it as the premise downs seem to be very interesting. I should have plenty of reading time tomorrow and Saturday since I have to work at my mom's and things on my end are somewhat slow, at least on Saturday. My Red Wings are playing tonight which is always when I get some reading time in between the periods and on commerical breaks. I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and Happy Reading!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Last to Die by Beverly Barton
I have a bunch of Ms. Barton's books on my bookshelf, so I decided to grab one and get reading some of the oldest books on my TBR shelves. While this one was the second in a trilogy, it didn't bother me and I still enjoyed it, rating it a B.
From Amazon:
Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee has seen murder before, but nothing like what has claimed the life of Jamie Upton, heir to the Upton fortune. The crime is so vicious, so personal and filled with hatred, the authorities are certain it had to be someone he knew...someone hiding an unimaginable sadistic'' streak behind a friendly faade. The number one suspect is Jamie''s former lover, Jazzy Talbot. But Jazzy knows she didn''t kill Jamie...just as she knows she''s being watched, stalked like prey. And then the killer strikes again...and again...with the same chilling signature. With no one to believe her innocence except enigmatic drifter Caleb McCord, Jazzy plunges into a small town''s long-buried secrets and shocking family sins...each startling truth bringing her dangerously close to a killer determined to make Jazzy the last to die!
I thought that the blurb on the back of the book wasn't completly true, as everyone in town pretty much did believe that Jazzy was not guilty. I felt that while the murders were rather graphic in some of the descriptions the suspense wasn't that well done. I felt that this book focused more on the romance and character building more than it was suspensful. Lately I have been shying away from heavily romantic suspense because the same thing always happens... there is some big misunderstanding and they break up and then it gets straightened out in the end. That's what happened in this book as well, and it kind of just gets old. The other thing that bothered me a bit was the reader isn't really given enough clues to have any idea who the killer is. That being said, it was a quick read and I did enjoy getting to know some of the characters. I think I have the third book in the series, though I probably won't read it right away. I read part of the prologue that was in this book and I can kind of already see where it's going. A lot of the character's relationships were left unresolved and I can guess that there will be happily ever afters all around. I am not saying that it is a bad thing, but I think right now I am in the mood for something a bit more gritty.
Not sure what I am going to read next though it will be something from my shelves. I have a bunch of books on hold from the library that should be coming in soon, but they haven't yet, so I am going to pick something out. I seem to be on a reading spree lately and want to keep that up. I had to go to the dentist again today because I am still in pain and got some really bad news. I have to go to see a specialist for a root canal and I also have an infection in my tooth and in my sinuses. Fun, fun... especially since I had to get up at 5:30 this morning and have to work all day and then at night as well tomorrow. Oh well, Spring Break is next week so I can relax then. However, a good book can hopefully lessen the pain. Hope everyone else is having a good week and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee has seen murder before, but nothing like what has claimed the life of Jamie Upton, heir to the Upton fortune. The crime is so vicious, so personal and filled with hatred, the authorities are certain it had to be someone he knew...someone hiding an unimaginable sadistic'' streak behind a friendly faade. The number one suspect is Jamie''s former lover, Jazzy Talbot. But Jazzy knows she didn''t kill Jamie...just as she knows she''s being watched, stalked like prey. And then the killer strikes again...and again...with the same chilling signature. With no one to believe her innocence except enigmatic drifter Caleb McCord, Jazzy plunges into a small town''s long-buried secrets and shocking family sins...each startling truth bringing her dangerously close to a killer determined to make Jazzy the last to die!
I thought that the blurb on the back of the book wasn't completly true, as everyone in town pretty much did believe that Jazzy was not guilty. I felt that while the murders were rather graphic in some of the descriptions the suspense wasn't that well done. I felt that this book focused more on the romance and character building more than it was suspensful. Lately I have been shying away from heavily romantic suspense because the same thing always happens... there is some big misunderstanding and they break up and then it gets straightened out in the end. That's what happened in this book as well, and it kind of just gets old. The other thing that bothered me a bit was the reader isn't really given enough clues to have any idea who the killer is. That being said, it was a quick read and I did enjoy getting to know some of the characters. I think I have the third book in the series, though I probably won't read it right away. I read part of the prologue that was in this book and I can kind of already see where it's going. A lot of the character's relationships were left unresolved and I can guess that there will be happily ever afters all around. I am not saying that it is a bad thing, but I think right now I am in the mood for something a bit more gritty.
Not sure what I am going to read next though it will be something from my shelves. I have a bunch of books on hold from the library that should be coming in soon, but they haven't yet, so I am going to pick something out. I seem to be on a reading spree lately and want to keep that up. I had to go to the dentist again today because I am still in pain and got some really bad news. I have to go to see a specialist for a root canal and I also have an infection in my tooth and in my sinuses. Fun, fun... especially since I had to get up at 5:30 this morning and have to work all day and then at night as well tomorrow. Oh well, Spring Break is next week so I can relax then. However, a good book can hopefully lessen the pain. Hope everyone else is having a good week and Happy Reading!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The Crazy School by Cornelia Read
I have heard so much about Cornelia Read that I was surprised to find out that The Crazy School was only her second book. The premise sounded really interesting and I thought it would be a great book to read. However, I was a little let down and can only give it a C.
From Amazon:
From the acclaimed author of A FIELD OF DARKNESS comes another compelling novel featuring the acerbic and memorable voice of ex-debutante Madeline Dare.Madeline Dare has finally escaped rust-belt Syracuse, New York, for the lush BerkshireMountains in Massachusetts. After her husband's job offer falls through, Maddie signs on as a teacher at the SantangeloAcademy, a boarding school for disturbed teenagers. Behind the academy's ornate gates, she discovers a disturbing realm where students and teachers alike must submit to the founder's bizarre therapeutic regimen. From day one, Maddie feels uneasy about smooth-talking Dr. Santangelo but when she questions his methods, she's appalled to find that her fellow teachers would rather turn on each other than stand up for themselves, much less protect the students in their care. A chilling event confirms Maddie's worst suspicions, then hints at an even darker secret history, one that twines through the academy's very heart. Cut off from the outside world, Maddie must join forces with a small band of the school's most violently rebellious students-kids whose troubled grip on reality may well prove to be her only chance of salvation.
After reading through the first couple of chapters, I realized that this was the second book in a series. Being the anal person I am, I hate when I read books out of order. I kept reading though because the story seemed something that I would be really interested in. I am really amazed by the whole cult experience and it just baffles my mind on how people can become sucked in to believe someone so much. I also loved the idea of a teacher really trying to help troubled students. However, the book left me disappointed. I didn't get to learn a lot about Maddie's past, probably because it was the second book in a series. There was also some words and phrases used that weren't easily understood (at least by me) and background of things in history that I had absolutely no idea about. I consider myself to be somewhat educated, however, a lot of it was over my head. I ended up skimming a lot of the book though I did want to know what was going on and how it was going to end. I think the book and the premise had a lot of hope and promise and wish I had enjoyed it more.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I don't have any library books checked out, with The Crazy School being the last one, so I am going to go down to my mini library and pick out something that grabs my attention. The Red Wings play this afternoon so I will be watching and reading at the same time. My lovely husband, Chris, did all of the cleaning and laundry yesterday when I was at work so I don't have anything pressing to worry about. I do need to color my hair and want to try and get to Michael's to buy a new wreath for my door. I have a 50% off coupon for today only, so I might try to make it up there. I have another one that is good on Friday, I think, so if I don't get there today I am going to go then. I have another crazy week this week but then next week is Spring Break so I have a week off! Yay! I need to re-catalogue all of my books and get organized but I am planning on a lot of reading! I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
From the acclaimed author of A FIELD OF DARKNESS comes another compelling novel featuring the acerbic and memorable voice of ex-debutante Madeline Dare.Madeline Dare has finally escaped rust-belt Syracuse, New York, for the lush BerkshireMountains in Massachusetts. After her husband's job offer falls through, Maddie signs on as a teacher at the SantangeloAcademy, a boarding school for disturbed teenagers. Behind the academy's ornate gates, she discovers a disturbing realm where students and teachers alike must submit to the founder's bizarre therapeutic regimen. From day one, Maddie feels uneasy about smooth-talking Dr. Santangelo but when she questions his methods, she's appalled to find that her fellow teachers would rather turn on each other than stand up for themselves, much less protect the students in their care. A chilling event confirms Maddie's worst suspicions, then hints at an even darker secret history, one that twines through the academy's very heart. Cut off from the outside world, Maddie must join forces with a small band of the school's most violently rebellious students-kids whose troubled grip on reality may well prove to be her only chance of salvation.
After reading through the first couple of chapters, I realized that this was the second book in a series. Being the anal person I am, I hate when I read books out of order. I kept reading though because the story seemed something that I would be really interested in. I am really amazed by the whole cult experience and it just baffles my mind on how people can become sucked in to believe someone so much. I also loved the idea of a teacher really trying to help troubled students. However, the book left me disappointed. I didn't get to learn a lot about Maddie's past, probably because it was the second book in a series. There was also some words and phrases used that weren't easily understood (at least by me) and background of things in history that I had absolutely no idea about. I consider myself to be somewhat educated, however, a lot of it was over my head. I ended up skimming a lot of the book though I did want to know what was going on and how it was going to end. I think the book and the premise had a lot of hope and promise and wish I had enjoyed it more.
I am not sure what I am going to read next. I don't have any library books checked out, with The Crazy School being the last one, so I am going to go down to my mini library and pick out something that grabs my attention. The Red Wings play this afternoon so I will be watching and reading at the same time. My lovely husband, Chris, did all of the cleaning and laundry yesterday when I was at work so I don't have anything pressing to worry about. I do need to color my hair and want to try and get to Michael's to buy a new wreath for my door. I have a 50% off coupon for today only, so I might try to make it up there. I have another one that is good on Friday, I think, so if I don't get there today I am going to go then. I have another crazy week this week but then next week is Spring Break so I have a week off! Yay! I need to re-catalogue all of my books and get organized but I am planning on a lot of reading! I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Liar's Diary
I am pretty sure I read about this book at someone's blog though I don't recall whose. I read so many blogs and my memory is a little weak lately, though I am glad I did pay attention. This was a well written book which I give a B+.
From Amazon:
Answering the question of what is more powerful—family or friendship? this debut novel unforgettably shows how far one woman would go to protect either.
They couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship that will alter both their fates. When Ali Mather blows into town, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts (despite the fact that she is pushing forty), she also makes a mark on an unlikely family. Almost against her will, Jeanne Cross feels drawn to this strangely vibrant woman, a fascination that begins to infect Jeanne’s “perfect” husband as well as their teenaged son.
At the heart of the friendship between Ali and Jeanne are deep-seated emotional needs, vulnerabilities they have each been recording in their diaries. Ali also senses another kind of vulnerability; she believes someone has been entering her house when she is not at home—and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali’s soul.
When a murderer strikes and Jeanne’s son is arrested, we learn that the key to the crime lies in the diaries of two very different women . . . but only one of them is telling the truth.
This book dealt a lot with the relationship these two women formed with each other and gives the reader an inside look of Jeanne's life and what she learns. Jeanne seems to have the perfect life with the doctor husband and a young, popular son but we soon realize that things are not always as they seem. She really went through her life with blinders on and pretends that everything is hunky dory. However, because of this Jeanne becomes a very unsympathetic character. In fact, by the end of the book I was so mad at her character that I was almost shaking. Without giving away anything, I was just so angry that a mother worried so much about appearances more than her own son. However, the ending was well done and I was happy with it. When I started the book I didn't think I would really like it but it quickly sucked me in. I am glad I read it and will keep my eyes out for more by Patry Francis.
Up next is The Crazy School by Cornelia Read. Set in a high school, it sounds like something I can relate to after subbing in all different schools and meeting all sorts of different students. I hope to put a good size dent in it tonight as dinner is done, the laundry is done, and my beloved Red Wings aren't playing tonight. That means more reading time for me. I hope it grabs me right away. I am on a good pace right now with my reading and having a lot of luck with the books I am reading and would love to keep it up. I do have to work tomorrow but that is the extent of my weekend plans. Yay! I haven't had a Saturday night with nothing to do in such a long time and I am going to enjoy it. Now I just have to get through work first...! Hope everyone else has a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Answering the question of what is more powerful—family or friendship? this debut novel unforgettably shows how far one woman would go to protect either.
They couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship that will alter both their fates. When Ali Mather blows into town, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts (despite the fact that she is pushing forty), she also makes a mark on an unlikely family. Almost against her will, Jeanne Cross feels drawn to this strangely vibrant woman, a fascination that begins to infect Jeanne’s “perfect” husband as well as their teenaged son.
At the heart of the friendship between Ali and Jeanne are deep-seated emotional needs, vulnerabilities they have each been recording in their diaries. Ali also senses another kind of vulnerability; she believes someone has been entering her house when she is not at home—and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali’s soul.
When a murderer strikes and Jeanne’s son is arrested, we learn that the key to the crime lies in the diaries of two very different women . . . but only one of them is telling the truth.
This book dealt a lot with the relationship these two women formed with each other and gives the reader an inside look of Jeanne's life and what she learns. Jeanne seems to have the perfect life with the doctor husband and a young, popular son but we soon realize that things are not always as they seem. She really went through her life with blinders on and pretends that everything is hunky dory. However, because of this Jeanne becomes a very unsympathetic character. In fact, by the end of the book I was so mad at her character that I was almost shaking. Without giving away anything, I was just so angry that a mother worried so much about appearances more than her own son. However, the ending was well done and I was happy with it. When I started the book I didn't think I would really like it but it quickly sucked me in. I am glad I read it and will keep my eyes out for more by Patry Francis.
Up next is The Crazy School by Cornelia Read. Set in a high school, it sounds like something I can relate to after subbing in all different schools and meeting all sorts of different students. I hope to put a good size dent in it tonight as dinner is done, the laundry is done, and my beloved Red Wings aren't playing tonight. That means more reading time for me. I hope it grabs me right away. I am on a good pace right now with my reading and having a lot of luck with the books I am reading and would love to keep it up. I do have to work tomorrow but that is the extent of my weekend plans. Yay! I haven't had a Saturday night with nothing to do in such a long time and I am going to enjoy it. Now I just have to get through work first...! Hope everyone else has a great weekend and Happy Reading!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
What Lies in Shadow by Tina Wainscott
This was my first book by author Tina Wainscott (though not to first one I bought) and I can definitely tell you it won't be the last of mine from her. I throughly enjoyed this one and a lot of times it had me scared. Not scared in hanging on to the edge of my seat but scared in the way that this could happen. I really liked the book and it's premise and grade it a B+.
From Amazon:
Her blog is one of the hottest on the Web—a place where she can be herself and talk anonymously about her most private needs and desires. Not even her wealthy new husband knows about her online persona. And when Jonna Karakosta learns that he may be cheating on her, she needs her online community more than ever…Enter “Dominic,” a frequent guest on Jonna’s blog who seems to understand her like no one else. She finally agrees to meet him face-to-face, and he turns out to be better—and more attractive—than she could have imagined. But when Jonna has a change of heart and decides to fight to save her marriage, Dominic refuses to take “no” for an answer. Now Dominic will do anything not to lose Jonna—even if it means bringing her deepest, darkest fears to light…and taking her world apart piece by piece.
I think the part of this book that had me hooked the most was that as a blogger, I detail enough about my personal life that if some psycho stalker wanted to stalk me, he/she could probably figure out who I am. In a world where I love to blog and read other blogs, it kind of hit home to me. I don't think it would happen to me, but the little extra believability (is that even a word?) makes it that much of a better book. I really like Jonna's character and was sympathetic from the get go. I pretty much had an idea of who was doing what and what was going on, though it didn't take away from the book at all. It took me a bit to get into it, though that was because of me, and once I was sucked in I couldn't put it down. I had some major dental work done yesterday and was in a lot of pain so I didn't get that much reading done. However, I did stay up past my bedtime to read it and even woke up early to get more reading in. That is unheard of for me who loves my reading. I had to sub today and then work at my mom's office right now (from 4:30-8:00) so it is tough getting though today. Though today and tomorrow I was subbing for a librarian so I had a dream day and tomorrow will be some of the same. I loved being surrounded by all of the books and helping students find the right kind of books that they would love. The day did go by fast which was wonderful.
Up next is The Liar's Diary. Not sure where I heard of this book, but I did place it on hold awhile ago through my library. It sounds promising, so I hope to get into it a little bit today here at work. This is a new to me author and I hope there are good things to come! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Her blog is one of the hottest on the Web—a place where she can be herself and talk anonymously about her most private needs and desires. Not even her wealthy new husband knows about her online persona. And when Jonna Karakosta learns that he may be cheating on her, she needs her online community more than ever…Enter “Dominic,” a frequent guest on Jonna’s blog who seems to understand her like no one else. She finally agrees to meet him face-to-face, and he turns out to be better—and more attractive—than she could have imagined. But when Jonna has a change of heart and decides to fight to save her marriage, Dominic refuses to take “no” for an answer. Now Dominic will do anything not to lose Jonna—even if it means bringing her deepest, darkest fears to light…and taking her world apart piece by piece.
I think the part of this book that had me hooked the most was that as a blogger, I detail enough about my personal life that if some psycho stalker wanted to stalk me, he/she could probably figure out who I am. In a world where I love to blog and read other blogs, it kind of hit home to me. I don't think it would happen to me, but the little extra believability (is that even a word?) makes it that much of a better book. I really like Jonna's character and was sympathetic from the get go. I pretty much had an idea of who was doing what and what was going on, though it didn't take away from the book at all. It took me a bit to get into it, though that was because of me, and once I was sucked in I couldn't put it down. I had some major dental work done yesterday and was in a lot of pain so I didn't get that much reading done. However, I did stay up past my bedtime to read it and even woke up early to get more reading in. That is unheard of for me who loves my reading. I had to sub today and then work at my mom's office right now (from 4:30-8:00) so it is tough getting though today. Though today and tomorrow I was subbing for a librarian so I had a dream day and tomorrow will be some of the same. I loved being surrounded by all of the books and helping students find the right kind of books that they would love. The day did go by fast which was wonderful.
Up next is The Liar's Diary. Not sure where I heard of this book, but I did place it on hold awhile ago through my library. It sounds promising, so I hope to get into it a little bit today here at work. This is a new to me author and I hope there are good things to come! Hope everyone is having a wonderful week and Happy Reading!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
What a fun book! I definitely had my doubts before picking up this book because of the comparisions to the Stephanie Plum series, but I really enjoyed this. I had at least a little smile on my face the entire time I read it and have to give this book an A.
From Amazon:
Meet Isabel "Izzy" Spellman, private investigator. This twenty-eight-year-old may have a checkered past littered with romantic mistakes, excessive drinking, and creative vandalism; she may be addicted to Get Smart reruns and prefer entering homes through windows rather than doors -- but the upshot is she's good at her job as a licensed private investigator with her family's firm, Spellman Investigations. Invading people's privacy comes naturally to Izzy. In fact, it comes naturally to all the Spellmans. If only they could leave their work at the office. To be a Spellman is to snoop on a Spellman; tail a Spellman; dig up dirt on, blackmail, and wiretap a Spellman.
Part Nancy Drew, part Dirty Harry, Izzy walks an indistinguishable line between Spellman family member and Spellman employee. Duties include: completing assignments from the bosses, aka Mom and Dad (preferably without scrutiny); appeasing her chronically perfect lawyer brother (often under duress); setting an example for her fourteen-year-old sister, Rae (who's become addicted to "recreational surveillance"); and tracking down her uncle (who randomly disappears on benders dubbed "Lost Weekends"). But when Izzy's parents hire Rae to follow her (for the purpose of ascertaining the identity of Izzy's new boyfriend), Izzy snaps and decides that the only way she will ever be normal is if she gets out of the family business. But there's a hitch: she must take one last job before they'll let her go -- a fifteen-year-old, ice-cold missing person case. She accepts, only to experience a disappearance far closer to home, which becomes the most important case of her life.
This book was definitely low on the mystery, and in fact I was more than halfway through with the book before the mystery was even introduced. However, it was so much fun and I loved to get to know all about Izzy, her older brother David, her younger sister Rae, and all of the other Spellmans. This book provided a lot of chuckles though it wasn't so over the top that it may be absolutely unbelievable. I am so happy that this book is part of a series, and I have already placed the next one on hold through my library. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a light-hearted mystery with some great laughs and a quick read. I am counting down the days until I get the next one in from the library.
Up next is Tina Wainscott's newest book, What Lies In the Shadows. I have several of her books but I am pretty sure I have never read one. This one caught my attention when I bought it at the bookstore before my giving up buying books for Lent and for some reason it never made it to my bookshelf. When I went to get the next book I was planning on reading, there it was lying so I decided to give it a chance. I hope I enjoy her books as I have several others of hers. I should be able to get a good start on it today as I am at work and things are pretty slow for me. Chris and I have bowling when tonight when I get done with work, so my reading time tonight will be cut big time. I hope everyone else's weekend has gotten off to a good start and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Meet Isabel "Izzy" Spellman, private investigator. This twenty-eight-year-old may have a checkered past littered with romantic mistakes, excessive drinking, and creative vandalism; she may be addicted to Get Smart reruns and prefer entering homes through windows rather than doors -- but the upshot is she's good at her job as a licensed private investigator with her family's firm, Spellman Investigations. Invading people's privacy comes naturally to Izzy. In fact, it comes naturally to all the Spellmans. If only they could leave their work at the office. To be a Spellman is to snoop on a Spellman; tail a Spellman; dig up dirt on, blackmail, and wiretap a Spellman.
Part Nancy Drew, part Dirty Harry, Izzy walks an indistinguishable line between Spellman family member and Spellman employee. Duties include: completing assignments from the bosses, aka Mom and Dad (preferably without scrutiny); appeasing her chronically perfect lawyer brother (often under duress); setting an example for her fourteen-year-old sister, Rae (who's become addicted to "recreational surveillance"); and tracking down her uncle (who randomly disappears on benders dubbed "Lost Weekends"). But when Izzy's parents hire Rae to follow her (for the purpose of ascertaining the identity of Izzy's new boyfriend), Izzy snaps and decides that the only way she will ever be normal is if she gets out of the family business. But there's a hitch: she must take one last job before they'll let her go -- a fifteen-year-old, ice-cold missing person case. She accepts, only to experience a disappearance far closer to home, which becomes the most important case of her life.
This book was definitely low on the mystery, and in fact I was more than halfway through with the book before the mystery was even introduced. However, it was so much fun and I loved to get to know all about Izzy, her older brother David, her younger sister Rae, and all of the other Spellmans. This book provided a lot of chuckles though it wasn't so over the top that it may be absolutely unbelievable. I am so happy that this book is part of a series, and I have already placed the next one on hold through my library. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a light-hearted mystery with some great laughs and a quick read. I am counting down the days until I get the next one in from the library.
Up next is Tina Wainscott's newest book, What Lies In the Shadows. I have several of her books but I am pretty sure I have never read one. This one caught my attention when I bought it at the bookstore before my giving up buying books for Lent and for some reason it never made it to my bookshelf. When I went to get the next book I was planning on reading, there it was lying so I decided to give it a chance. I hope I enjoy her books as I have several others of hers. I should be able to get a good start on it today as I am at work and things are pretty slow for me. Chris and I have bowling when tonight when I get done with work, so my reading time tonight will be cut big time. I hope everyone else's weekend has gotten off to a good start and Happy Reading!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Gone by Jonathan Kellerman
I forgot why I picked up Mr. Kellerman's book last time I went to the bookstore, but I must of read about him somewhere. I have seen his and his wife's books before, but for some reason when I bought this book I sought him out. My memory is failing me. However, it was an interesting book and I enjoyed it. I give it a B.
From Amazon:
In "a reality show episode that backfired," two twentysomethings fake a kidnapping to jump-start their acting careers. When criminal psychologist Alex Delaware is called in to evaluate one of the pair, Michaela Brand, he learns a few details that come in handy later, after she's found brutally murdered, and the case has fallen into the lap of Alex's buddy, Lieutenant Milo Sturges. The murder trail leads back to an acting studio operated by wealthy, drug-addled Nora Dowd; a steady stream of starstruck would-be thespians arrive at the studio--and then sometimes disappear. Gradually, the pool of suspects widens, as more people turn up missing and dead. As usual, Kellerman maintains a tight balance between suspense and characterization, using dialogue to push things quickly along: Delaware and Sturges bounce theories off one another in rapid succession--as much from habit as necessity. Neither gets everything right; the truth is much more horrifying than either suspected.
Mr. Kellerman definitely has a different type of writing style and uses a ton of dialogue. While it made for easy reading, I think it took away from some of the development of characters. I didn't feel like I got to know a whole lot about the characters but I have a feeling that part of the reason is because I read the 19th book in this series. I don't think I missed out too much by reading out of line but more like some of Alex's personal life. Maybe someone who has read all of his other books could let me know. I did like the suspense, though most of it was told to us instead of it happening in front of our eyes. Most of the suspense came from trying to figure out who did it instead of what was going to happen next. Like I said, I did enjoy this book and will probably read some more of his, though I would probably get them from the library.
Up next is The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. I read about this series in a Romantic Times issue. It is supposed to be like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, and I really enjoy those (though they have kind of teetered off lately). I got it from the library and hope that it stands up to be as funny as everyone has said. I could use with some nice humor right now. The weather here is horrible and we now are in the 6th snowiest season since records were started. While I got a wonderful snow day yesterday from work, we may get up to another 10 inches of snow tomorrow night through all day Saturday. I know spring is supposed to be 2 weeks away, but it definitely doesn't seem like it here. I am sick of the gray ugliness and freezing temperatures. I was going to go to Florida for Spring Break, but other financial responsibilities came up so hopefully it will be a little nicer here. I would love some nice weather to air out my house. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
In "a reality show episode that backfired," two twentysomethings fake a kidnapping to jump-start their acting careers. When criminal psychologist Alex Delaware is called in to evaluate one of the pair, Michaela Brand, he learns a few details that come in handy later, after she's found brutally murdered, and the case has fallen into the lap of Alex's buddy, Lieutenant Milo Sturges. The murder trail leads back to an acting studio operated by wealthy, drug-addled Nora Dowd; a steady stream of starstruck would-be thespians arrive at the studio--and then sometimes disappear. Gradually, the pool of suspects widens, as more people turn up missing and dead. As usual, Kellerman maintains a tight balance between suspense and characterization, using dialogue to push things quickly along: Delaware and Sturges bounce theories off one another in rapid succession--as much from habit as necessity. Neither gets everything right; the truth is much more horrifying than either suspected.
Mr. Kellerman definitely has a different type of writing style and uses a ton of dialogue. While it made for easy reading, I think it took away from some of the development of characters. I didn't feel like I got to know a whole lot about the characters but I have a feeling that part of the reason is because I read the 19th book in this series. I don't think I missed out too much by reading out of line but more like some of Alex's personal life. Maybe someone who has read all of his other books could let me know. I did like the suspense, though most of it was told to us instead of it happening in front of our eyes. Most of the suspense came from trying to figure out who did it instead of what was going to happen next. Like I said, I did enjoy this book and will probably read some more of his, though I would probably get them from the library.
Up next is The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz. I read about this series in a Romantic Times issue. It is supposed to be like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, and I really enjoy those (though they have kind of teetered off lately). I got it from the library and hope that it stands up to be as funny as everyone has said. I could use with some nice humor right now. The weather here is horrible and we now are in the 6th snowiest season since records were started. While I got a wonderful snow day yesterday from work, we may get up to another 10 inches of snow tomorrow night through all day Saturday. I know spring is supposed to be 2 weeks away, but it definitely doesn't seem like it here. I am sick of the gray ugliness and freezing temperatures. I was going to go to Florida for Spring Break, but other financial responsibilities came up so hopefully it will be a little nicer here. I would love some nice weather to air out my house. I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and Happy Reading!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross
After reading an article in Romantic Times about Andrew Gross, who has co-written several of my favorite Patterson books, I had to check out his own books. I got The Blue Zone from my library and have since added his next book out on hold through the library. While The Blue Zone's premise was something out of the ordinary for me, I really enjoyed it and give it an A-.
From Amazon:
Kate Raab's life seems almost perfect: her boyfriend, her job, her family . . . until her father runs into trouble with the law. His only recourse is to testify against his former accomplices in exchange for his family's placement in the Witness Protection Program. But one of them gets cold feet. In a flash, everything Kate can count on is gone.
Now, a year later, her worst fears have happened: Her father has disappeared—into what the WITSEC agency calls "the blue zone"—and someone close to him is found brutally murdered. With her family under surveillance, the FBI untrustworthy, and her father's menacing "friends" circling with increasing intensity, Kate sets off to find her father—and uncover the secrets someone will kill to keep buried.
I normally shy away from books that deal with the government and at first it sounded like I may not have enjoyed it that much. The whole thing with the Witness Protection Program and Columbian drug dealers really isn't my normal type of book. However, because I enjoyed Mr. Gross' thrillers that he co-wrote with Mr. Patterson I decided to give it a go. It was a really well written story and even though there were a lot of different characters to keep straight and code names, it was still really enjoyable. The suspense was very well written and the reader struggles along with Kater while trying to figure out who she can and cannot trust.
I am hoping that my reading mojo is coming back. I finished more than half of this book this afternoon and think that I may have hit my groove. I only finished 7 books last month and that is not going to help my reading goals be reached. Up next I am going to read a new to me author, Johnathon Kellerman. I have heard a lot about him and this book I picked up sounded very interesting. I don't have it right in front of me, but it does seem interesting. I have another long week ahead of me and am not looking forward to it at all. Hopefully I survive and have a few books read to show for it when it is all said and done. Hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
From Amazon:
Kate Raab's life seems almost perfect: her boyfriend, her job, her family . . . until her father runs into trouble with the law. His only recourse is to testify against his former accomplices in exchange for his family's placement in the Witness Protection Program. But one of them gets cold feet. In a flash, everything Kate can count on is gone.
Now, a year later, her worst fears have happened: Her father has disappeared—into what the WITSEC agency calls "the blue zone"—and someone close to him is found brutally murdered. With her family under surveillance, the FBI untrustworthy, and her father's menacing "friends" circling with increasing intensity, Kate sets off to find her father—and uncover the secrets someone will kill to keep buried.
I normally shy away from books that deal with the government and at first it sounded like I may not have enjoyed it that much. The whole thing with the Witness Protection Program and Columbian drug dealers really isn't my normal type of book. However, because I enjoyed Mr. Gross' thrillers that he co-wrote with Mr. Patterson I decided to give it a go. It was a really well written story and even though there were a lot of different characters to keep straight and code names, it was still really enjoyable. The suspense was very well written and the reader struggles along with Kater while trying to figure out who she can and cannot trust.
I am hoping that my reading mojo is coming back. I finished more than half of this book this afternoon and think that I may have hit my groove. I only finished 7 books last month and that is not going to help my reading goals be reached. Up next I am going to read a new to me author, Johnathon Kellerman. I have heard a lot about him and this book I picked up sounded very interesting. I don't have it right in front of me, but it does seem interesting. I have another long week ahead of me and am not looking forward to it at all. Hopefully I survive and have a few books read to show for it when it is all said and done. Hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!
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