Friday, October 31, 2008

The Anniversary by Amy Gutman

The Anniversary is another book I got a recommendation from my library. It took me forever to read it, though I think it was more me than the book. I don't know why my reading has slowed so much, but once I put my mind to it, I finished it pretty quickly. I give it a B.

From Amazon:
Laura Seton has put her past behind her. Several years earlier, her former boyfriend was put to death after being linked to the murder of more than 100 young women. On the fifth anniversary of his death, a chilling note is left at her door-a note that might have come from her dead lover. Unbeknownst to her, two other women receive identical notes-someone is forcing them all to confront a past they've tried to forget. Steven Gage was a charming and elusive psychopathic serial killer. Five years after his capture and execution, his ex-girlfriend, the lawyer who defended him on Death Row, and the writer who turned his story into a bestselling true crime book reach the edge of terror as they are hunted by a shape-shifting shadow from the past. The anniversary is an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will keep hearts pounding until the last shocking twist.

The book was an interesting and a good mystery. There were quite a few red herrings that threw me a bit, but about 75% through the book I had it figured out. I had a hard time sympathizing with the main character. The way she dealt with her daughter got on my nerves and it really irked me. I am not sure why this seems to be bother me so much lately, but I think it has to do with the students I come in contact with on a daily basis and the fact that me and my husband are starting to think about having a baby soon. Our 4 year anniversary is on Wednesday so I think it is getting close to time. Anyways, the book was good but nothing really special that made me go WOW!

Up next is another book by Stephen Cannell. This one is called Final Victim and does sound a little bit different. I plan on doing a lot of reading this weekend, so hopefully I can get through this one quickly. I have been sick for the past couple of days and normally when I am sick I love to read, but this week I have been so tired that I can't concentrate. I feel a bit better today so hopefully I am turning the corner. Happy Halloween and Happy Reading!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

At First Sight by Stephen Cannell

While looking through my library's available e-books and audiobooks available for checkout, I found At First Sight. It sounded interesting and I was reading a book that I couldn't get into I decided to try it. I really enjoyed it and give it an A-.

From Amazon:
Meet Chick Best—a middle-aged, selfabsorbed, disaffected, California dot.com millionaire. Other than his house and high-priced foreign cars, Chick’s most expensive possession is his trophy wife, Evelyn. Evelyn is good at spending Chick’ money, money that has pretty much run out. Another problem is his drug-addled sixteen-year-old daughter, Melissa. Though concerned about his life and family, Chick has resigned himself to a miserable state of acceptance. That is, until he, Evelyn, and Melissa take a Christmas vacation in Maui. With this, Chick’s life changes…
Chick experiences unrequited love at first sight when he observes Paige Ellis emerging from the hotel swimming pool. His obsession, exceeded only by his need to possess her, isn’t diminished when he learns that she is happily married. Instead, he befriends Paige and her near-perfect husband, Chandler. A short time later, back from Hawaii, Chick’s obsession compels him to drive to Paige’s house, where he runs down and kills Chandler in a drugstore parking lot. But this is just the beginning of Chick’s nightmare as his life spirals homicidally out of control, resulting in the destruction of everything he holds dear. Will Paige learn the truth about Chick before it’s too late?
Fast paced, filled with wry humor, murder, lust, and dead-on L.A. characterizations, Cannell has written his most explosively saleable novel yet.


I really enjoyed this. It had humor and I loved the way it was written. Told from both Paige and Chick's point of view, I loved getting into both of their heads. The humor was very dry but this book jsut grabbed me. I only read about 70 pages last night and finished the book in about a hour and a half today. It would be a stretch to call the book a mystery or thriller but it was still fun. This was the first book I read by Mr. Cannell, though it won't be my last. I checked out another book by him and will probably read that after another book I have. It definitely broke me out of my mini reading slump. I was reading a book by Phillip Margolin, but it didn't grab me. It was told from different time periods and there were so many characters that I was having a hard time keeping everything straight. It took me three days to read 100 pages, and when I had time which I normally keep for reading available, I found other things to do. I finally gave up on it, because I figured time is too short to read books that I am not engrossed in.

After doing some cleaning, laundry and lesson planning, I plan on starting The Anniversary by Amy Guttman. I am excited to read which always happens after reading a good book! I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Tutor by Peter Abrahams

I got The Tutor from one of the library book sales I went to . I have to admit the first thing that drew my attention was the title of the book. Being a tutor and teaching kids I grabbed it. This book was not really about tutoring or teaching, but was still really good. It was such a well written book and I really liked it. I give it a B+.

From Amazon:
When Scott and Linda Gardner hire Julian Sawyer to tutor their troubled teenage son Brandon, he seems like the answer to a prayer. Capable and brilliant, Julian connects with Brandon in a way neither of his parents can. He also effortlessly helps Linda to salvage a troubled business deal and gives Scott expert advice on his tennis game. Only eleven-year old Ruby—funny, curious, devoted to Sherlock Holmes—has doubts about the stranger in their midst who has so quickly become like a member of the family. But even the observant Ruby is far from understanding Julian’s true designs on the Gardners.For Julian, the Gardners are like specimens in jars, creatures to be studied— and manipulated. Scott is a gambler with no notion of odds, festering in the shadow of his more successful brother. Linda is ambitious, hungry for the cultured stimulation Julian easily provides. Brandon is risking his future late at night in the town woods. And Ruby—well, she’s just a silly little girl. And in that miscalculation lies the Gardner family’s only possible salvation.

Mr. Abrahams is just a fantastic writer. All of the characters really seem to come to life and even though it is really easy to identify their faults, you really come to like them and can almost see some of yourself in them. I especially loved Ruby- "the silly little girl". Some of her interests truly remind me of myself and I can relate to her feelings on her relationship with her brother. Besides the characters, the suspense was well done. I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed which reflected my lower grade. I did some research on the author and was surprised that the Mr. Abrahams is the author who wrote the book that the movie The Fan was based on. I loved that movie though it has been forever since I have seen it. I am definitely going to keep this author on my list of those to keep my eyes open for.

I am not sure what I am going to read next. I did receive the next George Shuman book from Barbara in the mail yesterday. I don't think I am going to jump right in to it though, since I just finished the previous one. I am going to browse the shelves and find something that has been sitting there for awhile. Happy Reading!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

18 Seconds by George Shuman

I got this recommendation from Barbara on Heidi's Books after reading her review on the second book in this series. She is being kind enough to send it to me but said I had to get the first one in the series and read it first. I grabbed it from the library and checked it out and am so happy I did. It was a really great book, and I give it a B+.

From Amazon:
Thirty years after a deadly traffic accident landed Earl Sykes in prison, he is back on the streets of Wildwood, New Jersey -- and back for revenge. He is also feeding his perverse appetite for abducting young female victims -- the same crimes he committed years ago for which he was never caught.
Police lieutenant Kelly O'Shaughnessy is bewildered by the disappearance of several young women from the boardwalk -- crimes horrifyingly reminiscent of unsolved cases from the seventies. Reluctant to ask for help but desperate to stem the bloodshed, Kelly enlists investigative consultant Sherry Moore. Blind and beautiful, Sherry has the extraordinary ability to "see" the deceased's last eighteen seconds of memory by touching the corpse. As they join forces to discover the killer's identity, the women unwittingly become the hunted -- each step drawing them closer to the deadly clutches of a homicidal monster.


I was expecting this book to be more about Sherry Moore, but it was much more than that. Sherry is a really likeable character and seems like someone I would love to be friends with. The story was really well written and I will admit that I was a little weary about reading about psyhics since most of the time I don't like paranormals. However, the author does an excellent job of incorporating police work along with the visions that Sherry sees. I also liked that we got inside the mind of a killer, even though it meant all along that the reader knows who committed the crime. The only thing that kind of disappointed me was the fact that at the end of the book there was a big hurricane coming. Sometimes I feel that an author takes an easy way out with a storm and making things difficult at the end. I am probably just nitpicking here, but it did bother me.

I am not sure what I am going to read next, but I do know that it will be something off of my TBR shelves. No more library books for awhile as I have so many to read and my husband has kept asking me why I feel the need to check books out from the library when I have my own mini-library downstairs. I think I may use a random number generator to decide what I am going to grab, however my books aren't in alphabetical order right now and sometimes it is hard to find that book. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Six Random Things

O.K. here goes my first meme. Holly from What Were You Expecting has tagged me for 6 Random Things about me. She also gave me an award that says she loves my blog... which has me questioning her taste (jk)!

1. I am left handed. No one else in my family is left handed so I am not sure where this came from. I am always told that I have excellend handwriting and they are shocked when they discover I am left handed.

2. I have know my husband since I was 16. We were off and on until I was 21, when we got engaged and married 2 years later. We celebrate our 4 year anniversary in a couple of weeks.

3. I have had a dog my entire life and can't picture my life without one.

4. I played basketball for nearly 10 years and still like to play but I hate watching it on t.v.

5. I am the first one in my entire family (including my extended family on both sides) to receive a Bachelor's Degree, but there was never any question that I would get on.

6. The only type of pop I like is Diet Coke and it has to be a fountain pop. When I was in NYC I had the hardest time finding it and seriously went through withdrawls.

I am not going to tag anyone, but if you choose to do this, let me know! I love getting to know more about all of you!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Flesh Tones by M.J. Rose

I have always enjoyed Ms. Rose's books and this was onoe from her backlist that I hadn't read. I picked it up from my library and almost gave up on it. I stuck with it, and read pretty much the whole thing last night, but was still somewhat disappointed. I give it a B-.

From Amazon:
In a New York courtroom, a woman stands accused of a controversial crime. Genny Haviland, thirty-eight, is said to have drugged and suffocated legendary painter George Gabriel. For two decades the tempestuous Gabriel has challenged audiences with his wild work. And in the end, the prosecution claims, he alienated the woman he first seduced, then enslaved—enough to cause his own death at her hands.Yet in Genny’s mind there rests another story, one that started twenty years before . . . one in which a college girl on summer break met an older, attractive artist—and began a forbidden affair she would never forget, a shadowy, sensual union in which she was more helpless and more powerful than she would ever imagine. Then the discovery of a shocking secret blew it all apart: Genny’s father was Jonathan Haviland, the renowned gallery owner who could make or break Gabriel’s career.Now Genny contends she was only easing her old lover to a painless death, allowing him to escape the awful illness that was slowly eroding his sanity and self. But is that the whole truth? Or was Gabriel indeed killed—but for far more sordid reasons, from a motive driven by scandal and the threat of financial ruin? How much would Genny do for the man she professed to love, or for the father who has always loomed darkly in the background of her life?

I really couldn't stand Genny and thought she had the weakest personality. She kept saying how deep her love was for Slade, but to tell you the truth, I thought it was really more obsession and ruled by sex. Some of the things she did were unspeakable and was just sick and tired of hearing how wonderful Slade Gabriel was. He was so selfish and full of himself and I could feel no sympathy for him or Genny. This book angered me more than anything, but I will say Ms. Rose does write a good story and just because I hated the characters, it was compelling. Am I glad I read this book? I am not sure. I don't know if I could recommend this book to someone else.

Up next is 18 Seconds by George Hamilton. I read about his second book from Barbara and Heidi's Books, and she is being so sweet and kinid to send the second book to me in this series. I went to the library and got 18 Seconds, so I am going to get started on it right away. Barbara had a lot to say about this book, so I hope I enjoy it as much as she has. My reading has been kind of off this week because my husband's uncle passed away. I am not very close with any of my in-laws because of some things that have happened, and actually try to stay seperate as much as I can. However, I am my husband's wife, first and foremost, so I have been by his side through all of it because I love him. I think he has been doing o.k., but he hides his emotions pretty well. Hopefully things will be calming down shortly. Happy Reading!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Married Lovers by Jackie Collins

Well as you all know by now, I love Jackie Collins. Whenever I pick one up, I know I am in for an easy and fun filled read. When I went to the used book sale at the library this weekend, I saw this one on the shelves (I checked out more books... it has to be some kind of disease) and read it this weekend. It was a good read, but not one of my favorites and I give it a B.

From Amazon:
Three high-powered Hollywood couples, two hot affairs, one underage Russian ex-hooker, a passionate murder—and the players’ lives are changed forever.
Cameron Paradise, a stunningly beautiful twenty-four-year-old personal trainer, flees Hawaii and her champion-surfer husband, Gregg, in the middle of one of his abusive tirades and makes her way to L.A. Tall, blond, with a body to die for, it doesn’t take Cameron long to find a job at an exclusive private fitness club where she encounters LA's most important players. She has plans to open her own studio one day, and while every man she meets comes on to her, she is more focused on saving money and working hard than getting caught up in the L.A. scene of wild parties and recreational drugs.
Until she meets Ryan Lambert, an extremely successful independent movie producer. Ryan is married to overly privileged Mandy Lambert, the daughter of Hamilton J. Heckerling, a Hollywood power-player son-of-a-bitch mogul. Ryan has never cheated on his demanding Hollywood Princess wife, but when he meets Cameron, all bets are off, especially since she’s seeing his best friend Don Verona, the devastatingly attractive talk-show host and legendary player.
In her latest sizzling blockbuster, internationally bestselling author Jackie Collins explores what happens when lust and desire collide with marriage and power—and the results lead to murder.


I enjoyed all of the characters, and as usual there was plenty of juicy sex, secrets, and superficial characters. These are all of the perfect things necessary for a nice, midnless read and it took some things off of my mind. The book is engaging and I always keep turning the pages. My mind is kind of fritzed right now, so I am just going to end the review now. In good news, I went to the used book sale again yesterday where it was free day. I got 61 books! I felt guilty, but there was a ton left over and the ladies working it kept telling me to get more. I honestly could have gotten more, but decided to share the wealth. I had Chris go and buy another bookshelve since my other ones were overflowing and it still wasn't enough. This weekend alone I got 94 books! I really need to be a stop to this.

All right, I still need to take my shower and do some planning for school tomorrow... and I can barely keep my eyes open! Happy Reading everyone!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Beach House by James Patterson

I picked up this book at last week's used book sale and decided to grab it off of the shelves since I always read Mr. Patterson's book so fast. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with this book and felt like a lot more could have been done with the book. I give it a B.

Back cover:
Jack Mullen is a driven student of the law. His brother Peter is a servant of the rich, parking the cars of the Hamptons elite- and perhaps satisfying their more intimate needs as well. Then Peter's body is found on the beach. Jack knows the drowning was no accident, but someone's unlimited power and money have bought the cops, the judges, the system. Now Jack is learning a lesson in justice he never got in law school... and his astonishing plan to beat the billionaires will have you reeling- and cheering- to the very last page.

I just thought that some of this book was really far-fetching, though the more I think about it, maybe I am just being naive. The pure fact that the elite and rich can get away with anything they want is terrifying and definitely not what one wants to believe is true. However, the book was engaging and was a brainless read, which sometimes is necessary. I started reading this Thursday but didn't really get into it until last night when finally my eyes gave out. I was so eager to finish it though, so I woke up way too early to finish reading it. I love how Mr. Patterson always uses short paragraphs as there is always a place to end reading and I don't feel like I will forget a ton if I just read a page here and there.

Another local library had another used book sale and I went there today for the bag sale. I got a ton of books for $5.00 and some of them are in brand new condition! I couldn't believe it. Tomorrow is their free day and I may just go back and see what they have left. My bag was overflowing, but the ladies just chuckled at me and said they were glad to see younger people take such an interest in reading. That comment made me feel real nice, as I am constantly reminded of how old I am getting. While at that library, I also checked out two books so I will be reading those first. One is the newest Jackie Collins book, Married Lovers, and I only have a week for it so I will be reading that first. I plan on getting a lot of reading in today but I took some cold medicine that is making me real drowsy right now and I have some cleaning to do. I think I am going to lay down right now with the book and maybe take a little nap. I hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer MacMahon

I read and really enjoyed Ms. MacMahon's first book, Promise Not To Tell, and when I heard that she had written a new book, decided to put it on hold. This was a chilling, and in some ways, depressing read that I still enjoyed. I give it a B+.

From Amazon:
While parked at a gas station, Rhonda sees something so incongruously surreal that at first she hardly recognizes it as a crime in progress. She watches, unmoving, as someone dressed in a rabbit costume kidnaps a young girl. Devastated over having done nothing, Rhonda joins the investigation. But the closer she comes to identifying the abductor, the nearer she gets to the troubling truth about another missing child: her best friend, Lizzy, who vanished years before.
From the author of the acclaimed Promise Not to Tell comes a chilling and mesmerizing tale of shattered innocence, guilt, and ultimate redemption.


I found that this book was somewhat predicitable, but there were some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. The story was somewhat depressing, and I think it had a lot to do with the author's voice and her way of telling the story. With every chapter, we switch times to either present day or the past which I thought was handled well. I guess you could call the story a mystery, but it was much more than that. It deals with a lot of the characters and things that happened in their own lives and how it has shaped them to be the people they are now. I was kind of disappointed with the ending because I felt like the main character, Rhonda, doesn't get a happy ending, but I guess that isn't always what happens in real life. I think that is part of what is bothering me and I think part of it is because I am in somewhat of a funk in my own life, and the other part because I use reading as a means of escape. That all being said, I would recommend this book to others. I probably will read more in the future by this author, should she write anymore.

Well, we had to go buy a new fridge. It is so frustrating and seems like every month it is another unexpected expense. I am trying to not get upset, and repeating my mantra to not worry about things that I can't change. I am looking at the positive that we got a great deal, and while it does stretch our money and make things a bit tighter, we will not be in debt and we could be a lot worse off. I think that in these days with all of the economic crises, it is easy to get swept up with worry and I don't want to do that. Michigan has been in a one state recession for the longest time, so I think I am becoming more immune to everything. I am looking for the positives, one being that gas is down more than $1.00 from a month and half ago, and it helps me get through it. Our fridge had a mini fire which wrecked it, and I am thankful that it wasn't more serious and we could have lost much more. All right, enough with my ramblings... just trying to relieve some of my anxiety before I go to bed. I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be something off of my shelves. Happy Reading!

Monday, October 6, 2008

One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell

I wasn't a huge fan of Ms. Bushnell's previous books, including Sex and the City. While I liked the tv show, I didn't love the book (which is rare for me... I normally like the book better). However, I saw this book while I was in New York and it sounded like something I really enjoy, and it was. I give it an A-.

From Amazon:
One Fifth Avenue, the Art Deco beauty towering over one of Manhattan's oldest and most historically hip neighborhoods, is a one-of-a-kind address, the sort of building you have to earn your way into--one way or another. For the women in Candace Bushnell's new novel, One Fifth Avenue, this edifice is essential to the lives they've carefully established--or hope to establish. From the hedge fund king's wife to the aging gossip columnist to the free-spirited actress (a recent refugee from L.A.), each person's game plan for a rich life comes together under the soaring roof of this landmark building. Acutely observed and mercilessly witty, One Fifth Avenue is a modern-day story of old and new money, that same combustible mix that Edith Wharton mastered in her novels about New York's Gilded Age and F. Scott Fitzgerald illuminated in his Jazz Age tales. Many decades later, Bushnell's New Yorkers suffer the same passions as those fictional Manhattanites from eras past: They thirst for power, for social prominence, and for marriages that are successful--at least to the public eye. But Bushnell is an original, and One Fifth Avenue is so fresh that it reads as if sexual politics, real estate theft, and fortunes lost in a day have never happened before. From Sex and the City through four successive novels, Bushnell has revealed a gift for tapping into the zeitgeist of any New York minute and, as one critic put it, staying uncannily "just the slightest bit ahead of the curve." And with each book, she has deepened her range, but with a light touch that makes her complex literary accomplishments look easy. Her stories progress so nimbly and ring so true that it can seem as if anyone might write them--when, in fact, no one writes novels quite like Candace Bushnell. Fortunately for us, with One Fifth Avenue, she has done it again.

I love reading about New York society, and seeing how the "other half" lives. I find it quite humorous in what some of these people think are real problems that are worthy of worrying and being all stressed out about. What $8,000 pair of shoes they should wear to the next event, for example. However I will admit that I do fantasize about what it would be like to live like that. I loved the characters in this book, and while there were quite a few, they were easy to keep straight. Ms. Bushnell delves into each character enough that the reader gets the oppourtinity to know what is going on in their heads. I also love New York, so reading about it is a great pleasure. The only negative thing I can say about the book is that the ending felt rushed. I read some other reviews on Ms. Bushnell's books and those reviewers all said the same thing. That being said, it was a good read and much better than I expected.

Up next is my last library book I have. I feel like I haven't read one of my own books in forever, so I am looking forward to getting through it. I don't have the book in front of me, but I know it is by Jennifer MacMahon, I believe. I hope to get into it right now. Our fridge broke sometime yesterday and we had to throw away everything. This is putting a damper on my mood and as I wait for the repairman to give me a call, I hope a good book will be able to booster my mood. Happy Reading!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Free Books!!!!

I got two books from the thrift store today and realized I already had both of them. If anyone would like them, please let me know and I will send them to you. Leave a comment with your email address and I will send them out. Please know that they are not in perfect condition.

The Stingray Shuffle by Tim Dorsey
No Second Chance by Harlan Coben

US only please!

Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

I loved Ms. Cain's first book, Heartsick, and wasn't sure how this one would follow up. This book far exceeded my expectations and the only thing I can say about this book is WOWZERS and I give it an A.

From Amazon:
With Heartsick, Chelsea Cain took the crime world by storm, introducing two of the most compelling characters in decades: serial killer Gretchen Lowell and her obsessed pursuer Portland Detective Archie Sheridan. The book spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered rave reviews around the world. But the riveting story of Archie and Gretchen was left unfinished, and now Chelsea Cain picks up the tale again.When the body of a young woman is discovered in Portland’s Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the last time they found a body there, more than a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer’s first victim, and Archie’s first case. This body can't be one of Gretchen's—she’s in prison—but after help from reporter Susan Ward uncovers the dead woman's identity, it turns into another big case. Trouble is, Archie can't focus on the new investigation because the Beauty Killer case has exploded: Gretchen Lowell has escaped from prison.Archie hadn't seen her in two months; he'd moved back in with his family and sworn off visiting her. Though it should feel like progress, he actually feels worse. The news of her escape spreads like wildfire, but secretly, he's relieved. He knows he's the only one who can catch her, and in fact, he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all.

The main character, Archie, is one sick man. When I say sick, I mean sick in the head and physically sick as well. His obsession with Gretchen is unbelievable, but Ms. Cain does such a great job writing about it and explaining all about it, the reader can clearly see how Archie is wrapped around her finger. A lot of the backstory was revealed in this book which the first book didn't have and I loved that. All of the characters are likeable, even though they are all clearly faulted. The suspense is always building and was truly a thriller. It is very dark and not a ton of action, but a lot more in the psyches of people, which I always enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to everyone but suggest that you do start with Heartsick. This morning I kept reading just a few pages because I didn't want the book to end, but finally had to just give in. I was worried about how the book was going to end, because I really do not want the series to end and I think it won't.

I just started a totally different type of book, One Fifth Avenue, by Candace Bushnell. I have only read 25 pages, but I am afraid that it won't hold up to Sweetheart and I may not give this one it's justice. That is why I purposely chose another book that is not a thriller so I won't be disappointed. Have a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner

I have always been a fan of Lisa Gardner for a long time, so I was quite excited when Say Goodbye came in from the library. I quickly read this in one day and thought it was a great thriller! I give it an A.

From Amazon:
Come into my parlor . . .For Kimberly Quincy, FBI Special Agent, it all starts with a pregnant hooker. The story Delilah Rose tells Kimberly about her johns is too horrifying to be true—but prostitutes are disappearing, one by one, with no explanation, and no one but Kimberly seems to care.Said the spider to the fly . . .As a member of the Evidence Response Team, dead hookers aren’t exactly Kimberly’s specialty. The young agent is five months pregnant—she has other things to worry about than an alleged lunatic who uses spiders to do his dirty work. But Kimberly’s own mother and sister were victims of a serial killer. And now, without any bodies and with precious few clues, it’s all too clear that a serial killer has found the key to the perfect murder . . . or Kimberly is chasing a crime that never happened.Kimberly’s caught in a web more lethal than any spider’s, and the more she fights for answers, the more tightly she’s trapped. What she doesn’t know is that she’s close—too close—to a psychopath who makes women’s nightmares come alive, and if he has his twisted way, it won’t be long before it’s time for Kimberly to . . .

This book was just creepy. The killer was seriously twisted and some of the acts committed against his victims were horrid. Some of them involved children, so part of it was difficult to read. However, Ms. Gardner really knows how to write believing suspense that really sends chills up my spine. I did have a problem with the main character, Kimberly. She was five months pregnant and putting herself into really stupid situtations where she could harm not only herself, but her baby as well. However, the character did say that she was being selfish, but she didn't remove herself from the situation. That wasn't enough to take away from how good this book was, though. If you like a good thriller, run and get this book!

I went to one of our local library's used book sale today. This one is huge and always has such a big turnout. I ended up getting around 28 books for $14.50... including some hardcovers! I went before work, so I didn't have a ton of browsing time, but on Sunday is their bag day. You pay $5.00 for a brown paper bag and fill it up to your heart's content. I will definitely be back and will probably bring my list of what I do have. I have hundreds of books in my TBR piles and it is hard to remember what I have and unfortunetly I didn't bring my list with me today. Oh well, I just pass along any duplicates or donate them. These are the books I got.

Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins
Math Counts School Handbook
Mathematics Daily Review
Big Collection of Teacher Tips
Kingdom Come by Tim Green
The Tutor by Peter Abrahams
Widow by Billie Sue Mosiman
Ripper by Michael Slade
Hide by Lisa Gardner
Mother's Day by Patricia MacDonald
Sleep No More by Greg Iles
Prime Witness by Steve Martini
Hitchcock in Prime Time (a set of stories which the old t.v. series was based on... I LOVE this series and now watch it on DVD or our retro channel)
The Beach House by James Patterson (I don't think I read this)
The Beach Road by James Patterson (for my mom who hasn't read it)
Amnesia by David Best
The Midnight Club by James Patterson
Darkness Bound by Larry Brooks
Bone Thief by Thomas O'Callaghan (may be a duplicate)
Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins (may be a duplicate)
The World is Full of Married Men by Jackie Collins (may be a duplicate)
Death on the Flop by Jackie Chance
Murder Suicide by Keith Ablow
Black Water by T.J. MacGregor
3rd Degree by James Patterson
Turning Angel by Greg Iles
Final Therapy by Robert Burton
I Heard that Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark

A lot of new to me authors and I find that used book sales are a great place to discover new favorites. Let me know if you know have read any of these and I show move them up to the front.

Happy Reading!