Peril by Thomas H. Cook

After reading Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook, I decided to go on a glom of his books, picking up three of his books from the library. Peril sounded interesting and different from most everything else I read, so I decided to pick it up and try it out. However, it was a bit disppointing, and I only rate it a C.

Inside cover:
Sara Labriola is a married woman haunted by the shattering secrets of her past- and terrified of the future. Tired of living in fear, Sara decides to do the only thing she can: she makes herself disappear.
On the sultry, seductive streets of New York City, Sara will reinvent herself. She will change her identity, and maybe even get the happy ending she's always dreamed of.
But six desperate ad dangerous men- each with the power to destroy her- are on Sara's trail. And none of them suspect that the woman they are seekinig has a dangerous secret of her own. For Sara is leading all of them down a path of private demons, past sins... and the deadliest peril.

I did enjoy the way the story was told, with each of the main characters, and even some of the minor characters, telling the story through their eyes every few pages. I thought it gave the reader a great insight into what each character was thinking and their motivation for their actions. However, after that, the story really lost a lot of it's punch. There was a lot of drag time, and the story was boring at times. I was a bit disappointed, especially since I have a couple more of his books checked out from the library. I won't return them unread, but if they don't grab me right away, I will not stick with them. There are just too many books out there begging to be read!

Up next is another library book by another author who've I had a lot of success with. Someone Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage. I read her previous book, The Doctor's Wife, which I absolutely loved, so I am hoping there is a great book to follow up with. Happy Reading everyone!

The First Wife by Diana Diamond

I love Diana Diamond and thought I had read everything by this author. As I was searching along Amazon, I discovered I had somehow missed The First Wife. I got it from my library and read it Friday night and this morning/afternoon while enjoying the pleasant weather. While not my favorite book, it was still an enjoyable read and I give it a B.

Inside cover:
Jane Warren swore she'd never marry again. Sure age isn't a problem. Neither are her looks. Heaven knows that plenty of perfectly respectable men who would consider themselves lucky to end up with someone like her. Then again, the last perfectly respecatable man to end up with her- her ex-husband- ended their marriage, not to mention Jane's belief in happy endings...
But she just can't muster the cynicism to resist William Andrews- a dashing, debonair widower with two children of his own. Soon Jane's doing what she swore she'd never do; marching down the aisle, promising to have, hold, serve, and protect, till death do them part. But why does Andrew seem so obsessed with his dead wife? And why do the children seem to hate Jane so passionately?
As Jane struggles to understand the nature of the powerful hold Andrew's ffirst wife still exerts over the husband and children she left behind, her day-to-day life grows increasingly more dangerous. During a family outing, she is suddenly thrown violently from her horse. Did someone deliberately spook the horse? As she takes a midnight swim, the mechanical drome over the pool closes on her. Did it short-circuit, or was it sabotage? Are these just coincidences, or are the stakes and risks getting higher the closer Jane gets to the truth? Someone would clearly like to see her follow the first Mrs. Andrews to the grave. Why?

Jane was a difficult person to feel any sympathy for, as throughout a large amount of the book, she is trying to decide whether or not she loves William even though she is planning on marrying her. William is a very rich man, and I am sure that played a part in her reasoning, right? A lot of the book was spent with Jane talking to herself and there was a lot of telling instead of showing. Though most of the book is told through Jane's eyes, at some points the point of view was flipped half way through a paragraph which was a bit confusing. With all of that being said, the story and the suspense was well done and held me into the story.

Up next is another library book. In my email today, I just saw I have yet another library book to be picked up tomorrow. Oh my, I am not sure if I am ever going to get these finished. With that being said, I am going to hop off of the computer and get started on the next book. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and a relaxing Sunday. Happy Reading everyone!

Don't Cry Now by Joy Fielding

I started out reading the latest Anne Stuart and had really high hopes for it, but the book ended up being more romance than suspense so I gave up. I read over 140 pages, but still couldn't get into it, so instead of forcing myself to read it, I stopped. It was quite a liberating feeling as in the past, I would always make myself finish a book. To avoid a reading slump, I picked up a book off of my own shelves by one of my favorite authors and it was just the thing. I ended up really liking Don't Cry Now and give it a B+.

Inside cover:
Happily married with a beautiful young daughter, a handsome husband, and a sprawling house in one of Boston's most comfortable suburbs, Bonnie Wheeler has an enviable life. Even her husband's ex-wife, Joan, with her tendency toward bad timing, is merely a nuisance.
But one morning Bonnie must grasp the fragility of her perfect world. When she finds Joan shot through the heart, it becomes terrifyingly clear that someone is also after her- and her exquisite child.

Ms. Fielding does an absolute wonderful job of throwing red herrings throughout the story and left me running though all of the characters and who the bad guy could be. I thought I had it all figured out, and then all of the sudden, I would be doubting myself and talking myself out of it. I think that is the true test of a good suspense novel and love trying to figure out the mystery at the end. There were a couple of other things running through the story that I was able to figure out, but I do have to admit that it was right as the author was laying everything out for the reader. I kept saying to myself, "Oh yeah... I should have seen that coming!" Ms. Fielding always does a fantastic job of providing down-to-earth main characters who you can relate to and really root for. There was also a touching side story about Bonnie and her father that touched me so that was an extra bonus!

I just picked up three more library books and now have 8 to read! I really need to get through these, so I think this weekend I am going to spend some time away from the computer and add more time in the books! I went on a job interview a couple of weeks ago, and though I didn't get the job I applied for, I was offerred another position. I will now be a teacher's assistant instead of the teacher. I guess in some ways it is good, less stress and work, but I am still not fulfilling my dream of teaching. However, in this economy, where school districts are constantly laying off teachers, I am happy to have something steady and know where I am going each morning and not having to wait for a phone call to find out where I am going to work. I also just found out that a friend of mine is pregnant. While I am happy for her, she just started trying, and my husband and I have been trying for awhile without any luck. My hubby had a doctor appointment where there was the slight possibilty of something being severly wrong (I don't even want to type it in so I don't take the chance of jinxing ourselves) that was leading to this, but so far it looks ok. So I guess the moral of today's story is to look at the positive and be appreciative of what I do have. Anything else is just icing on the cake I guess!

Whew... sorry I went on rambling.... I guess my anxiety levels have been skyrocketing and I just needed to ge this off of my chest. Please feel free to ignore all of that, but if you haven't read a Joy Fielding book, go check one out! I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and Happy Reading!

Desert Places by Blake Crouch

I believe I heard about Desert Places on bookbitch.com though I could be mistaken. My interest was picqued though by reading the review, so I decided to place this one on hold from my library. It was a difficult book to read, and very graphic, but still very suspensful. I give it a B.

Inside cover:
Andrew Z. Thomas is a successful writer of suspense thrillers, living the dream at his lake house in the piedmont of North Carolina. One afternoon in late spring, he receives a bizarre letter that eventually threathens his career, his sanity, and the lives of everyone he loves. A murderer is designing his future, and for the life of him, Andrew can't get away.

There were definitely a lot of twists and turns in this book, and quite often I was left gasping aloud. The book starts out with a bang, when Andrew receives a letter from someone who says there is a body buried somewhere on his property with his blood all over the body. If Andrew doesn't do exactly as the man says, the police will receive an anonymous phone call leading them to the body and all the eveidence necessary for putting Andrew behind bars for a very long time, if not sending him to the electric chair. So starts an exciting ride with Andrew running for his life and trying to save those he loves. Though this book was graphic (at times, perhaps, too graphic where it wasn't necessary), I still enjoyed it. The author left the ending hanging a bit and I just learned that there is a sequel so I just placed that on hold from my library. I am excited to see what is going to happen next.

I think the next book I am going to read is a book by another new-to-me author, Anne Stuart. I have heard/read a lot about her, especially some of her romance novels, which really aren't my cup of tea, but her newest sounds like something I would enjoy. It is another library book, but after that one I am going to read one off of my own shelves. I really need to start buckling down for the RYOB challenge. Dinner is cooking right now and after that I think it will be perfect to relax on my front porch with a great book. Happy Reading everyone!

Alfred Hitchcock Marathon

As I am settling in to watch an old movie on TCM, I was just made aware of an Alfred Hitchcock marathon next Saturday. Guess what I will be doing? I wanted to post this, because I know I saw on someone's blog that some where watching and then discussing Hitchcock's movies. Here's the lineup for next Saturday, June 27 (all times are EST):

6:00-7:15 am: Alfred Hitchcock Hour
7:15-9:00 am: Suspicion (one of my faves)
9:00-11:15 am: Rebecca (never saw this one all the way through, but is based on the book by Daphne du Mairer)
11:15-1:15 pm: Spellbound (another new to me)
1:15-3:30: Marnie (I've seen parts of this one and enjoyed it)
3:30-5:30: Psycho (love it, but have seen it so many times, this may be my eye break time)
5:30-8:00: North by Northwest (never saw it)
8:00-10:00: Nortorious (another new to me.... there are more than I thought!)
10:00-12:00: The Man Who Knew Too Much (again... seen bits and parts of it)
12:15-2:15: Rear Window (my absolute favorite, plus it has Grace Kelly which is always a bonus!)
2:15-4:30: Vertigo (made me a bit dizzy watching this one)
4:30-6:00: The 39 Steps (saw the play loosely based on this in NYC last fall, need to see the movie)

So there you have it. I am sometimes afraid to watch these movies, because once I have seen them, there will never be another new one. I love watching his old television shows as well. So tell me, what is your favorite Hitchcock movie?

Hedge Fund Wives by Tatiana Boncompagni

Hedge Fund Wives is a book I read about on a couple blogs and it really interested me. Reading about rich, spoiled (sometimes), socialite wives sitting around? Perfect summer reading if you ask me. I started it last night, and as it was a very fast read, I finished it this afternoon. I really liked it and give it a B+.

Back cover:
When her husband, John, is recruited to be a big-time hedge fund manager, Marcy Emerson gives up her job, uproots her life, and moves from Chicago to New York City. But try as she might, Marcy is never going to fit into one of the supposed seven categories of Hedge Fund Wives- the Accidental, the Westminster, the Stephanie Seymour, the Former Secretary, the Socalite, the Workaholic, or the Breeder- especially when behind every smile may lurk a stab in the back.
In a perfect world, John would have been there to help her navigate the waters, but in this volitale financial market. relationships have a way of nosediving faster than the Dow, and Marcy quickly finds herself tossed aside for a thinner, blonder model. But while living out of a suitcase and drowning her sorrows in cocktails, Marcy realizes it's time to get back up on her own two feet again... and fight for those things in her life that are far more important than money.

I loved Marcy and found her to be a real, down-to-earth character and found myself cheering for her throughout the story. I really liked how the author didn't make her this perfect person, who is all sweet and kind all of the time. While at times she acts like the fact that her husband makes over $100 million a year doesn't change her, she is able to self-reflect on herself and her actions and learn from them. It was heartwarming and refreshing to see this in a story and I enjoyed seeing Marcy grow and learn. The author also does a fantastic job explaining what, exactly, a hedge fund is, and shows how those in big leagues in NYC are affected by the recession and economy that we are all going through right now. More than chick lit, this was an enjoyable fiction read I will be looking for more of Ms. Boncompagni's books in the future.

I am not sure what is up next, though it will be another library book. I don't anticipate having much more reading time this weekend as tonight I meeting my mom and brother for dinner this evening and tomorrow we are going to the Detroit Tiger's game with my dad and his wife before going to my in-laws' house. Fun times ahead (this is sarcasm)... but Monday I will be back to my blessed time off and reading time. Happy Reading everyone!

Amnesia by David Best

Amnesia is a book I have had on my shelves for quite a bit. I grabbed it after finishing my last book and quickly scanned the back of it and since it grabbed my attention, I decided to read it. I was a bit disappointed and wasn't too thrilled with it. I give Amnesia a C.

Back cover:
Gibson State is a mental hospital controlled by an eccentric administrator with cutting-edge theories on memories. But it's what psychiatrist Marti Segerson remembers that brings her to this isolated asylum in rural Tennessee- serial killer Vernon Odessa. Eighteen years ago he counted Marti's sister among his victims. Marti never forgot what she saw. She still lives with her nightmares- and the need for revenge.
In the darkness of the institution, something is happening. The staff seems bound by secrecy, Odessa is engaging in mind games of his own, and Marti's memory is suddenly full of holes. The line between illusion and reality is being crossed. And even murder is not what it seems.

This book was a bit blah for me, and at times I didn't feel like picking it up to read. I thought that the premise sounded very interesting and thought that it would be something with a lot of thrills and chills and something that would spook me a bit, but it wasn't meant to be. The writing at times was somewhat choppy and the author seemed to be telling the story through Marti's eyes, then all of a sudden, in the same sentence, change voice. It was confusing and somewhat difficult to keep track of. I also thought there was a lot of telling instead of showing, which put me off a bit. I wish it was a better read, though, because I thought the premise held promise.

Up next is another library book. Unfortunetly, this week I felt like going book shopping, so instead I went to the library. I know have 7 library books to read, but I think I am going to alternate between one of mine and one of the library books. I am going to start Hedge Fund Wives, which is a book I read about on several blogs. I hope everyone is off to a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook

Red Leaves is another book I heard about from someones blog, though I am not sure whose. I really need to start keeping track of this better, but what I do is just read other peoples' blogs and then go right to my library's website and place it on hold. Anyways, whoever mentioned Red Leaves, thank you so much. I absolutely loved it and give it an A-.

Back cover:
Eric Moore has a stable life in a quiet town. Then, on an ordinary night, his teenage son Keith babysits Amy Giordano, the eight-year-old daughter of a neighboring family. The next morning Amy is missing, and Eric isn't sure his son is innocent. Caught in a vortex of doubt and lies, Eric must find out what happened to Amy Giordano before his- and the community's- suspicions about Keith are proved right.

Mr. Cook has a fantastic voice and I loved reading his words. He does a fantastic job of illustrating a father's pain, emotion, suspicions, and doubts and makes it all seem very real. It was somewhat refreshing to read about a parent who doesn't just take their child's word for gospel (I see this all of the time at work) but doesn't let it stop their love or feelings for them. The book is written in a very realistic way and is such a joy to read. I loved how a lot of themes are weaved through the story and though it is billed as a suspense, it is really so much more than that. The only reason that I marked it down from an A is because I thought the ending was a bit rushed, though the ending was extremely realistic, if not heartbreaking in a way. I highly recommend Red Leaves and plan on checking out more of Mr. Cook's works.

I am not sure what I am going to read next. I did pick up a library book today, Hedge Fund Wives, but I think I may sneak in one of my own. I got all of my household duties for the day done, so besides sneaking in a bike ride possibly, I plan on devoting part of the evening to reading. I hope everyone else is having a fantastic day and Happy Reading!

Best Intentions by Emily Listfield

As I mentioned in my previous post, I came across Best Intentions on many different blogs and had to get my hands on it. Since I am on a book buying strike (just trying to be thrifty), I stalked my library's catalog until they finally listed it. I was quite excited to begin reading it and finished it quickly. I end up grading Best Intentions with an A-.

Inside cover:
After tossing and turning all night, thirty-nine-year-old Lisa Barkley wakes up well before her alarm sounds. With two daughters about to start another year at their elite Upper East Side private school and her own career hitting a wall, the effort of trying to stay afloat in that privileged world of six-story twon houses and European jaunts has become increasingly difficult, especially as Manhattan descends into an economic freefall.
As Lisa looks over at her sleeping husband, Sam, she can't help but feel that their fifteen-year marriage is in a funk and that she isn't able to place. She tries to shake it off and tells herself that the strain must be due to their mounting financial pressures. But later that morning, as her family eats breakfast in the next room, Lisa finds herself checking Sam's voicemail and hears a whispered phone call from a woman he is to might that night. Is he having an affair?
When Lisa shares her suspicions with her best friend Deidre, at their weekly breakfast, Deidre claims it can't be true. But how can Lisa fully trust her opinion when Deirdre is still single and mired in an obsessive affair with a glamorous photographer even as it hovers near the edge of danger?
When Deirdre's former college flame, Jack, comes to town and the two couples meet to celebrate his fortieth birthday, the stage is set for an explosive series of discoveries with devasting consequences.

As I have mentioned several times, I love books set in New York City and enjoy those centered around the wealthly and famous even more. This was an interesting premise, where Lisa and Sam constantly feel the pressure to stay afloat and keep up with the extremely wealthy parents of their daughters' friends and sending them to a school that costs over $30,000 a year. I especially enjoyed how Ms. Listfield mixes in the recent economic downfall, especially since it is hit us here in the state of Michigan very hard. My "wonderful" state ranks first in unemployment along with leading in foreclosures, so it is always on my mind and on my local news. This story also had a bit of a mystery in it, which I always love, and I admit there was a good amount of suspense. I wasn't sure "whodunit" which is always a nice change.

I only have one complaint with this book... though it really isn't with the book but the author. When I started the book, I did some research on the author and wanted to read more about her other books and her life. While reading on her website, she gave away a bit of a spoiler in this book which somewhat disappointed me. I really hate spoilers so I was a bit mad about it. However, I was quite intrigued about some of her other books, especially Waiting to Surface, which is loosely based on her own life and the disappearance of her husband. I plan on looking at the library some time in the future for it.

Up next is my last library book that I have right now, though I do think there is one more waiting for me there. I really need to start reading some of my own books, especially for the RYOB challenge. I have Red Leaves by Thomas Cook which is another recommendation from a blog I read, so I plan on starting that tonight. I am very tired right now, but I would like to get a good jump on the boko. I hope everyone is enjoying what their reading and Happy Reading!

A Kiss Gone Bad by Jeff Abbott

I have seen and heard a lot about Jeff Abbott, especially one of his newer books, Panic. I decided to see what some of his other books were about so I looked at my library's catalog. A Kiss Gone Bad sounded like something I would really enjoy and placed it on hold. As has been the case lately, once I sat down and made time to read, A Kiss Gone Bad was a fast, action packed read. I give it a B.

Back cover:
A death rocks the Gulf Coast town of Port Leo, Texas. Beach-bum-turned-judge Whit Mosley is summoned to a yacht where the black-sheep son of a senator lies dead. Was it suicide, fueled by a family tragedy? Or did an obsessed killer use the dead man as a pawn in a twisted game? When Whit defies political pressure and conducts an inquest, he and Detective Claudia Salazar expose a nest of drug lords, con artists, and power-hungry sharks- all out for blood. With their careers- and their lives- at stake, Whit and Claudia must unearth a lethal trail of passion and deceit that lies buried not in the warm sands of Port Leo but in the icy recesses of the human heart...

Mr. Abbott does a fantastic job of describing Port Leo and made me want to book a flight on the next plane out to there. Whit Mosely is such a loveable character and I would love to be friends with him, since he is so loyal and such a great defender of truth and what is right. There was a ton of action in this book and the twists and turns kept coming though sometimes it seemed like it was a bit of overkill. There were a ton of characters, and at times, it was somewhat difficult to keep track of all of them. Besides those two things, I thought A Kiss Gone Bad was a good suspense read and I will probably check out more books by Mr. Abott in the future.

Up next is a book I have read a ton about in the blogosphere- Best Intentions by Emily Listfield. This book has one of my favorite settings, New York City, and focuses on a woman who feels the need to fit in with the city's elite, sending her daughters to an expensive private school and has a nagging feeling her husband may be cheating on her. I just started it about twenty minutes ago and have read the first two chapters and it seems to be promising. My beloved Red Wings lost in Game 7 on Friday to the horrible Pittsburgh Penguins and I have been quite down about it. Some of you may know that a fellow blogger who I was friends with, Barbara, passed away earlier this year. Last year the two of I had a friendly bet when the Penguins and the Wings played each other and the Wings won. So while I am upset that I won't be able to go to another parade (the Wings have won 4 times in the past 11 years), I hope that Barbara is up there, smiling down on the Penguins' win. I wish we could have had another friendly bet this year too.

Well I am off to read and enjoy the summer weather that finally seems to have made an appearance, hopefully for good. Happy Reading everyone!

Shadows Still Remain by Peter De Jonge

I know I planned on starting this book Saturday, but really didn't get the chance to start until last night, and even then I only read about 50 pages. Today, I spent an hour outside reading after work and quickly finished the fast, page-turning read and I rate it a B+.

Inside cover:
New York City, 2005. Thanksgiving weekend. A topless Kate Moss poses down from a billboard over rain-splattered Houston Street. Escaping a troubled past, Francesca Pena came to the city and reinvented herself. At New York University, her beauty and charisma are the envy of her privileged pals, yet none knows the real Francesca- who after a night of drinking, is now missing.
Detective Darlene O'Hara of the Seventh Precinct and her partner Serge "K" Krekorian, set out to find Pena. But when the case turns high-profile and Homicide is called in, O'Hara-who has an eighteen-year-old son she saddled with the name Axl Rose O'Hara, and whose binge drinking exacerbates the massive chip on her shoulder- refuses to let go. Risking both her and K's careers, she defies NYPD brass and Homicide legend Patrick Lowry to secretly pursue her own investigation.
Following a deadly trail that leads from NYU's Ivory Towers to Brooklyn tatoo parlors, from a skanky strip club to a whitewashed boutique run by a Korean madam, O'Hara closes in on her prey. But she has to move fast, because Lowry and the NYPD are about to make a devastating mistake that will leave the real killer free.

You can see a lot of the same characterstics in Shadows Still Remain as you do in a lot of James Patterson's books, including really short chapters (which I really like) and and nail biting suspense (which I really love). I thought that the writing was a bit choppy, but overall, the suspense carried the story. The main character, O'Hara, is tough to like as she is constantly drinking and playing a wild maverick and ignoring others and not being a team member, but in the end her tenacity does win the reader over in the end. Mr. De Jonge has a wonderful, promising career writing solo books and I will be looking for more that he writes.

I am not sure what is up next, though it will be a library book because I still have two more to read. However, I have to sign off because the puck drops in about 30 minutes to what should be the final game of the Red Wings season with them raising Lord Stanley! Happy Reading everyone!

Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets

I always love catching up with all of my "old friends" from the Tropicana Apartments in Fort Lauderdale, so I was very excited to start reading Killer Cuts last night. Unfortunely, I was only able to keep my eyes open for a couple of chapters last night but quickly finished it this afternoon. Killer Cuts was a lot of fun and I give it a B+.

From Amazon:
Helen Hawthorne's latest dead-end-job is in Miguel Angel's Fort Lauderdale's hair salon, where a trim can cost as much as a car payment and a blowout can wipe you out. But when one of the salon's most famous clients, gossip blogger and cable-TV show host Kingman "King" Oden is murdered at his own wedding, things get a little hairy and Miguel becomes the prime suspect. To save her boss- and her job- Helen is determined to find the murderer. When she finds herself the target of threatening notes, it's more imperative than ever that she figure out who at the wedding was dressed to kill.

I don't read Ms. Viet's books for the high suspense or thrilling mystery, but it really is just for the sheer fun and the feeling like I am meeting up with some friends. The mystery and Helen's skills at catching the killers is just an added bonus. Ms. Viets does a fantastic job describing the scenery and capturing the essence of Ft. Lauderdale and makes it seem like so much fun living at the Tropicana Apartments. It seems like a place where I would love to retire and move in to. I love all of the characters and always look forward to reading the latest installment. Helen's latest job, though, is nearly as bad as the others she has held in the back, and I almost hope that she keeps this profession. I do wonder though how Ms. Viets will continue this series though, as it seems like some things are wrapping up. I hope it does continue though!

Up next is the book Shadows Still Remain by Peter De Jonge. Mr. De Jonge has co-authored several books with James Patterson, including The Beach House, so I have high hopes for this book. I really enjoyed The Beach House and all of the other books Mr. De Jonge has co-authored. I have to run some errands now and am going out tonight, so the book may have to wait until tomorrow. Have a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Praying for Sleep by Jeffrey Deaver

Praying for Sleep is yet another book I have had on my shelves for far too long and the last time I was looking for a book, I decided to pull it off and give it a try. Praying For Sleep was like nothing else that I have ever read, and I give it a B.

Back cover:
Praying for revenge... Murderer Michael Hrubek has escaped. He's finally free. And he'll show them all, especially the woman who put him away. She called him a killer. He'll show her what killing is all about.
Praying for salvation... Lis Atcheson knows he's out there- the man who killed two of her students. He's haunted every sleepless night following her testimony. Now the nightmares are coming true. He's watching...and waiting... and he's going to take Lis to hell with him.

At first there seemed to be so many different story lines running through the book, I was afraid it was going to be too difficult to keep straight. As the book progressed, however, I found that it all began to tie together nice and neat, but not in a way that was unbelievable. I knew that there was going to be some twists and turns throughout the story and I, being the "crafty" person and reader I think I am, thought that I had it all figured out but I was far from the truth which is always fun. Sometimes I thought that Mr. Deaver was being a bit wordy and some of the long descriptions could have been left out to make it a tighter story and just a bit more suspensful, but once I took the time to just sit and read today it didn't bother me that much. Overall, it was a good read and I am happy that this is my second book by Mr. Deaver and I have enjoyed them both. Perhaps it is time to start reading his series?!?

Up next is Elaine Viets' latest Dead End Job mystery series book. I picked that up, along with two other books, from the library yesterday. We finally have some nice weather and I spent the day outside reading in the lovely, warm sunshine. I got all of my cleaning for the weekend done and besides a bachelorette party I am supposed to go to tomorrow night, my weekend looks to be open for some nice and fun reading. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and Happy Reading!

Last Lessons of Summer by Margaret Maron

Last Lessons of Summer is a book I have had on my shelves for awhile. I believe I bought it either from a library sale or from a thrift store and I decided to read it because I am ready for some summer weather (Today it was struggling to reach 65... I am sooooo ready for the 80s!). From reading the back of this book, I thought it may be a suspense book, but I would classify this more as a cozy mystery with some women's fiction in it. I give it a B-.

Back cover:
Her grandmother was killed in the very same house where her mother committed suicide. Now, in the suffocating heat of a Southern August, Amy Steadman, heir to the merchandising and publishing empire, returns to the old family homestead to clear out her grandmother's things... and perhaps find some answers. Frightened by parallells between her parents' stormy relationship and her own troubled marriage, Amy desperately needs to connect the dots between her life and the dark heritage that shaped her. Yet the more she learns, the closer she comes to a murderous force that may be part of her own family- and one that will not hesitate to lie, decieve, or kill...

There were a ton of characters here that were very difficult to keep track of. The author does provide a family tree in the beginning of the book, but it was such a pain to keep flipping back and forth to see who was related to who and how they were related. I also thought that there may be more of a mystery here, and maybe a bit more danger, but there was very little of that. Ms. Maron does do a fantastic job of describing the deep south in the summer and I admit there were quite a few times I was imagining myself sitting on a big, long porch reading and sipping sweet tea. Were it not for the wonderful and beautiful descriptions, I probably would have rated this book lower as I thought it was just pretty boring. Maybe if I had been expecting more of a cozy, I would have enjoyed the book more but I felt like there was a bit of switch and bait.

I am not sure what I am going to read next, but it will be another one of my own books. I am out of library books, so I will just check something out of my own "library". The Wings play in about 25 minutes are they are currently up 2-0 in the series! As much as I hate to say it, I wouldn't be terribly upset if they lost one of the next two games so they can come home and win the Cup in front of our crowd on Saturday. I hope everyone has been reading wonderful books and Happy Reading!