30. Think Twice by Lisa Scottoline

Whew... I kind of disappeared there for awhile. I've still be reading but haven't been keeping up with my blog or others that I normally read. I miss it and hope to get back into the swing of things shortly, but for now I am going to do some quickie reviews. Think Twice was a B read.

From Amazon:
Bennie Rosato looks exactly like her identical twin, Alice Connolly, but the darkness in Alice’s soul makes them two very different women. Or at least that’s what Bennie believes, until she finds herself buried alive at the hands of her twin.
Meanwhile, Alice takes over Bennie’s life, impersonating her at work and even seducing her boyfriend in order to escape the deadly mess she has made of her own life. But Alice underestimates Bennie and the evil she has unleashed in her twin’s psyche, as well as Bennie’s determination to stay alive long enough to exact revenge.
Bennie must face the twisted truth that she is more like her sister Alice than she could have ever imagined, and by the novel’s shocking conclusion, Bennie finds herself engaged in a war she cannot win—with herself.

The idea of the story was a great one and I though there was a lot of potential there. However, there were too many cliches and sayings that had me rolling my eyes a bit. This is the third book by Ms. Scottoline that I've read, and I have to say the only one I really enjoyed was the one I listened to on CD. I will probably continue to try and read her books if anything grabs me, but will not be actively seeking them out.

16. The Quiet Game by Greg Iles

I recently, within the past year or so, discovered Greg Iles. While his books are chunksters, they are always enjoyable. I have another book by Mr. Iles I've wanted to read for awhile but felt like I should read The Quiet Game first as it takes place first. I picked up knowing that I had some time off from work and could dedicate more time to it. It sitll took me awhile, but I really enjoyed it and give The Quiet Game a B+.

Back cover:
Ntachez, Mississippi, is the jewel of the antebllum South, a city of old money and older sins, where passion, power, and racial tensions seethe beneath its elegant facade.
It is here that Penn Cafe, a Houston prosecutor turned novelist, returns to his childhood home, hoping to find some solace in the aftermath of his wife's death. But peace is not what he finds.
Penn is stunned to discover that his own family is trapped in a web of intrigue and danger. But as Penn tries to right the wrongs, he stumbles over the town's darkest secret- and soon learns that this haunting mystery is inextricably bound up with the highest leves of government. With the won closing ranks around him, Penn suddenly realizes that his crusade for justice may cost him his illustrious career- and his life...

It is a bit difficult to classify this book... part legal suspense, part action and part mystery you get a bit of everything mixed up into one. Penn is a great character, one that is flawed but so likeable and believeable and one that really looks out for the little guy. What starts out as a case of revenge, Penn ends up biting off more that he can chew. I love the setting of southern Mississippi (especially since I really do love all things South and really want to move down there eventually) in a small town and thought that Mr. Iles does a fantastic job of discussing and exploring racial tensions both now and in the heights of the Civil Rights era in the 60s, though at times it was difficult to read. Parts were a bit unbelieveable, but in a way that you don't want to believe that the government and people could act like that. I will be reading many more Iles books in the future.

Ok... I need to log off. I am watching the hockey game (Canada vs. U.S.) and am too enthralled. While I wish my Wings' coach Babcock and my beloved hero Steve Yzerman lots of luck I have to cheer on the U.S. Plus the Red Wings' own and Michigan native Brian Rafalski has the Americans' two goals and can I barely type this as I watch. Hopefully I will get some reading done tonight between periods and perhaps on another snow day tomorrow. I also hope to get to everyone's blogs as well some time tonight. Happy Reading!

In My Dark Dreams by J.F. Freedman

In My Dark Dreams was an impulse grab a couple of weeks ago when I was at the library picking up some other holds that had come in. The premise grabbed me and I decided to give it a try, even though I am trying to read more of my own books. I am glad I got it though, as it was a great read. I give it an A-.

Inside cover:
In the past three months, three murders have been committed in a ritzy area of West Los Angeles- each one on the night of the full moon. Lieutenant Luis Cordova is heading a special task force in search of the killer before he can strike again. And he finds him! Roberto Salazar, a gardener working in the wealthy neighborhood, is idling in his truck drinking his coffee and reading the paper in the wee hours before the work day begins when a suspicious phone call lures the police to search his truck and they find a key piece of eveidence just underneath the seat.
Only a month ago, Public Defender Jessica Thompson had defended Roberto when he was charged with transporting stolen televisions. But the jury found the hardworking father and part-time minister and youth counselor not guilty. Besides his loyal wife and local community, Roberto had the support of one of his wealthy clients who came to the courtroom every single day.
Now Jessica is wracked with doubt. Was she responsible for putting the Full Moon Killer back on the streets? Or is this a case of racial profiling and being in the wrong place at the wrong time? She is determined to learn the truth before the Full Moon Killer can make her his next victim.

I would definitely classify In My Dark Dreams as a leagal thriller, and while I tend to shy away from that particular genre of suspense books, this one was fantastic. I loved the way the story was told, just like I was in the front row at several different trials. I loved the main character, Jessica, and wanted to meet her for lunch and chit chat with her. I loved the twists and turns that kept coming at me and had me spinning around in circles. Just when you think you have it figured out, BAM!, the author surprises you and throws another curve ball. There were so many believeable aspects to the story that are relevant to today's society, including racial profiling, the difference between classes and socioeconomic statuses and justice. I am definitely going to have to check out more books by Mr. Freedman as I see he has several other books he has written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good legal thriller, court case, or mystery!

Up next is another library book, one by one of new favorite authors, Greg Iles. It's called The Devil's Punchbowl and I always enjoy Mr. Iles's southern mysteries. Hopefully, I will be able to make the time to read it since my reading mojo seems to be making a comeback! Happy Reading everyone!

The Eleventh Victim by Nancy Grace

I love Nancy Grace's show on Headline News and really started watching it all of the time when the Casey Anthony case hit the airwaves last summer. I love her no nonsense attitude and her passion for bringing justice those who become victims of crime. I was excited to read her first fiction book where the main character was loosly based on herself and was happy to finally get it from the library. Because of work it took me awhile to read it and I ended up being a bit disappointed with the story. I give it a B-.

Inside cover:
As a young psychology student, Hailey Dean's world explodes when Will, her fiancee, is murdered just weeks before their wedding. Reeling, she fights back the only way she know how: in court, prosecuting crime, putting away the bad guys away one rapist, doper, and killer at a time. But dedicating her life to justice takes a toll after courtroom battles and the endless tide of victims calling out from the crime scene photos and autopsy tables. Just as she truly grow weary, a serial killer unlike any other she's encountered begins to stalk Atlanta, targeting young prostitutes, each horrific murder bearing it's own unique mark. This courtroom battle will be her last.
Hailey heads to Manhattan to pick up the pieces of the life she had before Will's murder, training as a therapist. In a vibrant new world, she finally leaves the ghosts behind. But then her own clients are murdered one by one by a copycat M.O. as the Atlanta killer she hunted down years ago. As the body count rises in Manhattan, Hailey is forced to match wits against not only a killer, but the famed NYPD.

The premise sounded like something right up my alley, but it just fell a bit flat for me. There were several mistakes that bothered me and I couldn't look past it. For example, in one paragraph the narrator talks about how hot it is outside and how someone is sweating through their clothes and in the very next paragraph the narrator discusses the cool bite to the air and how their is a bit of frost on the car windows. To me, that is a huge error and something that should have been caught! There was also a problem with the timeline and the years not adding up. Sometimes that can just throw me through a huge loop and drives me up a world! With all of that being said, I did like the way Ms. Grace told the story. While Hailey is the main character, there are several other characters who tell their story, and though they don't seem to be connected in any way, they end up all coming together. The suspense was well done and I didn't figure out whodunit... though it may have been because I am a bit sick and so busy. I may look for more of Ms. Grace's fiction works, I won't be desperate to get first in line for it.

I just started a new book, another from the library. I have several in from the library and some that are due back next week. I need to get started and reading soon. I was planning on spending some quality time with my books but I found out I need to do progress reports for my class I'm subbing for. I wasn't going to be doing it, but then the principal changed her mind last thing today. They were supposed to go home with the kids today, and of course that didn't happen, so I need to get those done this weekend. I am going to try and get a bit done tonight, along with some cleaning perhaps. Guess it's time to sign off and get a crackin'! Happy Reading everyone!

The Cheater by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

I read about The Cheater on several different blogs and the premise really grabbed my attention. It sounded like something different and interesting, so I placed a hold on it. While I enjoyed parts of it, the main character just really got on my nerves. I ended up grading The Cheater as a B.

Inside cover:
Returning to her most beloved character, Lily Forrester, from the New York Times bestsellers, Mitigating Circumstances and Buried Evidence. Rosenberg proves once again that she is a master of the suspense thriller. Forrester, now a Ventura County judge battling demons from her past, finds herself in yet another mix of bizarre circumstances that lead her onto the trail of a vicious criminal mind.
Along the way we meet:
FBI Agent Mary Stevens: She is tracking a killer who murders men who are cheating on their wives and disposes of their mutilated bodies in ghastly ways and strange locations.
Bryce Forrester: Lily's husband calls her from a Las Vegas jail, where he's been arrested for attempted rape... though Las Vegas was not on his itinerary.
Anne Bradley: Bryce's accuser, like Lily, is a woman with an eerie past, an enigmatic woman to who Lily is strangely drwan.
Lily's investigation leads her to a Web service that provides alibis for cheating spouses... and into a thick web of deception that puts Lily's and Mary's lives in jeopardy.
Do you know where your husband is?

So, like I said, I thought the idea of a serial killer murdering men who cheat on their wives was very clever and unlike anything I have ever read. There is a lot of detail, including a website that provides alibis for these cheating men, and from what I understand, is something that is actually happening in real life. While the reader knows fairly early on who the killer is, the suspense is still built as you wonder how everything is going to turn out. I probably would have rated this book much higher if I didn't dislike the main character as much as I did. She was rude to her employees, friends, husband, and everyone around her. She was so manipulative (and no, Lily is not the murderer) and she spent so much time arguing and talking about one of her friends who is just trying to be a friend and accusses her of being a stalker and a loser. I couldn't believe it! If I wasn't so invested in the book and wanting to see how everything turned out, I would have put the book down. Another thing that kind of annoyed me was a good portion of the book was dedicated to a case that Lily was trying, and in the end it just left hanging. We never hear anything else about it... and I would have like some sort of resolution. Hmm... maybe I should revise my score, the more I think about it. With all of that being said, I may read another book by Ms. Rosenberg, but probably not one focusing on Lily. Ugh, I just really didn't like her!

I am not sure what I am going to read next. I am out of library books, but do have one in on hold that I will pick up tomorrow after school. I need to get to bed, and probably will not have much time to read before school in the morning, so I am not sure if I will pick another book right now even though I probably won't have time to get into or if I will just wait for the library book. I just hate going anywhere without a book, even if I know there won't be any time to read it. Such problems!!! All right everyone, I am off to bed. I am not used to this early rising after a month of work and since I didn't sleep well last night, I need to get as much as I can. Have a wonderful night everyone and Happy Reading!

The Woods by Harlan Coben

I started reading The Woods Monday evening and finished it last night. I have heard wonderful things about Mr. Coben, and after reading Hold Tight and not being incredibly impressed, I wanted to give another book a chance. I enjoyed Hold Tight and thought it was a good read, but nothing that had me racing to pick up the book. I give it a B.

From Amazon:
Twenty years ago summer camp, Paul Copeland's sister died in the woods, the alleged victim of a serial killer. Now Paul is the prosecutor of Essex County, New Jersey, immersed in the biggest case of his career- a case that will change everything he believes about the past... and the truth.

Perhaps one of the reasons why I didn't love this book is because it is classified as a legal thriller, and I would have to agree. Legal thrillers are not my favorite type of thrillers, and sometimes they bore me a bit. It's funny though, because probably my favorite part of the book was the case that Paul was trying. It is a rape case, and one that reminds me somewhat of the Duke Lacrosse case. I enjoy when author's pull events out of real life and weave them into their story. Part of the problem I had with this story was that some of the parts just seemed to be a bit unbelievable and that so many things happened at once. It seemed like in the end, there were just too many people and things to keep together and it was just a bit hard to understand how all of it could come together. The ending also left me hanging a bit, which I admit, sometimes I enjoy. While I like everything to be tied up neatly, sometimes it is nice to be left wondering. While I won't be giving up on Mr. Coben, I probably won't be buying anymore of his books but will read those I still have.

Up next is a book I read about on someone's blog, though I am not sure whose. It is titled Life Without Summer and it seems to be something different. I plan on getting some reading done tonight, though I have a horrible headache right now. I took something and am hoping it will take care of it, but right now I am not too hopeful. In the wonderful world of the NHL, my wonderful Wings start in the Stanley Cup Finals tomorrow night to crush the Penguins yet again, just like last year. They also play Sunday, so my weekend will be full of red and cheer! GO WINGS!!! I hope everyone is enjoying their own reads and has a wonderful weekend! Happy Reading!

Judge and Jury by James Patterson

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!