See Jane Score

See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson

I wasn’t’ very happy with the last Gibson novel on my list. However, this one redeemed. It is a steamy, quick love story with the happy ending I love. Taming of the bad boy, a theme I enjoy!

Never Look Away

Never Look Away: A Thriller by Linwood Barclay

In “Never Look Away” Barclay gives a tense page turner, full of unexpected twists. With strong character development, deep plot and subplots this is a must-read thriller. When the main characters wife disappears he is thrust into an unbelievable mystery. Does he really know his wife? I recommend this one to the thriller crowd.

Last Snow

Last Snow by Eric van Lustbader

Description from Amazon:

"Jack McClure, Special Advisor and closest friend to the new President of the United States, interprets the world very differently from the rest of us. It’s his greatest liability, and his greatest asset.An American senator, supposedly on a political trip to the Ukraine, turns up dead on the island of Capri. When the President asks him to find out how and why, Jack sets out from Moscow across Eastern Europe, following a perilous trail of diplomats, criminals, and corrupt politicians. Thrust into the midst of a global jigsaw puzzle, Jack’s unique dyslexic mind allows him to put together the pieces that others can’t even see. Still unreconciled to the recent death of his daughter and the dissolution of his marriage, Jack takes on a personal mission along with his official one: keeping safe from harm his two unlikely, unexpected, and incompatible companions—Annika Dementieva, a rogue Russian FSB agent, and Alli Carson, the President’s daughter. As he struggles to keep both young women safe and unearth the answers he seeks, hunted by everyone from the Russian mafia to the Ukrainian police to his own NSA, Jack learns just how far up the American and Russian political ladders corruption and treachery has reached."

My thoughts: This was the first Eric Van Lustbader for me. I found that I enjoy his style. I remained engaged in the mystery and I was on pins and needles. He is now added to my list to read more!

Run to Me

Run to Me by Christy Reece

Another author to add to my series list! This was the first I had picked up, but happened to be the 3^rd in a series.

From the beginning Reece pulls you in with action, mystery and intensity. The characters are engaging and the chemistry is sizzling. This is similar to books by Cindy Gerard. Action packed and steamy!

Violets Are Blue

Violets are Blue by James Patterson

I read a book in the middle of the Alex Cross series (can't remember which one!) and I liked it. That led me to start at the beginning. I loved the first several books. However, at this point I have become quite ambivalent. In fact, I'm on the edge of deserting the series all together. I will try at least one more...

This particular book continues into the strange realm the previous book jumped into. It feels like a totally new series, with drastically changed characters. I’m willing to give the next one a chance and see where it goes, but I was pretty disappointed in this one.

The Murderer's Daughters

The Murderer’s Daughters by Randy Myers

Description from Amazon: “Lulu and Merry's childhood was never ideal, but on the day before Lulu's tenth birthday their father drives them into a nightmare. He's always hungered for the love of the girls’ self-obsessed mother; after she throws him out, their troubles turn deadly. Lulu had been warned to never to let her father in, but when he shows up drunk, he's impossible to ignore. He bullies his way past Lulu, who then listens in horror as her parents struggle. She runs for help, but discovers upon her return that he's murdered her mother, stabbed her five-year-old sister, and tried, unsuccessfully, to kill himself. Lulu and Merry are effectively orphaned by their mother’s death and father’s imprisonment, but the girls’ relatives refuse to care for them and abandon them to a terrifying group home. Even as they plot to be taken in by a well-to-do family, they come to learn they’ll never really belong anywhere or to anyone—that all they have to hold onto is each other. For thirty years, the sisters try to make sense of what happened. Their imprisoned father is a specter in both their lives, shadowing every choice they make. One spends her life pretending he's dead, while the other feels compelled, by fear, by duty, to keep him close. Both dread the day his attempts to win parole may meet success.”

What I Thought: In this debut, Myers spins a powerful tale about family. It is emotional and well written. The story of how each girl is affected by this tragedy reels you in. I associated most strongly with Lulu, who copes by exerting control over the things she can and shutting out what she cannot. I recommend this to those who like dramatic family tales. Not a light read.

Married by Morning

Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

Book 4 in the Hathaway series, just as impressive as it's predecessors. This is Leo's story. I loved it, as I love all Kleypas books.

Day After Night

Day After Night by Anita Diamant

Description on Amazon:
"Just as she gave voice to the silent women of the Hebrew Bible in The Red Tent, Anita Diamant creates a cast of breathtakingly vivid characters—young women who escaped to Israel from Nazi Europe—in this intensely dramatic novel. Day After Night is based on the extraordinary true story of the October 1945 rescue of more than two hundred prisoners from the Atlit internment camp, a prison for “illegal” immigrants run by the British military near the Mediterranean coast south of Haifa. The story is told through the eyes of four young women at the camp who survived the Holocaust: Shayndel, a Polish Zionist; Leonie, a Parisian beauty; Tedi, a hidden Dutch Jew; and Zorah, a concentration camp survivor. Haunted by unspeakable memories and losses, afraid to hope, the four of them find salvation in the bonds of friendship and shared experience even as they confront the challenge of re-creating themselves in a strange new country. Diamant’s triumphant novel is an unforgettable story of tragedy and redemption that remains a singular moment in history with stunning eloquence."

 

My Thoughts:

Diamant is a gifted story teller. I appreciate novels based on Jewish history, especially surrounding the Holocaust. The four women, finding life after being in the concentration camps,  raised many emotions within me. Haunting and beautifully crafted, Day After Night is a treasure. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is a must read.

A Journal for Jordan

A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor by Dana Canedy

An amazing work out of love. Canedy gives us passages from a journal, written by First Sergeant Charles Monroe King. He wrote for his son, in case he never made it home from Iraq.  And this fear was realized, he didn’t make it home. Sadly, he was killed by a roadside bomb when his son, Jordan, was just seven months old.

Dana Canedy, Jordan’s mother, writes this book for her son, about his lost Father. She includes parts of the journal—a Father’s advice to his son.  Canedy also tells her love story with the man she lost to the war. Emotional and touching, I loved this book. What a tribute to a great military man and such a special gift for a lucky little boy.

Lord of Scoundrels

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

Description from amazon:

“Tough minded Jessica Trent's sole intention is to free her nitwit brother from the destructive influence of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Daine. She never expects to desire the arrogant, amoral cad. And When Daine's reciprocal passion places them in a scandalously compromising, and public, position, Jessica is left with no choice but to seek satisfaction... Damn the minx for tempting him, kissing him...and then for forcing him to salvage reputation! Lord Daine can't wait to put the infuriating bluestocking in her place -- and in some amorous position. And if this means marriage, so be it -- though Sebastian is less than certain he can continue to remain aloof...and steal his heart to the sensuous, head strong lady's considerable charms.”

My thoughts:

Another romance with a “bad boy” character. Heaven knows I love the taming of the bad boy!! This book has it all—chemistry, tension, sensuality, sexiness, humor and strong emotion. A must read for the romance lover!

The Shack

The Shack by William Young

Has anyone read this book? I would be interested in hearing any thoughts! I had read some rave reviews, but I personally didn’t like it. I give it a few points for originality, but it was hard to follow and just really unbelievable. There were a few portions that made me think about my religious beliefs and a few valuable lessons to think about. Overall, though, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend this one.

A strange thing--every few paragraphs I felt like I had already read this book. I am pretty sure there is a book out there that is very similar to this one!

The Bride Collector

The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker

Dekker gives us FBI agent Brad Raines, on the hunt for a serial killer. Raines utilizes people from a psychiatric facility to aid the FBI in solving the case.

There were a few things I didn’t particularly like about this book: knowing who the killer is the entire time, the relationship Raines builds with a patient and the ending. But overall, I enjoyed it. It is fast paced, while lacking some of the thrill factor. I would still recommend it and plan to read more by Dekker.

Bet Me

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Description from Amazon:

“Minerva Dobbs knows all about risk management, which is why it’s such a shock when David, her extremely logical choice for a boyfriend, dumps her three weeks before her perfect sister’s wedding: David was not supposed to be a wild card. So when Min overhears David make a bet with his old nemesis—the gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey—that Cal can’t get Min into bed in a month, she decides that fate has just handed her a stacked deck: she can make Cal sweat his sex appeal and get a date to the wedding, if she plays along and doesn’t fold. What follows is a novel of destiny, chaos theory, Krispy Kreme donuts, the spirit of Elvis, Chicken Marsala, and a gamble for the highest stake of all: true love.”

What I thought:

This was the first book I had read by Jennifer Crusie. She draws strong characters and I was pulled into the storyline. The plot moves quickly and is light, fun and heart warming. Min, the main character is an average woman and this makes her inherently lovable.

Some of the scenes are a little too cutesy for me, but hey, I’m a sucker for a love story with a happy ending.  I plan to read more by Crusie.

God Bless You Mr. Rosewater

God Bless You Mr Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut

Ah…satire. This is one of my favorites. Filled with absurdity as only Vonnegut can create. Focusing on the state of society, this satire had me thinking, laughing, re-reading and re-thinking!

If you enjoy satire be sure you pick this one up!

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong

Description from Amazon:

“In this important and thought-provoking work, Karen Armstrong—one of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world—provides an impassioned and practical guide to helping us make the world a more compassionate place.The twelve steps she suggests begin with “Learn About Compassion,” and close with “Love Your Enemies.” In between, she takes up self-love, mindfulness, suffering, sympathetic joy, the limits of our knowledge of others, and “concern for everybody.” She shares concrete methods to help us cultivate and expand our capacity for compassion, and provides a reading list to encourage us to “hear one another’s narratives.” Armstrong teaches us that becoming a compassionate human being is a lifelong project and a journey filled with rewards.”

What I thought: 

Loved this book! I am so grateful when I find a book that speaks to the way I try to live my life. Daily, I see so many things that could be solved by more compassion in the world. These things sadden me. The things Armstrong talks about should be part of every person’s moral base.

This book helped me put into perspective the lessons I’m trying to learn and the differences I want to make for others. I highly recommend it to the spiritually oriented.

Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Golden crafts an eloquent story following the life of Sayuri. Her life journey leads her to train as a geisha. She gives her recollection of her past,  growing up in the early 1900’s. This time in Japanese cultural was driven by wealthy and powerful men. The life of the geisha was one of service and obedience. How does a woman accept this fate? I was deeply moved by the idea.

I found this to be honest, touching and unique. I highly recommend it!

My Horizontal Life

My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands by Chelsea Handler

Description from Amazon:

“In this raucous collection of true-life stories, actress and comedian Chelsea Handler recounts her time spent in the social trenches with that wild, strange, irresistible, and often gratifying beast: the one-night stand. Encouraged by her motley collection of friends (aka: her partners in crime) but challenged by her family members (who at times find themselves a surprise part of the encounter), Chelsea hits bottom and bounces back, unafraid to share the gritty details. My Horizontal Life is one guilty pleasure you won't be ashamed to talk about in the morning."

What I thought:

I admit that I love Chelsea Handler. I love that she is an outspoken woman, making her success in a mostly male-driven career. I have read and enjoyed all of her books.

In this one, Handler tells short stories regarding her past sexual experiences. Are they all true? Who knows! But they are, at times, laugh out loud funny.

Critics of Handler say she is narcissistic, glamorizes drinking, is racist, is disrespectful, and is prone to stereotyping. All of these are, perhaps, a bit true. However, in my opinion, she is just honest and that means not always being politically correct. That is something that I happen to find refreshing!

People who are over-sensitive should not read this book. Oh, how I would love to write a tell all like this!!!

The Black Lyon

The Black Lyon by Jude Devereaux

This is Devereaux's second novel, the first in the Montgomery clan series. Strong characters, emotional story, this is has both. I was pulled in by the strong female and the alpha male. Devereaux is hit and miss for me, but this is one I enjoyed.

100 Unforgettable Dresses

100 Unforgettable Dresses by Hal Rubenstein

For the fashion lovers out there, pick up "100 Unforgettable Dresses" by Hal Rubenstein. Fun for a gift or just light reading, Rubenstein delivers images of dresses and stories to go with them.

Deep Down True

Deep Down True by Juliette Fay

Description from Amazon: Newly divorced Dana Stellgarten has always been unfailingly nice- even to telemarketers-but now her temper is wearing thin. Money is tight, her kids are reeling from their dad's departure, and her Goth teenage niece has just landed on her doorstep. As she enters the slipstream of post-divorce romance and is befriended by the town queen bee, Dana finds that the tension between being true to yourself and being liked doesn't end in middle school... and that sometimes it takes a real friend to help you embrace adulthood in all its flawed complexity.

My thoughts: I discovered Juliette Fay with her debut “Shelter Me.” She is a gem! I love her style. In Deep Down True Fay creates complex, realistic characters with the perfect blend of emotion and humor. While Shelter Me is still my favorite, I enjoyed this one, too.

The Divine Life of Animals

“The Divine Life of Animals: One Man’s Quest to Discover Whether the Souls of Animals Live On” by Ptolemy Tompkins

In this book Ptolemy Tompkins shares his impressive research and theories of animal divinity. I enjoyed exploring the spiritual philosophies and ancient religious beliefs about the animal soul. I found Tompkins both passionate and eloquent. This is not a quick read, but is quite thought-provoking. I have always loved animals and even though I hadn't given it much thought, have always believed that they have souls. Definitely an interesting read.

Nowhere to Hide

 “Nowhere to Hide” by Carlene Thompson

Description from Amazon:

"Marissa Gray’s world was shattered when her best friend, Gretchen, was brutally murdered. Back then, Marissa tried to convince authorities that Dillon Archer was the killer. But her eyewitness statement wasn’t enough—and Dillon disappeared. Now a successful journalist, Marissa is back to help her family during a time of need. After years away from Aurora Falls, she finally feels the past is safe behind her. Until a terrifying hooded figure causes Marissa’s car to swerve off a snow-slick road, nearly killing her.Once again, no one wants to believe Marissa’s story—not her sensible sister Catherine, and certainly not her ex-fiancé Eric, who happens to be the town’s deputy chief of police. But other strange happenings are afoot…and a terrifying sequence emerges in which old friends of Gretchen’s start turning up dead. As Marissa desperately races to uncover Aurora Falls’s secret history, someone is two steps ahead, concealed in every taunting clue—and waiting to silence one inconvenient witness forever…"

My thoughts: As a suspense, this was a dud. The action was lacking reality, the characters lacking substance and the writing style, especially dialogue, simplistic. I stuck with the story, to get ot the end…and was even more disappointed. I recommend skipping this one.

Throw Out Fifty Things

Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life by Gail Blanke

Blanke is a motivational speaker. The premise of this book is her motto “If you want to grow, you gotta let go.”  Going from room to room in your home and through your daily thought processes, Blanke urges you to eliminate both physical and emotional clutter.

Overall, there were no “ah-ha” moments for me here, everything was pretty generalized. I did find some of the emotional clutter-clearing advice motivational. Worth a read, but not excellent.

Lift

Lift by Kelly Corrigan

Kelly Corrigan writes a beautifully crafted letter to her children. As a mother, I found this to be uplifting and touching.

Corrigan does not depict motherhood as all sunshine and rainbows, but instead embraces the chaos of raising children to recorgnize the rewards.

Time flies by so swiftly, this book also touches on the fleeting reality of childhood and how a mother's love never ends. This is something every mother can relate to. Sometimes I wish I could pause my children's aging and keep cuddling them for just a bit longer.

I recommend it for the mother's out there! Very sentimental.

A Little Bit Wild

A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl

Description from Amazon:

Jude Bertrand is not an excellent dancer. Nor does he wear the most fashionable coats. But when Marissa York's brother approaches him, desperate to preserve Marissa's tenuous reputation, Jude does prove heroic enough to offer to marry the girl. In fact, the union should more than make up for his lack of social graces - and his own scandalous past...Marissa knows that betrothal to the son of a duke - even one as raw and masculine as Jude - will save her from ruin, but that doesn't mean she's happy about it. Soon, though, she finds that Jude has a surprisingly gentle touch - and plans to use it to persuade Marissa that their wedding day cannot come soon enough...

My thoughts:

As a romance lover, I really liked this one. Marissa’s character is both lovable and infuriating. The chemistry between Marissa and Jude was excellent. I appreciated that Marissa's character was flawed and that Jude loved her despite those flaws. Dahl is a favorite for emotional romances with realistic characters.