No One You Know

No One You Know by Michelle Richmond

I honestly can’t remember the details of  this one, so it’s obviously not memorable. But I did rate it on Goodreads.com. Let me know if you’ve read it and what you thought!

Just Let Me Lie Down

Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms for the Half Insane Working Mom by Kristin van Ogtrop

Being a Mom is always challenging. Adding a full time career inserts some unique difficulties. Sometimes it feels like a huge juggling act. When the stress is high, humor helps!

In this book the author shares funny stories/anecdotes about being a working Mom. There was a lot I could relate to.

I would love to write my own book on this subject!

Run for Your Life

Run for Your Life by James Patterson

I usually enjoy Patterson novels. I find his stories flow smoothly and are quick to read.

In this novel, Michael Bennett struggles with his personal life, including caring for 10 kids. At the same time, he is hunting a killer that calls himself “The Teacher.” This is a light, easy to read suspense/thriller.

After reading I discovered that this title is part of a series; so now I will need to go back and start at the beginning!

Malice

Malice by Lisa Jackson

This wasn’t the best book I’ve read by Lisa Jackson, but it was pretty good. The plot is slightly ridiculous, which made it hard to get into. It was also a bit too long, a lot could have been cut out.

Regardless of the issues I had with the book, I would still recommend this one to those who enjoy thrillers.

Seeing Red

Seeing Red by Susan Crandall

Description from Amazon:

“Ellis Greene remembers very little about the night of her cousin Laura's murder, but she does recall the face of the murderer. Ellis was the key witness to the crime, and her testimony helped put Hollis Alexander in jail for a long time. With Hollis behind bars, Ellis should feel safe, but the memory of that awful night still haunts her. Determined to free herself from the fear of being attacked like her cousin, Ellis has become an expert in self defense. However, when Ellis hears that Hollis has been paroled, she feels like a helpless teenager again--and she isn't the only one who notices that he's free. Laura's boyfriend Nate was one of the prime suspects for her murder. After the court case, many still believed that Nate was guilty and he left town to reinvent himself. Now, fifteen years later, he has returned to protect Ellis from suffering the same fate as her cousin. As soon as Ellis and Nate see one another, sparks fly. But Ellis hasn't let herself fall for a man in a long time, and she isn't sure whether she can trust Nate. As Laura's murderer zeroes in on Ellis as his next target, she must fight to stay alive while she finally discovers her true feelings about Nate.”

My thoughts:

A great read for the romantic suspense enthusiast. I really engaged with Ellis’s character and found the plot compelling to the end.

Life Without Summer

Life Without Summer by Lynne Griffin

As a Mother, this book really hit me emotionally.Tessa's life is forever changed when her 4-year old daughter is killed in an accident outside her preschool. The grief is palpable, as Tessa tries to make sense of her new life. Every Mother's fear is to lose a child. Just reading about this character's loss was painful. I cannot imagine the feelings that would come from losing one of my babies.

 

Tessa spends time with her grief counselor, Celia, who is also struggling with a loss from her past and current family problems.  Both women are keeping journals of their struggles and their voices are honest and emotional. I liked the plot of dysfunction and unexpected events. Life is not perfect and this book shows that.

 

While I liked this book, overall, there were a few things I didn't like. Each woman had enough character to fill her own book. I would rather have read a book about only Tessa or only Cecelia. I also didn't love the ending.

Running with Scissors

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Description from Amazon:

"Running with Scissors is the true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her unorthodox psychiatrist who bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus. So at the age of twelve, Burroughs found himself amidst Victorian squalor living with the doctor’s bizarre family, and befriending a pedophile who resided in the backyard shed. The story of an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, and the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull an electroshock- therapy machine could provide entertainment. The funny, harrowing and bestselling account of an ordinary boy’s survival under the most extraordinary circumstances."

 

My thoughts:

A definite recommend for the memoir enthusiast. Burroughs story is both witty and heartbreaking. This was a quick read for me, as I followed Burroughs through his sad childhood. In the end, I love that he is able to go on and have a successful life after the setbacks of his childhood. 

Disciplined Dreaming

Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity by Josh Linkner

 

I enjoy books that urge me to new creative heights. This one was good, however I've read better.

 

Linkner encourages dreaming, but with a focus on discipline and process. This is more apt to a corporate setting, rather than entrepreneurship.It makes a good argument for why corporations need creativity in today's business environment. For that reason, I would recommend this to the corporate reader, but not necessarily to the person focused on building their own business or brand.

 

The best section of this book is the questions posed to open the mind to new possibilities and the case studies. I enjoyed the exercises and gained some new insights.

Love Me to Death

Love Me to Death by Allison Brennan

Description from Amazon:

"Six years ago, Lucy Kincaid was attacked and nearly killed by an online predator. She survived. Her attacker did not. Now Lucy’s goal is to join the FBI and fight cyber-crime, but in the meantime, she’s volunteering with a victim’s rights group, surfing the Web undercover to lure sex offenders into the hands of the law. But when the predators she hunts start turning up as murder victims, the FBI takes a whole new interest in Lucy.With her future and possibly even her freedom suddenly in jeopardy, Lucy discovers she’s a pawn in someone’s twisted plot to mete out vigilante justice. She joins forces with security expert and daredevil Sean Rogan, and together they track their elusive quarry from anonymous online chat rooms onto the mean streets of Washington, D.C. But someone else is shadowing them: A merciless stalker has his savage eye on Lucy. The only way for her to escape his brutality may be another fight to the death."

 

My thoughts:

This was my first experience with Allison Brennan and I will definitely read more! If you enjoy romantic suspense, give this one a try. It is packed with action, strong characters and suspense.

Whisper No Lies

Whisper No Lies by Cindy Gerard

I am loving Gerard's Black Ops series! I just finished book three. Fast moving, intense and sexy this book kept me enthralled to the end. Gerard builds strong characters and is able to invoke strong emotion.

So far in the series:

Show No Mercy
Take No Prisoners
Whisper No Lies

On to the next!

Scared to Death

Scared to Death by Wendy Corsi Staub

I really don't have anything positive to say about this book. The characters are one dimensional, and the suspense is sorely lacking.

This is part of a trilogy...and I think I have read one other in this series. I was having flashbacks to a different book (also with a ridiculous plot). Reading this one as a stand alone is not a good idea, the reader would be completely lost. I was completely lost and I had read the previous book!

In the end, I just couldn't get past the weak character development.

The First Love Cookie Club

The First Love Cookie Club by Lori Wilde

Description from Amazon:

"The top rules of the First Love Cookie Club: No men. No kids. No store-bought. No gossip! And no one is going to keep rule #4 now that local-gal-made-good Sarah Collier has reluctantly returned to Twilight, Texas. The once-awkward teenager has become a big-time success with her bestselling kids’ books. Now she’s come back home to grant one child a very special wish, even though her own heart was once broken by the little girl’s father, Travis Walker. This all makes Sarah wonder, even though you can go home again—should you? Every time she turns the corner, the memory of who she was hits her square in the face, and it isn’t pretty. But there’s magic in Twilight, Texas—the magic of friendship and the magic of love, if only Sarah would open her heart to it. . . . "

My thoughts:
I found this book to be terribly dull. The plot is utterly unrealistic. Then, if you can get over that, the characters are poorly constructed. I didn't care for Sarah at all. And Travis is only marginally interesting. Usually, an author can pull me in with a good child character, but this book seems to sideline the kid completely.

Basically, I give this book a big yawn...

The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Lowry's dystopian fiction has won awards and also been challenged, even banned by schools. Perfect combination--when a book is controversial, it is usually worth reading!

Aimed at the YA crowd, "The Giver" follows 12-year old Jonas through his assignment to an important community position. Jonas lives in a society with no crime, no poverty, no unemployment--a seeming Utopia. However, as he delves into the history of the society, troubling issues arise. What must a community give up in order to create this level of conformity and sameness?

The controversies of this book include themes of euthanasia, infanticide and suicide. In my opinion, as a YA book, all of these ethical issues are valid to explore. I would prefer young adults read books with substance and thought provoking material.

Overall, this book is beautifully told. It is part of a series, but I have only read this first novel.

The Stepmother

The Stepmother by Carrie Adams

Description from Amazon:
"Bea Frazier hoped she'd rediscover her incredible self after divorcing Jimmy. But being home alone with three daughters brings her demons back with a vengeance. The only solution is to reunite her family. The trouble is, her ex is about to marry someone else. Tessa King has finally found true love, but her knight in shining armor comes with three sullen daughters and an ex who doesn't seem nearly "ex" enough. After years of singledom, what does Tessa have to do to finally live happily ever after? As the two women negotiate carpools, puberty, and family loyalties, each finds it almost impossible not to fall into the old cliche of the bitter first wife and the wicked stepmother. But if Bea and Tessa are brave enough, they just may find a friend where they once saw an enemy. . . . "

My thoughts:
I was torn on this one. While there were some things I really enjoyed, there were also some disappointments.

I enjoyed the plot--Becoming a single Mom after so many years of being married, trying to find yourself after being lost for so long.

I was often disappointed in the character development--Bea cannot seem to let go of the past and move toward a future. Her character was almost too raw, and she became one-dimensional. The "other" woman, Tessa, also lacks substance. Having a man be the center of their universe, to the exclusion of all else, is just not very realistic. And Jimmy, the center of all the drama, is also a hard character to like. I found myself mostly on Bea's side, but felt pretty ambivalent about all the characters. I was mostly engaged with the children. As in real life, they were the ones suffering the most from the dissolution of their family.

While I didn't always like the characters or the way things played out, I would still recommend this as a decent read.

The Red Tent

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Description from Amazon:
"Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that tell of her father, Jacob, and his twelve sons.Told in Dinah's voice, Anita Diamant imagines the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of the mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through childhood, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past."

My thoughts:
I loved the imagery and richness of this book. Diamant brings the story of Dinah to life in an honest and compelling way. While Dinah's character is based on a Biblical story, this plot is not focused on religion. Instead the focus is on the history of women, of mothers and daughters and their struggles and triumphs. In reverence of women, this is a masterpiece.

I recommend for those of you who enjoy historic fiction and also for women who enjoy reading about the journeys of past women.

Peace is Like a River

Peace is Like a River by Leif Enger

Enger's debut novel is amazing. Themes include miracles, fate, family values and spirituality. Told in an honest, compelling voice, this novel is both heart warming and thought provoking.

Enger sets himself apart with this beautifully crafted debut.

Marrying Daisy Bellamy

Marrying Daisy Bellamy by Susan Wiggs

Daisy is a single mother. She is torn between two men. Charlie's Dad, Logan wants to be part of her life and she does have feeling for him. But her heart cannot forget her teen love, Julian.

This wasn't an enjoyable read for me. After reading it I discovered it is part of a series. Maybe if I had read the previous books I would have been interested in the characters more. As a stand-alone I wouldn't recommend it.

In my opinion, there were too many characters to keep track of ,and while the writing was decent, I felt the emotion was superficial. Overall I felt this book was depressing!

Gabby

Gabby: A Story of Courage, Love and Resilience by Gabrielle Giffords & Mark Kelly

Description from Amazon:

"Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly’s story is a reminder of the power of true grit, the patience needed to navigate unimaginable obstacles, and the transcendence of love. Their arrival in the world spotlight came under the worst of circumstances. On January 8, 2011, while meeting with her constituents in Tucson, Arizona, Gabby was the victim of an assassination attempt that left six people dead and thirteen wounded. Gabby was shot in the head; doctors called her survival “miraculous.” As the nation grieved and sought to understand the attack, Gabby remained in private, focused on her against all- odds recovery. Intimate, inspiring, and unforgettably moving, Gabby provides an unflinching look at the overwhelming challenges of brain injury, the painstaking process of learning to communicate again, and the responsibilities that fall to a loving spouse who wants the best possible treatment for his wife. Told in Mark’s voice and from Gabby’s heart, the book also chronicles the lives that brought these two extraordinary people together—their humor, their ambitions, their sense of duty, their long distance marriage, and their desire for family. A new, moving final chapter brings Gabby’s story up to date, including the state of her health and her announcement that she would leave the House of Representatives."

My Thoughts:
I highly recommend this book. It is one of the best I have read recently. I was moved and inspired by this woman.

When Giffords was shot I saw the story, but didn't know a lot about her. This book goes through her life, with a minimal focus on the attack she suffered. The political climate in America today makes me so sad. Gabby, the staff and the spectators that were killed are American Heroes. They lost their lives supporting and loving Democracy. The photo in the middle of the book with President Obama holding Giffords hand while she was in a coma brought tears to my eyes.

Reading about Giffords ambition and passion made me even prouder to be an American. This book really put a personal face on a person who genuinely has a passion for America and making it a better place to live. The love between Kelly and Gifford is also expressed as a beautiful thing. I can't say enough about this book!!

One Fine Cowboy

One Fine Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

Cowboy theme...not my favorite. However, this was a very sweet romance. A bit long, in my opinion, but one of those mindless reads for a rainy day.

The male character, Nate, is not my usual favorite--alpha male. For those of you that enjoy a more vulnerable male lead, this one is for you!

Look Again

Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

Description from Amazon:
"When reporter Ellen Gleeson gets a “Have You Seen This Child?” flyer in the mail, she almost throws it away. But something about it makes her look again, and her heart stops—the child in the photo is identical to her adopted son, Will. Her every instinct tells her to deny the similarity between the boys, because she knows her adoption was lawful. But she’s a journalist and won’t be able to stop thinking about the photo until she figures out the truth. And she can’t shake the question: if Will rightfully belongs to someone else, should she keep him or give him up? She investigates, uncovering clues no one was meant to discover, and when she digs too deep, she risks losing her own life—and that of the son she loves.

Lisa Scottoline breaks new ground in Look Again, a thriller that’s both heart-stopping and heart-breaking, and sure to have new fans and book clubs buzzing."

 

My thoughts:

A decent thriller. As a mother, I engaged with Ellen's character. This book moves at a fast pace and keeps the suspense high. A definite read for the suspense enthusiast.

The Innocent Man

The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham

Description from Amazon:
"In the town of Ada, Oklahoma, Ron Williamson was going to be the next Mickey Mantle. But on his way to the Big Leagues, Ron stumbled, his dreams broken by drinking, drugs, and women. Then, on a winter night in 1982, not far from Ron’s home, a young cocktail waitress named Debra Sue Carter was savagely murdered. The investigation led nowhere. Until, on the flimsiest evidence, it led to Ron Williamson. The washed-up small-town hero was charged, tried, and sentenced to death—in a trial littered with lying witnesses and tainted evidence that would shatter a man’s already broken life, and let a true killer go free.
Impeccably researched, grippingly told, filled with eleventh-hour drama, John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction reads like a page-turning legal thriller. It is a book that will terrify anyone who believes in the presumption of innocence—a book no American can afford to miss."

 

My thoughts:

I was excited to read this nonfiction piece by Grisham. I was impressed by the research that went into this book. However, all of the details made it hard to get into. It was slow to start and hard to read in some places. Overall thought, the story of Ron Williamson is one that is unbelievable and truly concerning. I did further research after finishing the book. A recommend for fans of true crime, memoirs and/or justice themes.

No One Heard Her Scream

No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane

This is a chilling debut by Jordan Dane. The main character is a detective whose sister has been abducted. The case is not clear cut and more college women go missing. Detective Montgomery finds a partner and also a love interest while following the twists of this case. A remarkable thriller, with a small side of romance, this is a definite recommend.

A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Fellow readers often criticize Hemingway. I believe his style is misunderstood among many. His style is meant to be bleak, and he promises (and offers) no happy endings.

A Farewell to Arms is beautifully crafted. Set in WWI, an American ambulance driver is serving in Italy. While there, he begins a love affair with an English nurse.

The imagery is profound, the plot unnerving. Hemingway explores love and war, and grips the reader in the difficult characters.

I love this one!

Genesis

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Description from Amazon:

“What does it mean to be human?” The answer lies within the mystery of Genesis. Set in a postapocalyptic future, the novel takes the form of an examination undergone by young Anaximander as she prepares to enter an enigmatic institution known simply as The Academy. For her subject she has chosen the life of the philosopher-soldier Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. It is through Anax’s presentation and her answers to persistent questioning by her examiners that we learn the history of her island Republic, along with the rules and beliefs of their society. At the completion of the examination, when everything has been laid bare, Anax must confront the Republic’s last great secret, her own surprising link to Adam Forde, and the horrifying truth about her world. Like the great writers Isaac Asimov and Philip K. Dick, Bernard Beckett explores the relationship between humans and technology in a brilliantly rendered novel that will keep readers guessing until the final page."

 

What I thought:

While I am usually not enthralled by either YA novels, or futuristic ones, "Genesis" was superb. Beckett's style moves quickly, hooking the reader from beginning to end. This is a short read, one I finished in one sitting. I found the prose to be rare in it's originality and descriptiveness. The philosophic nature of this book is what kept me intrigued. Beckett inserts thought provoking issues about the nature of the world and humans. I don't want to give away too much, but this is a book I would recommend to almost any reader.

All I Ever Wanted

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

Description from Amazon:

"One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair... and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol' Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company's new Miss Perfect. If that isn't bad enough, her mom decides to throw her a three-oh birthday bash in the family funeral home. Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a crazy relationship with the town's not so warm and fuzzy veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark's attention. So Ian is more comfortable with animals.... So he's formal, orderly and just a bit tense. The ever-friendly, fun-loving and spontaneous Callie decides it's time for Ian to get a personality makeover. But dang, if he doesn't shock the heck out of her, she might actually fall for Vermont's unlikeliest eligible bachelor...."

 

My thoughts:

When it comes to light romantic comedy, Higgins is one my favorites. She crafts characters that are strong, funny, vulnerable and realistic. Callie's character was no exception. Love to read the happy endings!

Vanish

Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

I recently finished book five in this series. Gerritsen again brings an ultimate thriller to the page. I was hooked by her first book. I recently read that she is a retired internist. That must be why her detail is so vivid.

Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles both continue to be developed into complex characters. On to book six!

Here is the list so far,

The Surgeon
The Apprentice
The Sinner
Body Double
Vanish