Where Serpents Lie by T. Jefferson Parker

Started: 5/13/19
Finished: 12/29/19
Year: 1998
Pages: 557
Genre: suspense
Grade: B
Reason for reading: TBR pile
Blurb (from back cover): "Terry Naughton has come up against his share of heinous criminals in his years on the force-but nothing has prepared him for the Horridus, the brilliant madman who is terrorizing the children of Orange County.
"As he races to stop the Horridus before his crimes escalate, Naughton learns the that the Horridus many not be the only enemy. When shocking accusations put his career on the line, he is forced to confront his own dark and violent past in his search for the truth. Who is behind the setup? And even if he can clear his name, can he do the same for his conscience?
Opinion: Even though it took me several months to read this, it was an enjoyable suspenseful book with 2 plot lines that are intertwined. I've always enjoyed T. Jefferson Parker's books and this one does not disappoint.

Clobbered to Death by Rosemarie Ross

Started: 11/30/19
Finished: 12/29/19
Year: 2019
Genre: mystery
Grade: B
Pages: 312
Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway book
Blurb (from back cover): "Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer's Daughter...despite the fact that she's actually a pediatrician's daughter. Now she's signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself-and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn't part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes...
"During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool, But the next morning, it's Mick's body that's cooling-right next to Courtney's pan, now classified as a murder weapon."
Opinion: If you're a fan of the The Great American or British Baking Show then you will probably get a kick of this murderous take on them. Definitely a lot of suspects with different motives to want Mick dead. For the first in a new cozy mysteries series, I'm looking forward to future ones.

Bully: A True Story of High School Revenge by Jim Schutze

Started: 10/5/19
Finished: 12/8/19
Year: 1997
Pages: 304
Genre: True Crime
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: booksfree.com book
Blurb (from back cover): "Bobby Kent was a bully-a steroid-pumped 20-year-old who dominated his peers in their comfortable, middle-class Ft. Lauderdale beach community through psychological, physical and sexual abuse. But on a summer night in 1993, Bobby was lured to the edge of the Florida everglades with a promise of sex and drugs...and was never seen alive again. The tormentor had become the victim in a bizarre and brutal act of vengeance carried out with ruthless efficiency and cold-blooded premeditation by seven of his high school acquaintances-including his lifelong best friend-and instigated by one overweight, underloved teenager who believed her life would be perfect...if only Bobby Kent were dead."
Opinion: This was one of the strangest murder stories that I've read. Hard to believe that with as many people that were told that a small group of people wanted Bobby Kent dead that this even happened. I'm not at all surprised about how quickly the suspects were arrested.  Bullying is definitely frowned up and in a way he did deserve what happened due to the severity of the bullying but murdering him and thinking that they could get away with it is ridiculous.

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins

Started: 8/3/19
Finished: 11/28/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 344
Genre: Literature
Grade: B
Reason for reading: Goodreads book giveaway
Blurb (from back cover): "Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint southern town of Dove Pond, North Carolina, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl name Grace Wheeler.
"If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents-Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book."
Opinion: This was a sweet book about a small Southern town and its newest resident. Friendship and family are the focus and addressed in a charming way. Will be checking out more Dove Pond books.

Our Dogs, Ourselves by Alexandra Horowitz

Started: 9/22/19
Finished: did not finish
Year: 2019
Pages: 266
Genre: animal
Grade: F
Reason for reading: won from GoodReads.com
Blurb (from back cover): "We keep dogs and are kept by them. We love dogs and (we assume) are loved by them. We buy them sweaters, toys, shoes; we are concerned with their social lives, their food, and their health. The story of humans and dogs is thousands of years old but is far from understood. In Our Dogs, Ourselves, Alexandra Horowitz explores all aspects of this unique and complete interspecies pairing.
"As Horowitz considers the current culture of dogdom, she reveals the odd, surprising, and contradictory ways we live with dogs. We celebrate their individuality but breed them for sameness Despite our deep emotional relationships with dogs, legally they are property to be bought, sold, abandoned, or euthanized as we wish. Even the way we speak to our dogs is at once perplexing and delightful.
"In thirteen thoughtful and charming chapters, Our Dogs, Ourselves affirms our profound affection for this most charismatic of animals-and opens our eyes to the companions at our sides as never before."
Opinion: This just wasn't what I was wanting/expecting this to be. Definitely no fault of the author and I'm sure that several fellow dog lovers/owners would get something out of this book.

My Life on the Line by Ryan O'Callaghan and Cyd Zeigler

Started: 8/7/19
Finished: 10/19/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 233
Genre: Sports/Memoir/LGBTQ
Grade: B
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): Ryan O'Callaghan's plan was always to play football and then, when his career was over, kill himself. Growing in a red-state corner of California, the not-so-subtle messages he heard as a young man from his family and from TV and film routinely equated being gay with disease and death. Letting people in on the darkest secret he kept buried inside was not an option: better death with a secret than life as a gay man. As a young man, Ryan never envisioned just how far his football career would take him. He was recruited by the University of California, Berkeley, where he spent five seasons, playing alongside his friend Aaron Rodgers. Then it was on to the NFL for stings with the almost-undefeated New England Patriots and the often-defeated Kansas City Chiefs.
"Bubbling under the surface of Ryan's entire NFL career was a collision course between his secret sexuality and his hidden drug use. When the NFL caught him smoking pot, he turned to NFL-sanctioned prescription pain kills that quickly sent his life into a tailspin. As injuries mounted and his daily intake of opioids reached a near-lethal level, he wrote his suicide note to his parents and plotted his death. Yet someone had been watching. A member of the Chiefs organization stepped in, recognizing the signs of drug addiction. Ryan reluctantly sought psychological help. and it was there that he revealed his lifelong secret for the very first time: he's gay. Now in his late twenties, Ryan faced a fork in the road of his life: end it, or find out if his family and football friends could ever accept a gay man in their lives."
Opinion: As I was reading this, I just felt bad for Ryan who believed that people were not going to support him just because of his sexuality. I'm just glad that he got to realize that people will support him no matter what. A more complete review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the upcoming months.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

Started: 7/22/19
Finished: 10/8/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 310
Genre: Literature/Romance
Grade: B
Reason for reading: Book of the Month read
Blurb (from book jacket): "Cassie Hanwell was born to handle emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's a total pro at managing other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.
"The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a 'lady' on the crew-even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because love is girly, and it's not her thing. Ad don't forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...ant it means risking it all-the only job she's ever loved, and the hero she's worked like hell to become."
Opinion: What starts off as a woman fighting to make it in a man led job becomes so much more. It becomes more about forgiveness mixed with love.  Despite the time that I started this, this was an easy and enjoyable book and could be a quick read.

You Throw Like a Girl by Don McPherson

Started: 8/10/19
Finished: 10/1/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 231
Genre: Sports/Gender Studies
Grade: C
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from book jacket): "In You Throw Like a Girl, former Syracuse University quarterback and NFL veteran Don McPherson examines how the narrow definition of masculinity adversely impacts women and creates many 'blind spots' that hinder the healthy development of men. Dissecting the strict set of beliefs and behaviors that underpin our understanding of masculinity, he contends that we don't raise boys to be men, we raise them not to be women.
"Using examples from his own life, including his storied football career, McPherson passionately argues that viewing violence against women as a 'women's issue' not just ignores men's culpability but conflates the toxicity of men's violence with being male. In You Throw Like a Girl, McPherson leads us beyond the bling spots and toward solutions, analyzing how we can engage men in a sustained dialogue, with a new set of terms that are aspirational and more accuretely representative of the emotional wholeness of men."
Opinion: I remember McPherson when he was QB for SU. With him playing football, an aggressive "manly" game, he has a unique look at masculinity. Overall, this book handles a subject that is important to today's society and could be useful in the right hands. A more complete review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the future.

In At the Deep End by Kate Davies

Started: 5/19/19
Finished: 9/23/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 320
Genre: Literature
Grade: C-
Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway
Blurb (from Amazon): "Julia has had enough. Enough of the sex noises her roommate makes. Enough of her dead-end government job. Enough of the one-night stand who accused her of breaking his penis. The only thing she hasn’t had enough of is orgasms; she hasn’t had proper sex in three years."
Opinion: So....the main character examines who she is-lesbian, heterosexual, etc. Lots of over the top sex scenes-some realistic, many not. Bottomline is that the character goes through hell to find out who she truly is like many people in real life. The underlining message I like. The bullshit sex and abuse I could have done without.

The Disappearance by Bentley Little

Started: 6/6/19
Finished: 9/12/19
Year: 2010
Pages: 391
Genre: Thriller
Grade: B
Reason for reading: booksfree.com book
Blurb (from back cover): "The festival was intended as a getaway from UCLA for Gary, his girlfriend, Joan, and their friends. But soon after they arrive, Joan vanishes. Calls to her parents' home yield only dead air. Her school records are gone. And there's no evidence that Joan, or even her roommate, ever existed. Most disturbing of all is what they do find.
"Among Joan's belongings is a prayer written on a small school. It's a safeguard-and a warning-from something called the Outsiders. For Gary and his friends, it's the only blue. Now, if they want to find out exactly what happened to Joan, they must follow it.
"But they may not like where it leads..."
Opinion: I haven't read a Little book in a few years and I have always enjoyed them...this one being no different. The suspense is well developed. The ending is kharmatic. It isn't the best Little book but still well worth the read.

Someone to Love Us by Terence O'Neill

Started: 7/5/19
Finished: 9/7/19
Year: 2010
Pages: 311
Genre: Biography
Grade: B
Reason for reading: booklender.com book
Blurb (from back cover): "Terry was only five years old when he was taken info foster care along with his brothers, and just nine when he and his brother Dennis arrived at their new foster parents, the Goughs. They worked as hard as they could and they tried to be good, but the beatings got worse and they were so hungry-until the terrible morning when Terry couldn't wake Dennis."
Opinion: A touching and horrific story of what one kid went through that help spark a foster care reform. Amazing how adults could treat kids as punching bags to the point of murder....all for a paycheck.

Cornelius Sky by Timothy Brandoff

Started: 7/6/19
Finished: 8/12/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 214
Genre: Literature
Grade: C
Reason for reading: review for Librarything.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Cornelius Sky is a doorman in a posh Fifth Avenue apartment building that houses New York City's elite, including a former First Lady whose husband was assassinated while in office. It is 1974 and New York City is heading toward a financial crisis. At work, Connie prides himself on his ability to buff a marble floor better than anyone, a talent that so far has kept him from being fired for his drinking. He pushes the boundaries of his duties, partying and playing boards games with the former First lady's lonely thirteen-year-old son in the service stairwell-the only place where the boy is not spied upon mercilessly by the tabloid press and his Secret Service detail.
Connie believes he is the only nine who can offer true solace and companionship to this fatherless boy, but his constant neglect of his own sons and their mother reaches a boiling point. His wife changes the locks on his down door, and he finds himself wandering the mean streets of the city in his uniform, where unlikely angels offer him a path towards redemption."
Opinion: An average read about a drunk who suffers in all aspects of his life.

Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima

Started: 8/12/19
Finished: 8/12/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 282
Genre: mystery
Grade: A
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "An explosion outside a community dance sends Mattie Cobb and Cole Walker reeling into the night, where they discover a burning van and beside it the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher. but the explosion didn't kill Nate-it was two gunshots to the heart.
"The investigation leads them to the home of rancher Doyle Redman, whose daughter is Nate's widow and the object of one of their suspect's affection. But before they can make an arrest, they receive an emergency call from a man who's been shot in the mountains. Mattie and Robo rush to the scene, only to be confronted by the ominous growl of a wild predator.
"As new players emerge on the scene, Mattie begins to understand the true danger that's enveloping Timber Creek. They journey into the cold, misty mountains to track the animal-but discover something even more deadly."
Opinion: I really enjoy this K-9 series and this one is right on line with the rest of the series. A more complete review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the near future.

"Whiskers in the Dark" by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown

Started: 6/23/19
Finished: 7/31/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 261
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway
Blurb (from book jacket)" A massive nor'easter has hit northern Virginia, where Mary Minor 'Harry' Harristeen joins groundskeeping efforts at the national Beagle Club at Aldie as the date for its springtime Hounds for Heroes veterans' benefit approaches. Harry's fellow volunteers, including her oldest friend, Susan Tucker, comprise a spirited group of hunting enthusiasts, one former service members themselves. But things take a sinister turn when, after a routine tree cleanup along the Club's hunting rails, retired foreign services officer Jason Holzknect is found dead, throat slit from ear to ear. Soon enough, another murder in their midst jolts the preparations, convincing Harry that the killer is familiar with the Club-and must be close by, masked in plain sight.
"The intrigue extends to the grounds of Harry's beloved local church, where the identity  of an eighteenth-century skeleton wearing precious pearls remains a mystery. The anonymous woman's neck had been snapped, and marks on the grave where her body was secreted indicate that someone recently tried to remove it, leading Harry to question how well she really knows those around her.
"As always, Harry's crime-solving cats, Mrs, Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker the Corgi share her determination to sniff out the foes among friends, even those long buried, Harry will need her four-legged companions' help more than ever: a ghostly beagle only they can see may hold the key to the culprit."
Opinion: The main mystery wasn't well developed and had a nobody as the culprit. The older story that was intertwined was not needed and added nothing to the story. Not one of the better stories in this series.

Never Look Back by Alison Gaylin

Started: 5/23/19
Finished: 7/30/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 339
Genre: B
Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway
Blurb (from back cover): "When website columnist Robin Diamond is contacted by true-crime podcast produce Quentin Garrison, she assumes it's a business matter. It's not. Quentin's podcast, Closure, focuses on a series of murders in the 1970s committed by teen couple April Copper and Gabriel LeRoy. It seems that Quentin has reason to believe Robins' own mother may be intimately connected with the killings.
"Robin thinks Quentin's claim is absolutely absurd. But is it? The more she researches the Cooper/LeRoy murders herself, the more disturbed she becomes by what she finds. Living just a few blocks from her, Robin's beloved parents are the one absolute she's always been able to trust in, especially now amid rising doubts about her husband ad frequent threats from Internet trolls. She knows her mother better than anyone-or so she believes. But all that changes after a brutal home invasion destroys everything Robin once relied on.
Opinion: A strong idea but there are some minor plotlines that are unnecessary and took away from the main story. Interesting twist at the end and some things were never well explained.

A Perfect Husband by Aphrodite Jones

Started: 5/11/19
Finished: 7/20/19
Year: 2004
Pages: 347
Genre: True Crime
Grade: B
Reason for reading: grabbed off the TBR pile
Blurb (from back cover): "On December 9, 2001, in a wealthy suburb of Durham, North Carolina, police were called to investigate the death of Kathleen Peterson, 48, who lay in a pool of blood at the bottom of a staircase. Husband Michael Peterson, 58, said that she'd accidentally fallen down the stairs. but forensic experts concluded that she'd been beaten to death.
"Kathleen Peterson had been a high-earning corporate executive and dedicated wife and mother. Michael was an equally outstanding achiever; decorated Vietnam veteran, bestselling novelist, newspaper columnist, and onetime mayoral candidate. Theirs had looked like the ideal marriage. So why was Michael Peterson now the prime suspect in the death of his wife?
"Prosecutors pointed to a $1.4 million life insurance policy and material recovered from Michael's computer, which revealed evidence of a secret sex life. Strangely, another death lay buried in his past, that of Elizabeth Ratliff, which in 1985 had also been found dead at the bottom of staircase. however, it was the trial for Kathleen's murder that would split a family and hold a nation riveted."
Opinion: I remember hearing about this case and how pompous he appeared to be. It was interesting to see read more of the backstory of what happened and the trial.

It's Hot in the Hamptons by Holly Peterson

Started: 5/22/19
Finished: DNF
Year: 2019
Pages: 373
Genre: literature
Grade: F
Reason for reading: review for LibraryThing
Blurb (from back cover): "Raised in East Hampton, Caroline never thought she'd be one of the 'city people' who spent summers and weekends at the beach. But once her husband's business takes off, a job stint transplants the couple permanently into Manhattan life-where the phrase 'When you marry for money, you work for it every day' reflects her neighbors' lives. And where entitled husbands, like hers, embark on affair after affair with little consequence.
"Time for the wives to get even.
"When Caroline's friend Annabelle suggests they experiment as they wayward mates have, Caroline resists at first. That is, until a scroll through an iPad makes her reconsider...and a pact between two friends is made.
"The agreement quickly turns serious when Caroline begins to confront the man her husband has become, or perhaps always has been. Will a summer affair give Caroline clarity or make her lose hold on the reins of her life?And, when an old lover returns, is she ready to risk all for a chance at happiness?"
Opinion: Yes, people cheat. Yes, people want to get revenge and cheat back. But to have it lead the book without any background made me ill. The writing was choppy. Plot was weak. Interpersonal relationships among characters wasn't there. Amazes me that William Morrow publishing would accept a manuscript like this.

Oregon Hauntings and the Unexplained by Arlene L. Jenkins

Started: 6/16/19
Finished: 6/26/19
Year: 2002
Pages: 133
Genre: paranormal
Grade: D
Reason for reading: grabbed off the TBR
Blurb (from back cover): "The collection of short stories in this book are all nonfiction and the first time in print. Each person has been personally interviewed by Arlene and the stores approved by that person."
Opinion: The one positive thing is that these "stories" are based on interviews. But the interviews seem to have been one minute in length. They could have been better written, contained more details, lose the editorial opinions that only seemed to be included to make the "story" more than a page. I wanted so much more from this.

The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble

Started: 6/3/19
Finished: DNF
Year: 2004
Pages: 325
Genre: Literature
Grade: F
Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR pile
Blurb (from Amazon): "Barbara Halliwell, on a grant at Oxford, receives an unexpected package-a memoir by a Korean crown princess, written more than two hundred years ago. A highly appropriate gift for her impending trip to Seoul. But from whom?
"story she avidly reads on the plane turns out to be one of great intrigue as well as tragedy. The Crown Princess Hyegyong recounts in extraordinary detail the ways of the Korean court and confesses the family dramas that left her childless and her husband dead by his own hand. Perhaps it is the loss of a child that resonates so deeply with Barbara . . . but she has little time to think of such things, she has just arrived in Korea.
"She meets a certain Dr. Oo, and to her surprise and delight he offers to guide her to some of the haunts of the crown princess. As she explores the inner sanctums and the royal courts, Barbara begins to feel a strong affinity for everything related to the princess and her mysterious life.
"After a brief, intense, and ill-fated love affair, she returns to London. Is she ensnared by the events of the past week, of the past two hundred years, or will she pick up her life where she left it? A beautifully told and ingeniously constructed novel, this is Margaret Drabble at her best."

Opinion: A lot of run-on babble. I'm sure it could have been an interesting story about this mysterious queen but without some sort of structure-no chapters, no breaks...just on going babble.

Cop Without a Badge by Charles Kipps

Started: 4/21/19
Finished: 6/22/19
Year: 1996
Pages: 321
Genre: True Crime/biography
Grade: C
Reason for reading: booksfree.com book
Blurb (from back cover): "Cop Without a Badge tracks confidential informant Kevin Maher as he helps the NYPD, the FBI and many other law enforcement agencies solve cases that range from robbery to extortion to homicide. In the process, Kevin becomes the highest paid CI the DEA ever had.
"But Kevin's motives are more complicated than simply money. Having been arrested for Grand Theft Auto at the age of sixteen, his felony convection prevents him from being what he always wanted to be: a police office. So now he's out to prove to himself he truly is what he could've been. A cop. Even without a badge."
Opinion: This book started off strong and interesting with how Kevin originally got himself into trouble and then started helping the NYPD. The end was just more repeats of how he tried to get the big name drug dealers. Kevin certainly led a lifestyle that was different than others and he certainly was extremely lucky in many situations.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Started: 4/21/19
Finished: 6/13/19
Year: 2005
Pages: 288
Genre: Literature
Grade: B+
Reason for reading: reserve for bookring
Blurb (from Amazon): "As children Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school secluded in the English countryside. It was a place of mercurial cliques and mysterious rules where teachers were constantly reminding their charges of how special they were. Now, years later, Kathy is a young woman. Ruth and Tommy have reentered her life. And for the first time she is beginning to look back at their shared past and understand just what it is that makes them special—and how that gift will shape the rest of their time together. Suspenseful, moving, beautifully atmospheric, Never Let Me Go is modern classic"
Opinion: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this and I can't really point my finger as to why. I'm curious on how the movie holds true to the book but I'm in no rush.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marouez

Started: 4/28/19
Finished: DNF
Year: 1967
Pages: 422
Genre: Literature
Grade F
Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR shelf
Blurb (from Amazon): One Hundred Years of Solitude tells the story of the rise and fall, birth and death of the mythical town of Macondo through the history of the Buendía family. Inventive, amusing, magnetic, sad, and alive with unforgettable men and women -- brimming with truth, compassion, and a lyrical magic that strikes the soul -- this novel is a masterpiece in the art of fiction.
Opinion: Again, another book that just wasn't holding my interest. I made it a good way and decided that since it wasn't holding my interest, to let it go.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Started: 5/4/19
Finished: DNF
Year: 1905
Pages: 272
Genre: Classic
Grade: F
Reason for reading: booksfree.com book
Blurb (from back cover): "'We seek him here, we seek him there, Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven?-Is he in hell? That demmed elusive Pimpernel'"
Opinion: I just couldn't get into this one. I read the first 6 chapters and decided that since I have so many other books to read, I wasn't going to keep with this one.

The Triggerman's Dance by T. Jefferson Parker

Started: 5/11/19
Finished: 5/11/19
Year: 1996
Pages: 540
Genre: Thriller
Grade: B
Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR shelf
Blurb (from back cover): "There were two men in Rebecca Harris's life: Joshua Weinstein-the tough, dark, passionate, Jewish FBI agent she was engaged to; and John Menden-the blond, WASP, slick newsman who was her lover. both men silently knew of the other's existence in Rebecca's life-and each hoped that when she made her ultimate decision between them, he would be the chosen one.
"Six months after Rebecca Harris was murdered in front of the Orange County Journal offices, Joshua Weinstein discovers the identity of the murderer: Vann Holt, a brilliant military tactician and leader of a right-wing private security organization. Now, all he needs is the proof. And the only person he knows who is as driven about avenging the murder is John Menden. Using the most sophisticated FBI techniques and equipment, this unlikely duo teams up to bring down the man that ruined their lives. But neither expects that the man who is their target will be quite so intelligent and cunning, nor his daughter quite so alluring."
Opinion: Decent read with most of the story focused on John Menden's character which was odd to me.

The Heart Keeper by Alex Dahl

Started: 5/3/19
Finished: 5/11/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 358
Genre: Literature
Grade: B
Reason for reading: won on Goodreads.com; review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "When Alison's beloved daughter, Amalie,drowns, her world turns impenetrably dark. Alison tries to hold it together throughout the bleak fall, but in the darkest days of the Norwegian winter, she completely comes apart.
"In another family, Amalie's passing is a new beginning. After years of severe health problems, young Kaia receives a new heart on the morning after Amalie drowns. Her mother, Iselin, has struggled to raise Kaia on her own, and now, things are finally looking up. She has even made an affluent new friend who has taken a special interest in her and her daughter.
"Alison knows she shouldn't interfere, but really, she's just trying to help Iselin and Kaia. She can give them the life they never had, and by staying close to them, she can still be with her daughter. Kaia is just like her, and surely, something of Amalie must live on in her. As her grief transforms into a terrifying obsession, Alison will not let anything stop her from getting back what she has lost."
Opinion: This was a decent read but I have a problem with the characterization of Alison. I can understand grief and blame but to become as problematic as she is in this book bothers me. A more complete review will be on MyShelf.com in the near future.

The Kill Room by Jeffery Deaver

Started: 3/8/19
Finished: 5/5/19
Year: 2013
Pages: 477
Genre: Mystery/suspense
Grade: B
Reason for reading: grabbed off the TBR shelf
Blurb (from back cover): "It was a 'million-dollar bullet,' a sniper shot delivered from over a mile away. Its victim was no ordinary mark: he was a United States citizen, targeted by the United States government, and assassinated in the Bahamas.
"The nation's most renowned investigator and forensics expert, Lincoln Rhyme, is drafted to investigate. While his partner, Amelia Sachs, traces the victim's steps in Manhattan, Rhyme leaves the city to pursue the sniper himself. As details of the case start to emerge, the pair discovers that not all is what it seems.
"When a deadly, knife-wielding assassin begins systematically eliminating all evidence-including the witnesses-Lincoln's investigation turns into a chilling battle of wits against a cold-blooded killer."
Opinion: Like most Deaver books, lots of twists and turns. Also is evident is the amount of research that Deaver does for his novels. I've had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times and he always comments about the amount of research he does to make his fiction more realistic.

Cemetery Road by Greg Iles

Started: 3/9/19
Finished: 4/23/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 587
Genre: suspense
Grade: B+
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from book jacket): "So begins Cemetery Road, Greg Iles's most captivating and propulsive novel to date. Marshall McEwan is one of the most successful journalists in Washington, D.C. But as a chaotic presidential administration lifts him from print fame to television stardom, Marshall discovers that his father is terminally ill, and he must return to his childhood home-a place he vowed he would never go back to.
"Bienville, Mississippi, is no longer the city Marshall remembers. His family's 150-year-old newspaper is failing, and Jet Talal, the love of his young, has married into the family of Max Matheson, one of a dozen powerful patriarchs who rule the town through the exclusive Bienville Poker Club. To Marshall's surprise, the Poker Club has offered economic salvation to this community on the brink of extinction, in the form of a billion-dollar Chinese paper mill. But on the verge of the deal's consummation, two deaths rock Bienville to its core, threatening far more than the city's economic future.
"Joining forces with his former lover-whose husband stands to inherit a seat in the Poker Club-Marshall begins digging for the truth. But he and Jet soon discover that the soil of Mississippi is a minefield where explosive secrets can be far more destructive than injustice. By the time Marshall grasps the long-buried truth about his own history-and the woman he loves-he would give almost anything not to have to face it.
Opinion: Lots of tangled webs that some weave.  Interesting concept and interesting developments among the story that kept it exciting. A more complete review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the near future.

The Shame Factor by Stephan B. Poulter, PhD

Started: 3/14/19
Finished: 4/17/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 357
Genre: Psychology/Self-help
Grade: B
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Emotional paralysis, a distorted view of self, a feeling of being a fraud, lack of trust in others, fear of criticism resulting in underdeveloped talents, and a chronic sense of being worthless, invisible, or disposable-these are typical symptoms of shame.
"In this book, psychologist Stephan B. Poulter delves into this 'primary emotional wound.' Distinguishing it from commonplace guilt over a particular moral failing, he describes this toxic emotion as a pervasive but largely unrecognized 'emotional cancer,' with the power of undermining many aspects of life.
"Dr. Poulter guides the reader through exercises that teach one to expose this 'big secret' and to recognize the triggers in daily life that arouse fears and other negative emotions. Beyond these first steps, he shows how we can continue to the healing process of self-acceptance, self-forgiveness, empathy, and a new sense of inner well-being."
Opinion: An interesting take on a possible, underlying root to depression, anxiety and other emotional issues. Lots of examples and steps to look at how shame might have affected one's life. Review will be on MyShelf.com in the near future.

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell

Started: 3/13/19
Finished: 4/16/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 362
Genre: Suspense
Grade: B
Reason for reading: won on GoodReads.com; review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Caroline's new beach house was built to showcase her carefully constructed world. But her husband is lying to her. The money is disappearing. And there's another woman. Or so it seems.
"But then she sees a stranger on the beach.
"As Caroline's marriage and lavish lifestyle collapse around her, she turns to Aidan for comfort...and revenger. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aidan's infatuation with Caroline, her family, and her house grows more and more toxic.
"Who's really playing whom in this deadly game of obsession and control?"
Opinion: Definitely an interesting concept and plot twists. It isn't what it seems to be. A good beach read.

Operation Shylock: A Confession by Philip Roth

Started: 3/11/19
Finished: 4/15/19
Year: 1993
Pages: 398
Genre: Literature
Grade: C
Reason for reading: booksfree.com book
Blurb (from back cover): "In this fiendishly imaginative book (which may or may not be fiction), Philip Roth meets a man who many or may not be Philip Roth.  Because someone with that name has been touring Israel, promotion a bizarre reverse exodus of the Jews. Roth is intent on stopping him, even if that means impersonating his own impersonator.
"With excruciating suspense, unfettered philosophical speculations, and a cast of characters that includes Israeli intelligence agents. Palestinian exiles, an accused war criminal, and an enticing charter member of an organization called Anti-Semites Anonymous, Operation Shylock barrels across the frontier between fact and fiction, seriousness and high comedy, history and nightmare."
Opinion: The original premise of this sounded good but as I was reading it, parts of it were just annoying. This was my first Roth book and I'm not sure if I will seek out others.

A Lifetime Burning by Linda Gillard

Started: 3/10/19
Finished: 4/14/19
Year: 2006
Pages: 361
Genre: Literature
Grade: D
Reason for reading: bookray for BookCrossing.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Looking back over a turbulent lifetime, Flora Dunbar recalls an eccentric childhood lived in the shadow of her musical twin, Rory; early marriage to Hugh, a handsome clergyman twice her age; motherhood, which brought her Theo, the son she couldn't love; middle age, when she finally found brief happiness in a scandalous affair with her nephew, Colin.
"Now Flora Dunbar is dead. But it isn't over.
"The spectre at the funeral is Flora herself, unobserved by her grieving family and the four men who loved her..."
Opinion: I'm trying hard to come up with something positive to say. I didn't give it an F because I read it. The unrealistic relationship with Flora and Rory is disgusting and annoying. Incest, incest, incest. Annoying characters. I'm happily moving this along.

Second Time Sweeter by Beverly Jenkins

Started: 3/17/19
Finished: 4/11/19
Year: 2018
Pages: 285
Genre: Literature
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: review for LibraryThing.com
Blurb (from back cover): "With a reputation as a player, Malachi "Mal" July is now a recovering alcoholic who has made progress in redeeming himself in the yes of his family and the citizens of Henry Adams, Kansas. He's not only turned his diner into a profitable business; he also mentors the town's foster kids. And he's even staying true to one woman-Bernadine Brown.
"But a moment of pride makes Mal betray his friends and family, and lose Bernadine's trust and love. Can he win back her forgiveness?
"Meanwhile, homecoming weekend is fast approaching, and store owner Gary Clark is reunited with his high school sweetheart. The spark is still there, but is it too late for second chances?
"A little help from the good people of Henry Adams may give both Mal and Gary their best second chance at the happiness they missed the first time around..."
Opinion: This is the 9th book in the Henry Adams series....wish I had know that before I chose this book. For the most part, you can read this as a standalone but the ending leads you to having to read the next in the series. The romance between Gary and his high school sweetheart is endearing. The story of Mal trying to redeem himself is okay. There is also a subplot about another couple that just doesn't seem to fit.

Invisible by Andrew Grant

Started: 3/12/19
Finished: 4/8/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 304
Genre: Suspense
Grade: B
Reason for reading: review for LibraryThing
Blurb (from front page-ARC): "When Paul McGrath was a young man, he rebelled against his pacifist father by becoming a stand-out Army recruit, the star of his military intelligence unit. But lingering regrets about their relationship made him return home, only to find his father dead, seemingly murdered. And when the murder trial ended in a hung jury-with just one hold-out among the jurors-something didn't smell right to  McGrath. She he put his arsenal of skills to work to find out just how corrupt the legal system, was. and to keep digging, he got himself a job at the courthouse. But not as a lawyer or a clerk, Now McGrath is a janitor. The perfect cover, it gives him security clearance and access to the entire building. No one notices him, but he notices everyone. He notices when witnesses suddenly change their stories. When jury members reverse their votes during deliberation. When armies of corporate attorneys grind down their small-time adversaries with endless tactical shenanigans and while McGrath knows that nothing he discovers can undo his past wrongs or save his father, he finds his new position brings him something else: the change to right current wrongs and save others. And by doing so-just maybe-to find redemption for himself.
Opinion: I enjoyed the character of McGrath-seems like a solid man who tries to do more right than wrong. The ending seemed rushed and could have been more detailed. Overall an enjoyable read.

Under the Table by Stephanie Evanovich

Started: 4/6/19
Finished: 4/6/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 261
Genre: Literature/Romance
Grade: C
Reason for reading: review for LibraryThing.com and MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Suffocating in a dead-end marriage, Midwesterner Zoey Sullivan flees to New York and moves in with her little sister, Ruth, a carefree, vivacious beauty with a string of eligible bachelors at her beck and call. Giving herself three months in the city to clear her head and find a direction, Zoey dodges calls from her ex Derek, and distracts herself by cooking an catering a few private dinners and parties. pursuing her passion for cooking was never an option when she was with Derek, and now Zoey relishes her independence.
"When Zoey meets reclusive millionaire Tristan Malloy, she's blown away by his kitchen-a marble-and-stainless-steel temple worthy of the culinary gods-and charmed by his impeccable gentlemanly manners. But despite his firm body, handsome looks, and piles of cash. Tristan-a computer programmer-is shy and more than a little socially awkward. Zoey is sure that Tristan has all the right raw ingredients-and she's the right person to spice them up and turn him into a delectable dish.
"But Zoey's unprepared for just how well her makeover works. Tristan turns out to be even sexier once he's gained a little confidence and the right wardrobe. Beneath the gorgeous package, Tristan is a great guy who deserves a woman who really appreciates him. Slowly but surely, Zoey realizes she may have found her perfect match-but does Tristan even know how her feelings have changed? Is that warm look n his eyes gratitude for the new and exciting world she's ushered him into, or something more? And what will happen when Zoey's ex comes to town, looking to win her back?"
Opinion: The initial meeting and falling for each other was just unrealistic. The character of Tristan being so out of touch was unrealistic for this day and age and for how he became a millionaire. The romance was predictable. A good beach read if you are looking for something that doesn't have a lot of substance.

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

Started: 4/4/19
Finished: 4/6/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 441
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B
Reason for reading: GoodReads giveaway, review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Drue Campbell's life is adrift. Out of a job and down hon her luck, life doesn't seem to be getting any better when her estranged father, Brice Campbell, a flamboyant personal injury attorney, shows up at her mother's funeral after a twenty-year absence. worse, he's remarried-to Drue's eighth-grade frenemy, Wendy, now his office manager. And they're offering her a job.
"A job from hell, more life. But the offer is sweetened by news of her inheritance-her grandparent's beach bungalow in the sleepy town of Sunset Beach-a charming but storm-damaged eyesore, now surrounded by waterfront McMansions.
"Wit no other prospects, Drue begrudgingly joins the firm, screening out the grifters whose phone calls flood the law office. Working with Wendy is no picnic either. But when a suspicious death at an exclusive, nearby beach resort exposes possible corruption at her father's firm, she goes from unwilling cubical rat to unwitting investigator, and is drawn into a case that may or may not involved her father. With an office romance building, a decades-old missing persons case reopened, and a cottage in rehab, one thing is for sure at Sunset Beach: there's a storm on the horizon."
Opinion: The missing person case just isn't necessary. There is romance but ugh just annoying how it began. Still a fun read-especially since I was in the area of where this book takes place when I was reading it. Some good humor especially about how Brice advertises his law firm (billboards). More complete review will be on MyShelf.com

Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins

Started: 3/31/19
Finished: 4/2/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 428
Genre: Literature
Grade: B
Reason for Reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Emma London never thought she had anything in common with her grandmother Genevieve London. The regal old woman came from wealthy New England stock, but that didn't protect her from life's cruelest losses: the disappearance of her young son, followed by the premature death of her husband. but Genevieve rose from those ashes and built a fashion empire respected the world over, burying her grief in her work, even when it meant neglecting her other son.
"When Emma's own mother died, her father abandoned her on his mother's doorstep. Genevieve took Emma in and reluctantly raised her-until Emma got pregnant her senior year of high school. Genevieve kicked her out with nothing but the clothes on her back...but Emma took with her the most important London possession: the strength not just to survive but thrive. And indeed, Emma has built a wonderful life for herself and her teenage daughter, Riley.
"So what is Emma to do when Genevieve does the one thing Emma never expected of her and, after nots peaking to her for nearly two decades, calls and asks for help?"
Opinion: This was a endearing book about the strength of family and forgiving the past. Some might question why Emma did what she did for a woman who never seemed to give a damn and left her high and dry but it works in showing forgiveness. A more thorough review will be on MyShelf.com

The Mammoth Book of True Crime by Colin Wilson

Started: 12/12/18
Finished: 3/25/19
Year: 1998
Pages: 626
Genre: True Crime
Grade: C
Reason for reading: grabbed off TBR pile
Blurb (from back cover): "With more than 70 chapters on every aspect of crimes and criminals, this vast collection includes subjects as varied as alibis, arson, blackmail, computer crimes, con men, conspiracy theories, dominance, dual personality, headless corpses, hired killers, killer couples, ladykillers, manic messiahs, mass murderers, parent killers, perverts, protection rackets, sabotage, serial killers, stranglers, sleepwalking slayers, train murders, victims and vitals clues.
Opinion: This definitely covers probably every aspect of true crime but the examples/blurbs were short. I would have liked more indepth examples in fewer chapters. Some of the chapter subjects overlapped. I would suggest that anyone who enjoys true crime, take a look at this book.

Blood on the Chesapeake by Randy Overbeck

Started: 2/25/19
Finished: 3/7/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 400
Genre: Paranormal mystery
Grade: B
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Wilshire, Maryland, a quaint shore town on the Chesapeake, promises Darrell Henshaw a new start in life and a second chance at love. That is, until he learns the town hides an ugly secret. A thirty-year-old murder in the high school. And a frightening ghost stalking his new office. Burned by an earlier encounter with the spirit world, Darrell doesn't want to get involved, but when the desperate host hounds him, he concedes. Assisted by his new love, he follows a trail that leads to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and even the Ku Klux Klan. Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he's willing to risk his life-and the life of the woman he loves-to expose the killers of a young man he never knew."
Opinion: Not a bad mystery but the paranormal element is taken too far-unrealistically too far. As someone who has researched ghosts, some of what happens in this book are extreme and way to unrealistic. Outside of that, this was an enjoyable read.

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

Started: 2/18/19
Finished: 2/25/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 310
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Grade: B+
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from first page): "Hen and her husband, Lloyd, have settled into a quiet life in a new house outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Hen (short for Henrietta) is an illustrator who works out of a studio nearby, and has found the right meds to control her bipolar disorder. Finally, she's found some stability and peace.
"But when they meet the neighbors next door, that calm begins to erode as she spots a familiar object displayed on the husband's office shelf. The sports trophy looks exactly like one that went missing from the home of a young man who was killed two years. ago. Hen knows because she's long had a fascination with this unsolved murder-an obsession she doesn't talk about anymore, but can't fully shake either.
"Could her neighbor Matthew be a killer? Or is this the beginning of another psychotic episode like the one she suffered back in college, when she became so consumed with proving fellow student guilty that she ended up hurting a classmate?
"The more Hen observes Matthew, the more she suspects he's planning something truly terrifying. Yet no one will believe her. Then one night, when the she comes face-to-face with Mathew in a dark parking lot, she realizes that he knows she's been watching him, that she's really onto him, and that this is the beginning of a horrifying nightmare she may not live to escape..."
Opinion: There were a lot of psychological twists...some that didn't initially make sense. This was a fast paced thriller. A more complete review will be on MyShelf.com soon.

Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry

Started: 1/27/19
Finished: 2/18/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 346
Genre: Mystery
Grade: B
Reason for reading: received through GoodReads.com; review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from back cover): "With hundreds flocking to her inaugural garden party, meticulous Lilly Jayne hasn't left a single petal out of place. But the picture-perfect gathering turns unruly upon the arrival of Merilee Frank, Lilly's ex-husband's catty third wife. Merilee lives for trouble, so no one is surprised after she drinks too much, shoves a guest into the koi pond, and gets escorted off the property. The real surprise comes days later-when Merilee is found dead in a pile of mulch....
"Lilly wishes she could stick to pruning roses and forget about Merilee's murder-until her best friend and ex become suspects in an overgrown homicide case. Now, aided by the Garden Squad, an unlikely group of amateur crime solvers with a knack for planting, Lilly knows she has limited time to identify the true culprit and restore order to Goosebush. Because if the murderer's plot isn't nipped in the bud, another victim could be pushing up daisies!"
Opinion: For a debut mystery series, this novel is a good one. Lots of descriptions of characters and town. I will be looking for additional books in the series. For a more complete review, please check out MyShelf.com in the near future.

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Started: 1/8/19
Finished: DNF
Year: 2005 (this edition)
Pages: 353
Genre: Literature
Grade: F
Reason for reading: booksfree.com book
Blurb: Fantastical events/characters
Opinion: I just couldn't get into this. The narrator was just ugh-egotistical, selfish, etc. I get that it is his journey but the way he expected this realm to cater to him was annoying. Made it about halfway through and I'm just like I have too many other books to read.

Tiny Americans by Devin Murphy

Started: 12/30/18
Finished: 1/7/19
Year: 2019
Pages: 238
Genre: Literature
Grade: B
Reason for reading: review for LibraryThing.com
Blurb (from back cover): "Western New York, 1978: Jamie, Lewis and Connor Thurber watch their parents' destructive dance of loving, hating and drinking. Terrance Thurber spends this year teaching his children about the natural world: they listen to the heartbeat of trees, track animal footprints, sleep under the star-filled sky. Despite these lessons, he doesn't show them how to survive without him. And when the season of trying and failing to quit booze and be a better man are over, Terrance is gone.
"Alone with their artist mother, Catrin, the Thurber children are left to grapple with the anger they feel for the one parent who deserted them and a growing resentment for the one who didn't. Catrin withdraws into her own world, Jamie throws herself into painting while her brothers smash out their rage in brutal, no-holds-barred football games with neighborhood kids. Once they can leave-Jamie for college, Lewis for the navy and Connor for work-they don't look back.
"But Terrance does. Crossing the country, sobering up, and starting over has left him with razor-sharp regret. Terrance doesn't know that Jamie, now an academic, inhabits an ever-shrinking circle of loneliness; that Lewis, a merchant marine, fears life on dry land,; that Connor struggles to connect with the son he sees teetering on an all-too-familiar edge. He only knows that he has one last chance to build a bridge, through the years, to his family.
Opinion: Not a bad book to start off the New Year. Each chapter is a different character's perspective of their life and how it interconnects with each other's. Characters were likeable but unlikeable at the same time. Enjoyed how it ended and gave hope that more families could come to this type of conclusion.