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.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Monday, August 12, 2019
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.
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.
Sunday, August 04, 2019
"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.
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.
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.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
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.
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.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
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.
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.
Thursday, June 27, 2019
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.
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."
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.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
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.
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.
Saturday, June 15, 2019
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.
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.
Monday, May 27, 2019
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 BuendÃa 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.
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 BuendÃa 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.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
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.
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.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
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.
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.
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.
Monday, May 06, 2019
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
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.
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.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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.
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.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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.
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.
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