Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

 Started: 9/20/20

Finished: 9/25/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 289

Genre: Mystery

Grade:  B

Type: Trade Paperback

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from back cover): "Love is full of surprises-though few compare to realizing that you're marrying the real-life Santa. April Claus dearly loves her new husband, Nick, but adjusting to life in the North Pole is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous elf named Giblet Hollyberry is killed-felled by a black widow spider in his stocking-shortly after publicly arguing with Nick.

"Christmastown is hardly a hotbed of crime, aside from mishaps caused by too much eggnog, but April disagrees with Constable Crinkle's verdict of accidental death. As April sets out to find the culprit, it'll mean putting the future of Christmas on the line-and hoping her own name isn't on a lethal naughty list..."

Opinion: Always wondered how Santa continued on for thousands of years. This was a decent cozy-lots of suspects, lots of murder, lots of characters. For a more complete review, please check out MyShelf.com in the upcoming months

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer

 Started: 5/31/20

Finished: 9/13/20

Year: 2008

Pages: 618

Genre: Literature

Grade: B

Type: mass market paperback

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book, off TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "If Danny Cartwright had proposed to Beth Wilson on any other day he would not have been arrested and charged with the murder of his best friend. But when the prosecution witnesses happen to be a group of four upper-crust college friends-a barrister, a popular actor, an aristocrat and the youngest partner in an established firm's history-who is going to believe Danny's side of the story?

"Danny is sentenced to twenty-two years and sent to Belmarsh prison, the highest-security jail in the land, from where no inmate has ever escaped. But Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer all underestimate Danny's determination to seek revenge-and the extent to which his fiancee Beth will go in pursuit of justice."

Opinion: First book that I've read by Archer and it was pretty interesting. Wasn't sure how Danny's antics would get the revenge that he wanted but in the end it was nicely tied up. Might seek some other Archer books.

Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima

 Started: 8/30/20

Finished: 9/5/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 282

Genre: mystery

Grade: B+

Type: hardcover

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from book jacket): "A deluge has flooded the high ground near Hanging Falls-but heavy rains aren't the only menace descending on Timber Creek while on a counting mission to pinpoint trail damage, Officer Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner, Robo, stumble upon a body floating at the edge of a lake. Robo catches a human scent, which leads to an enigmatic forest-dweller who quickly becomes suspect number one.

"With help from veterinarian Cole Walker, Mattie identifies the victim and discovers an odd religious cult whose dress and manners harken back to the nineteenth century. As the list of suspects grows, an unexpected visit from members of Mattie's long-lost family sheds new light on her childhood as they help Mattie piece together details for the fateful night when she was abducted at age two.

"The tangled threads of the investigation and family dynamics begin to intertwine-but darkness threatens to claim a new victim before Mattie and Robo can track down the killers."

Opinion: Another enjoyable mystery from the Timber Creek K-9 mystery series. A more complete review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the upcoming months

It's Not All Downhill From Here by Terry McMillan

 Started: 5/28/20

Finished: 8/28/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 350

Genre: Literature

Grade: B

Reason for reading: Librarything.com giveaway

Blurb: "Loretha Curry's life is full. A little crowded sometimes, but full indeed. On the eve of her sixty-eighth birthday, she has a booming beauty-supply empire, a gaggle of lifelong friends, and a husband whose moves still surprise her. True, she's carrying a few more pounds than she should be, but Loretha is not one of those women who think her best days are behind her-and she's out to prove wrong her mother, her twin sister, and everyone else with that outdated view. It's not all downhill from here. But after an unexpected loss, Loretha must summon all her strength, resourcefulness, and determination to endure heartbreak, pursue joy, heal old wounds, and chart new paths. With help from her friends, of course."

Opinion: Another decent book by McMillan. Follows along the same themes as many of her other books-the emphasis of family and friends and overcoming life's obstacles. If you're a fan of her works, you should enjoy this one.

High Five by Janet Evanovich

 Started: 8/15/20

Finished: 8/21/20

Year: 1999

Pages: 317

Genre: Mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: rereading/catching up on the series booksfree.com book

Blurb (from back cover): In the fifth high-octane thriller, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum sets out to find her missing uncle-and along the way smacks slam-bang into: a dead body, a nasty bookie, her stun-gun-toting grandmother, two very sexy men, an angry little man who won't leave her apartment and a Mafia wedding...

"Jersey's favorite bounty hunter has never been better! With high hair, street smarts and plenty of attitude, Steph's sure to nail this case-or risk life and spandex-clad limb trying..."

Opinion: Another fun read. Probably so far the funniest one in the series so far. 

The Nicotine Chronicles Edited by Lee Child

 Started: 8/9/20

Finished 8/13/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 275

Genre: short stories/fiction

Grade: B

Reason for reading: LibraryThing.com giveaway/review

Blurb (from back cover): "In recent years, nicotine has become as verboten as many hard drugs. The literary styles in this volume are as varied as the moral quandaries herein, and the authors have successfully unleashed their incandescent imagination on the subject matter, fashioning an immensely addictive collection."

Opinion: Overall a decent collection of short stories by some well known authors like Lee Child, Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Imperioli to name a few. As with most collections of short stories by different authors, some you'll love, some you'll hate. I'm not a fan of nicotine but it was interesting to see how each other put cigarettes into their stories.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

 Started: 8/2/20

Finished: 8/7/20

Year: 2000

Pages: 272

Genre: Essay

Grade: C

Reason for reading: bookcrossing.com book exchange/TBR pile

Blurb (from Amazon.com): "A recent transplant to Paris, humorist David Sedaris, bestselling author of "Naked", presents a collection of his strongest work yet, including the title story about his hilarious attempt to learn French"

Opinion: I'm probably one of the few that did not think that this was laugh out loud funny. Some amusing stories but none left a lasting impression on me. I'm glad that I read it but won't be seeking out any of his other books.

American Pastoral by Philip Roth

Started: 5/13/20

Finished: 8/1/20

Year: 1997

Pages: 423

Genre: Literature

Grade: C

Reason for reading: 1001 books to read before you die, TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "As the American century draws to an uneasy close, Philip Roth gives us a novel of unqualified greatness that is elegy for all our century's promises of prosperity, civic order, and domestic bliss. Roth's protagonist is Swede Levov, a legendary athlete at his Newark high school, who grows up in the booming postwar years to marry a former Miss New Jersey, inherit his father's glove factory, and move into a stone house in the idyllic hamlet of Old Rimrock. And then one day in 1968, Swede's beautiful American luck deserts him.

"For Swede's adored daughter, Merry, has grown from a loving, quick-witted girl into a sullen, fanatical teenager-a teenager capable of an outlandishly savage act of political terrorism. And overnight Swede is wrenched out of the long-for American pastoral and into the indigenous American berserk."

Opinion: My first reaction is eh. An average read. Couldn't get into it-and felt that Swede's reaction to his daughter was over the top in some aspects. 

The Best New True Crime Stories Small Towns Edited by Mitzi Szereto

Started: 7/19/20

Finished: 7/24/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 249

Genre: True Crime

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from back cover): "We've been told that nothing bad happens in small towns. You can leave your doors unlocked and your windows wide open. We picture peaceful hamlets with a strong sense of community, where everyone knows each other. But what if this wholesome, idyllic image doesn't always square with reality? Small towns might look and feel safe, but statistics show this isn't really true.

"Featuring murder stories, criminal case studies, and more, The Best New True Crime Stories: Small Towns offers all-new accounts from today's finest writers of true crime, crime fiction, and beyond. What's more, these entries are not based on a true story-they are true stories. Edited by acclaimed author and anthologist Mitzi Szereto, the stories in this volume span the globe. Discover how murders, shooting sprees, violent robberies, and other bad things can and do happen in small towns all over the world."

Opinion: A decent collection of true crime stories that most are unaware of from all over the world. A more complete review will be posted on www.MyShelf.com in the near future.

The Food is My Friend Diet by Ruth Frechman MA, RD, CPT

Started: 7/12/20

Finished: 7/18/20

Years: 2012

Pages: 444

Genre: Diet/Health

Grade: B

Reason for reading: Goodsreads.com giveaway

Blurb (from back cover): "Ruth Frechman's clients have lost thousands of pounds! Does your circle of friends include anyone names Pizza, Pasta, Chips or Chocolate? People have their own special food friends to make themselves feel better. Ruth will show you how to keep your old food friends, make new ones, and melt the pounds away.

"Take a good look at this book. Day One reveals your own personal motivations that will inspire you to new actions and new attitudes. Let your desire to drop the pounds be your guide as you effortlessly lose weight, regain confidence, and have more fun.

"In 30 days...grab those skinny jeans from the back of your closet. Flirt your face off and falaunt your new figure. Go 24/7 with the energy of a teenager. Feel awesome about all that new attention you're getting.

"Ninety percent of Ruth Frechman's clients overate because of their emotions. Understand what drives YOU. With the help of this remarkable book, you will take one small step at a time for 30 days to eat less, exercise more, and re-channel your feelings. Achieving a 10% weight loss can make you look 5 years younger!"

Opinion: I have struggled with my weight since I was a teenager. Been a WW member off and on for years (currently on).  This book looks at a different topic for 30 days in a workshop journal. You can focus on a topic for as long as you need to. Definitely one of the better "diet" lifestyle change books that I've read.

Into the Fury by Kat Martin

Started: 7/5/20

Finished: 7/11/20

Year: 2016

Pages: 354

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Grade: B

Reason for reading: grabbed from TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "Sinners, whores, and sluts beware-your time is at hand: a faceless menace is threatening lingerie models on a cross country tour, and Ethan Brodie is there to defend and protect.

"Ethan's learned the hard way that beauty is no substitute for character. So even though Valentine Hart is one of the most breathtaking women he's ever seen, he's keeping his hands off and his eyes open. Or that's what he tells himself.

"Then one of the models is murdered, and the closer Ethan gets to the answers, the closer he finds himself to Valentine-and the hotter the pressure feels. There's more to Val-more to the other girls-than he could have guessed. Bit one is keeping a secret that could kill them all."

Opinion: This was a pretty decent romantic suspense novel. Decent murder mystery plot. The romance was intense.

Gerald's Game by Stephen King

Started: 6/28/20

Finished: 7/3/20

Year: 1992

Pages: 445

Genre: suspense

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: grabbed from TBR pile, bookcrossing.com book

Blurb (from Amazon.com): "'And now the voice which spoke belonged to no one but herself. Oh my God, it said. Oh my God, I am all alone out here. I am all alone.'

Once again, Jessie Burlingame has been talked into submitting to her husband Gerald’s kinky sex games—something that she’s frankly had enough of, and they never held much charm for her to begin with. So much for a “romantic getaway” at their secluded summer home. After Jessie is handcuffed to the bedposts—and Gerald crosses a line with his wife—the day ends with deadly consequences. Now Jessie is utterly trapped in an isolated lakeside house that has become her prison—and comes face-to-face with her deepest, darkest fears and memories. Her only company is that of the various voices filling her mind…as well as the shadows of nightfall that may conceal an imagined or very real threat right there with her…"

Opinion: I feel like I've read this one before. Certainly makes one wonder where King gets some of his ideas from. If you like King or just suspense books in general, pick it up

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Started: 3/15/20

Finished: 6/20/20

Year: 1997

Pages: 428

Genre: Literature

Grade: C

Reason for reading: TBR pile, 1001 books to read before you die

Blurb (from back cover): "A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel presents with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.

"In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount, where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction-at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful-and completely unforgettable."

Opinion: I feel like I'm one of the few that did not thoroughly enjoy this novel. I don't even know why it would have made the 1001 books to read before you die list. Definitely not the worst book I've read but certainly not one of the best.

99 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter

Started: 6/7/20

Finished: 6/14/20

Year: 2017

Pages: 336

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway win

Blurb (from back cover): "Eight-year-old Grace is last seen in a candy store. Her mother Emma is living a nightmare. But as her loved ones rally around her, cracks begin to emerge.

"What are the emails sent between her husband and her sister? Why does her mother take so long to join the search? And is there more to the disappearance of her daughter than meets the eye?

"Meanwhile, ageing widow Maggie Taylor sees a familiar face in the newspaper. A face that jolts her from the pain of her existence into a spiralling obsession with another girl-the first girl who disappeared..."

Opinion: What starts off as a one time kidnapping turns into so much more. Some confusion on keeping everyone straight on who they are in relationship to each other but a fresh prospective on a kidnapping plot.

Just a Little Bit Married by Teresa Southwick

Started: 5/24/20

Finished: 5/27/20

Year: 2017

Pages: 218

Genre: Romance

Grade: B

Reason for reading: received through Bookcrossing.com, TBR pile

Blurb (from back cover): "The last time Rose Tucker saw her ex-husband, Lincoln Hart, he was fleeing their newly minted marriage. Now the man she fell in love with at first sight has returned to say those three little words: 'we're still married!' And while the lawyers fix the clerical glitch, the handsome millionaire offers a way to help his not-so-ex wife save her business.

"The pretty interior designer can hardly wait to say 'I don't.' But in the meantime, Rose can't afford to turn down her husband's job offer. So she agrees to decorate Linc's new luxury condo. While Rose draws up plans for his home, he has designs on her heart. And if he gets his way, the new towels will say His and Hers."

Opinion: Sometimes you just need fluff. I haven't read a Harlequin in a while. Highly predictable but still enjoyable. 

The Silence by Susan Allott

Started: 5/17/20

Finished: 5/22/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 287

Genre: Mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com

Blurb (from book jacket): "It is 1997, and in a basement flat in Hackeny, Isla Green is awakened by a call in the middle of the night: her father, Joe, phoning from Sydney. It seems that thirty years ago, the Greens' next-door neighbor Mandy disappeared. Joe claims he thought Mandy had moved away with her husband, but now Mandy's family is trying to reconnect, and there is no trace of her. Joe was allegedly the last person to see her alive, and now he's under suspicion of murder.

"So Isla returns to Australia for the first time in a decade to support her father and to search for the truth. Her arrival in Sydney brings up echoes from the past, taking us back to the heat of summer 1967, when two young couples lived side by side on a quiet street by the sea. The more questions Isla asks, the more she learns about the secrets each marriage bore. Could her father have some done something terrible? And how much does her mother know?

"At the center of it all lies a shameful practice rooted in Australia's colonial past: the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families, children now known as the Stolen Generation."

Opinion: A decent story with a familiar plot. Even though it is predictable, the mystery plot being resolved is done in a respectable manner. A more complete review will be on Myself.com in the upcoming months.

Beyond Betrayal by Phil Waldrep

Started: 5/10/20

Finished: 5/12/20

Year: 2020

Pages: 210

Genre: self-help

Grade: D

Reason for reading: Goodreads.com giveaway win

Blurb: how to forgive when betrayed

Opinion: This book was way too religious. Too many Bible quotes. I did like the personal examples of how the author and others that he knew worked through several steps to overcome the feelings of betrayal. It does ask for you to look within yourself to see why you feel so betrayed and how to overcome the feelings and eventually learn to forgive.

Four to Score by Janet Evanovich

Started: 5/3/20
Finished: 5/8/20
Year: 1998
Pages: 313
Genre: mystery
Grade: B+
Reason for reading: bookslender.com book, rereading the series
Blurb (from back cover): "Stephanie Plum, Trenton, New Jersey's favorite pistol-packing, condom-carrying bounty hunter, is back-and on the trail of a revenge-seeking waitress who's skipped bail. With the help of 73-year-old Grandma Mazur, ex-hooker Lula, a transvestite musician named Sally Sweet, and the all-too-hospitable, all-too-sexy Joe Morelli, Stephanie might just catch her woman. Then again, with more mishaps than there are exits on the Jersey Turnpike-including murders, firebombs, and Stephanie's arch-rival bounty hunter chasing after the same fugitive-Stephanie better watch her back big-time if she wants to live to crack this case."
Opinion: This one is a rather funny book. The antics of Stephanie and her "help" make this book more of a comedy than an actual mystery but there definitely is one to be solved.

Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough

Started: 2/23/20
Finished: 5/2/20
Year: 2020
Pages: 388
Genre: Thriller
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from book jacket): "Marcie's whirlwind affair with Jason Maddox catapulted her into the most elite circles. Old money, old ties, old secrets. Marcie may have married into this world-but she'll never truly be a part of it.
"Then Jason's boss brings home a captivating new wife from his trip to London. Young, attractive, reckless-nobody can take their eyes off Keisha. Including Marcie's husband.
"Some people would kill for the life Marcie has-what will she do to keep it?"
Opinion: The book jacket is misleading. It was slow to start but picked up. Not the best thriller that I've read. A more complete review will be available on MyShelf.com in the upcoming months.

Perfect Little Children by Sophie Hannah

Started: 2/16/20
Finished: 4/27/20
Year: 2020
Pages: 328
Genre: mystery
Grade: B-
Reason for reading: review for MyShelf.com
Blurb (from book jacket): "All Beth has to do is drive her son to his football game, watch him play, and then return home. Just because she knows her ex-best friend lives near the field doesn't mean she has to drive past her house and try to catch a glimpse of her.
"Why would Beth do that and risk dredging up painful memories? She hasn't seen Flora for twelve years. She doesn't want to see her today-or ever again. But she can't resist. She parks outside the open gates of Newnham House and watches from across the road as Flora arrives and calls to her children, Thomas and Emily, to get out of the car.
"Except...there's something terribly wrong. Flora looks the same, only older. Twelve years ago, Thomas and Emily were five and three. Today, they look precisely as they did then. They are no taller, no different from when Beth last saw them. They are Thomas and Emily without a doubt-Beth heard Flora call them by their names-but why haven't they grown? How is it possible that they are still the same two perfect little children Beth knew more than a decade ago?"
Opinion: Strange....just strange and the ending is more strange. A complete review will be posted on MyShelf.com in the upcoming months.