Great Reads and Page Turners

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2011-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

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Kill Me If You Can

2011-09-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (August 29, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316097543

Book Description:

Matthew Bannon, a poor art student living in New York City, finds a duffel bag filled with diamonds during a chaotic attack at Grand Central Station. Plans for a worry-free life with his gorgeous girlfriend Katherine fill his thoughts--until he realizes that he is being hunted, and that whoever is after him won't stop until they have reclaimed the diamonds and exacted their revenge.

Trailing him is the Ghost, the world's greatest assassin, who has just pulled off his most high-profile hit: killing Walter Zelvas, a top member of the international Diamond Syndicate. There's only one small problem: the diamonds he was supposed to retrieve from Zelvas are missing. Now, the Ghost is on Bannon's trail--but so is a rival assassin who would like nothing more than to make the Ghost disappear forever. From "America's #1 storyteller" (Forbes) comes a high-speed, high-stakes, winner-take-all thrill ride of adrenaline-fueled suspense.

My thoughts:

Wow! This book starts out with a BANG and ends just as strong! The Ghost has just killed Walter Zelvas, a high ranking member of the Diamond Syndicate. An innocent art student by the name of Matthew Bannon finds the diamonds Zelvas has left behind-- diamonds Ghost is looking for. Will Bannon hold onto the treasure he has stumbled upon? Will they make his life more comfortable? Don't count on it!!

Kill Me If You Can is an exciting read from start to finish. The chapters are short and quick and filled with thrills. I liked it very much!

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.

Bitter End

2011-09-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

Author: Jennifer Brown
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
(May 10, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316086959

Book Description:

When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole -- a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her -- she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate . . . someone who truly loves and understands her.

At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her close friend Zack, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all her time with another boy? As the months pass, though, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats.

As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose -- between her "true love" and herself.

My thoughts:

Sometimes we fall in love and find the person who seemed perfect turns out to have serious flaws. Alex finds herself in that very situation when Cole starts to treat her in demeaning ways. What should she do? Should she stay in the relationship or move on?

This should be a "must read" for teenagers! What is true love? When should a relationship be terminated? What are the signs of abuse? Teens will relate to the well-developed characters and storyline. This is a book every girl should read.

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.

Summer of Fear

2011-08-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Author: Lois Duncan
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Revised edition (April 19, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316099074

Book Description:

From the moment Rachel's family takes in her orphaned cousin Julia, strange things start to happen. Rachel grows suspicious but soon finds herself alienated from her own life. Julia seems to have enchanted everyone to turn against her, leaving Rachel on her own to try and prove that Julia is a witch. One thing about Julia is certain-she is not who she says she is, and Rachel's family is in grave danger.

My thoughts:

I love Lois Duncan's books and pass them on to the young people in my family as soon as I'm finished reviewing them. Summer of Fear stands up nicely along side the author's Stranger With My Face; I Know What You Did Last Summer; and Down A Dark Hall. Filled with suspense and horror, Summer of Fear completely held my attention. A young reader in my family is going to love it. 5 stars***** (Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Stranger With My Face

2011-08-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Author: Lois Duncan
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Revised edition (April 19, 2011)
Language: English

Book Description:

Laurie Stratton finally has everything a sixteen-year-old could ever want. But just as her perfect summer comes to a close, things start to unravel when her boyfriend insists he saw her out with another guy-when Laurie was really home sick! More mysterious sightings convince Laurie someone very real is out there, watching her. . . .
The truth reveals a long-lost sister who has spent the years growing bitter and dangerous. She has learned how to haunt Laurie, but the visits soon become perilous. She wants something from Laurie-her life!

My thoughts:

I can always count on Lois Duncan to bring her best to any novel she writes. Stranger With My Face is about a young woman who is haunted by someone who appears to be her. How can that be? Who is this mysterious person? And will our main character be harmed? This book is solid all the way through. It begins strong and ends strong. I think teens and adults alike will enjoy anything Lois Duncan writes, especially, Stranger With My Face. 5 stars***** (Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

The Long Night (William L. Shirer and the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich)

2011-08-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

Author: Steve Wick
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (August 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0230623182

Book Description:

The story of legendary American journalist William L. Shirer and how his first-hand reporting on the rise of the Nazis and on World War II brought the devastation alive for millions of Americans.

When William L. Shirer started up the Berlin bureau of Edward R. Murrow’s CBS News in the 1930s, he quickly became the most trusted reporter in all of Europe. Shirer hit the streets to talk to both the everyman and the disenfranchised, yet he gained the trust of the Nazi elite and through these contacts obtained a unique perspective of the party’s rise to power.

Unlike some of his esteemed colleagues, he did not fall for Nazi propaganda and warned early of the consequences if the Third Reich was not stopped. When the Germans swept into Austria in 1938 Shirer was the only American reporter in Vienna, and he broadcast an eyewitness account of the annexation. In 1940 he was embedded with the invading German army as it stormed into France and occupied Paris. The Nazis insisted that the armistice be reported through their channels, yet Shirer managed to circumvent the German censors and again provided the only live eyewitness account. His notoriety grew inside the Gestapo, who began to build a charge of espionage against him. His life at risk, Shirer had to escape from Berlin early in the war.

About the author:

Steve Wick is a senior editor at Newsday and the author of Bad Company: Drugs, Hollywood and the Cotton Club Murder, among others. He has been a journalist for 30 years and has won dozens of writing and reporting awards, including sharing in two Pulitzer Prizes for local reporting.

My thoughts:

This is definitely a story worth reading; the story of a courageous journalist, William L. Shirer, and his exceptional message to the world. It is very well-written, historical in nature...a page turner. Highly recommended for the history buff.

Thank you to the author for my review copy.

Down a Dark Hall

2011-08-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Author: Lois Duncan
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Revised edition (April 19, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316098981

Book Description:

Kit Gordy sees Blackwood Hall towering over black iron gates, and she can't help thinking, This place is evil. The imposing mansion sends a shiver of fear through her. But Kit settles into a routine, trying to ignore the rumors that the highly exclusive boarding school is haunted.

Then her classmates begin to show extraordinary and unknown talents. The strange dreams, the voices, the lost letters to family and friends, all become overshadowed by the magic around them.

When Kit and her friends realize that Blackwood isn't what it claims to be, it might be too late.

My thoughts:

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book, but it did not take long for me to become totally involved with the characters and the mysterious events within the story. Ms. Duncan has created a book that will appeal to readers who can't resist a hauntingly dark, spooky adventure...which is most of us. Down a Dark Hall churns with chilling suspense and the anticipation of evil lurking around every corner. Once I started reading, I found it to be a quick, exciting read.

(Thank you to Hackette book group for my review copy.)

The Bourne Dominion / Review

2011-08-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Author: Eric Van Lustbader
Hardcover: 640 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(July 19, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1455500100

Book Description:

Jason Bourne is searching for an elusive cadre of terrorists planning to destroy America's most strategic natural resources. He needs the help of his long-time friend, General Boris Karpov, the newly appointed head of Russia's most feared spy agency, FSB-2. Karpov is one of the most determined, honorable, and justice-hungry men that Bourne knows. But Karpov has made a deal with the devil. In order to remain the head of FSB-2, he must hunt down and kill Bourne.

Now, these two trusted friends are on a deadly collision course. From the Colombian highlands to Munich, Cadiz, and Damascus, the clock is counting down to a disaster that will cripple America's economic and military future. Only Bourne and Karpov have a chance to avert the catastrophe-but if they destroy each other first, that chance will be gone forever.
My thoughts:

When I started reading this book, I had not read others of the series, so I was going into it quite cold. It did take several chapters playing catch up, but I finally got into the story-line and characters and enjoyed it. I do think a reader would be happier reading the full series for continuity and context. On the upside, the novel flows nicely and is well-written. Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.

Forgotten / Review

2011-07-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

Author: Cat Patrick
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
1 edition (June 7, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316094617

Book Description:

Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

My thoughts:

After reading Forgotten by Cat Patrick I came away feeling that it was original, unique, and absorbing. It is well-written and definitely held my attention. No doubt, young people will find this psychological drama a super cool, fun read.
There are a lot of twists and turns here which will keep the reader on their toes until the end. A well-deserved 4 stars for this young adult novel. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.

Ex-Girlfriends United / Review

2011-07-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

Author: Matt Dunn
Age: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark;
Original edition (June 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402245041

Book Description:

Faced with the prospect of a lifetime of singledom, Dan must track down his many exes in order to put things right. Along the way, he discovers he has much to learn about himself. Particularly when he meets up again with Polly-and realizes he wants her back. Can Dan convince his former love he's changed? Can his friend Ed convince him he needs to change in the first place? And can the two friends use their newfound knowledge to help other men in the same boat?

My thoughts:

This book will appeal to young men and women alike. It certainly gives the reader some insight into male thinking and hopefully some life-lessons by the time it is finished. An entertaining read.

Spoiled / Review

2011-07-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

Author: Heather Cocks and
Jessica Morgan
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Poppy; 1 edition (June 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316098256

Book Description:

Sixteen-year-old Molly Dix has just discovered that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular. Intrigued (and a little terrified) by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Los Angeles and plunges headfirst into the deep of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her life couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous, spoiled half sister, who welcomes Molly to la-la land with a smothering dose "sisterly love"...but in this town, nothing is ever what it seems.

Set against a world of Redbull-fuelled stylists, tiny tanned girls, popped-collar guys, and Blackberry-wielding publicists, Spoiled is a sparkling debut from the writers behind the viciously funny celebrity blog GoFugYourself.com

My thoughts:

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, but as a reviewer I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised. It is well-written, humorous, and filled with fashion that will interest most teenage girls. Will give it to my granddaughter. Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.

Flashback / Review

2011-07-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Author: Dan Simmons
Hardcover: 560 pages
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books;
1 edition (July 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316006963

Book Description:

The United States is near total collapse. But 87% of the population doesn't care: they're addicted to flashback, a drug that allows its users to re-experience the best moments of their lives. After ex-detective Nick Bottom's wife died in a car accident, he went under the flash to be with her; he's lost his job, his teenage son, and his livelihood as a result.

Nick may be a lost soul but he's still a good cop, so he is hired to investigate the murder of a top governmental advisor's son. This flashback-addict becomes the one man who may be able to change the course of an entire nation turning away from the future to live in the past.

A provocative novel set in a future that seems scarily possible, FLASHBACK proves why Dan Simmons is one of our most exciting and versatile writers.

My thoughts:

Some of the book's reviewers seem to say they believe this is a political statement by the author. I saw it differently. It is a seriously well-written, action-packed novel that certainly gives the reader plenty to think about. I found it a very good read.

Our Summer Reading List

2011-07-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

Great summer reads. Enjoy!

1.The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2. The Complete Short Stories of Flannery O'Conner

3. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

4. Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

6. Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews

7. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

8. Now You See Her by James Patterson

9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

10. Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

11. Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin

12. Thursday at Eight by Debbie Macomber

WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL SUMMER OF READING!!!!

Now You See Her by James Patterson

2011-06-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
(June 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316036218

Book Description:

The perfect life
A successful lawyer and loving mother, Nina Bloom would do anything to protect the life she's built in New York--including lying to everyone, even her daughter, about her past. But when an innocent man is framed for murder, she knows that she can't let him pay for the real killer's crimes.

The perfect lie

Nina's secret life began 18 years ago. She had looks to die for, a handsome police-officer husband, and a carefree life in Key West. When she learned she was pregnant with their first child, her happiness was almost overwhelming. But Nina's world is shattered when she unearths a terrible secret that causes her to run for her life and change her identity.

The perfect way to die

Now, years later, Nina risks everything she's earned to return to Florida and confront the murderous evil she fled. In a story of wrenching suspense, James Patterson gives us his most head-spinning, action-filled story yet--a Hitchcock-like blend of unquenchable drama and pleasure.

My thoughts:

This is definitely one of Patterson's best books of late. His last couple of novels have been, in my opinion, disappointments. I am happy to see the author has gotten back in touch with his muse. As with most James Patterson's books, this one moves along quickly with short chapters. This tale is straightforward; exciting; suspenseful; an emotional roller-coaster ride; a quick read. I'm so glad to have the master of supense back with us at his best. Congratulations Mr. Patterson on one of your best works in a while!! Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.

The Magnolia League

2011-06-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Author: Katie Crouch
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Poppy; 1 edition (May 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316078492

Book Description:

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?

As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.
My thoughts:

Alexandria Lee's mother has died and she has gone to live with her southern grandmother. Thus starts a story of secrets, southern tradition, and rituals. Delightful. Set in Savannah, it is a fast Southern read, from sweet tea to black magic, a book I think teenagers, especially will like. Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.

Ripe for Pleasure / Review

2011-06-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

Author: Isobel Carr
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Forever
1 edition (May 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446572756

Book Description:

Second in line, first in loveA secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure,
finding forbidden fantasy.
London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

My thoughts:

Hot sexy novel by Isobel Carr that you will not soon forget.

(thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

The Sixth Man by David Baldacci / Review

2011-06-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

Author: David Baldacci
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(April 19, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780446573108

Book Description:

Edgar Roy-an alleged serial killer held in a secure, fortress-like Federal Supermax facility-is awaiting trial. He faces almost certain conviction. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called in by Roy's attorney, Sean's old friend and mentor Ted Bergin, to help work the case. But their investigation is derailed before it begins-en route to their first meeting with Bergin, Sean and Michelle find him murdered.

It is now up to them to ask the questions no one seems to want answered: Is Roy a killer? Who murdered Bergin? With help from some surprising allies, they continue to pursue the case. But the more they dig into Roy's past, the more they encounter obstacles, half-truths, dead-ends, false friends, and escalating threats from every direction. Their persistence puts them on a collision course with the highest levels of the government and the darkest corners of power. In a terrifying confrontation that will push Sean and Michelle to their limits, the duo may be permanently parted.

My thoughts:

Another riveting novel by the author of Stone Cold; True Blue; Deliver Us From Evil; and Hell's Corner. I enjoyed it and think it is one of Baldacci's better works. It has everything a reader of suspense can ask for: nice story development; interesting characters; page-turning drama. I give it 5 stars****.

Smells Like Dog

2011-05-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Author: Suzanne Selfors
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers;
Reprint edition (April 12, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780316043977

Book Description:
Meet Homer Pudding, an ordinary farm boy who's got big dreams-to follow in the footsteps of his famous treasure-hunting uncle. But when Uncle Drake mysteriously disappears, Homer inherits two things: a lazy, droopy dog with no sense of smell, and a mystery.

Why would his uncle call this clumsy dog his "most treasured possession?" And why did he put a gold coin on the dog's collar?

And who will continue Uncle Drake's quest-to find the most coveted pirate treasure in the world?

Join Homer, his sister Gwendolyn, and Dog on an adventure that will test their wits and courage as they leave their peaceful farm and head into a world where ruthless treasure hunters hide around every corner. Where they discover that Dog has a hidden talent and that treasure might be closer than they ever imagined...

My thoughts:

Great read for boy or girl age 9 through 14.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

10th Anniversary

2011-04-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (May 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316036269

Book Description:

For every secret
Detective Lindsay Boxer's long-awaited wedding celebration becomes a distant memory when she is called to investigate a horrendous crime: a badly injured teenage girl is left for dead, and her newborn baby is nowhere to be found. Lindsay discovers that not only is there no trace of the criminals--but that the victim may be keeping secrets as well.

For every lie

At the same time, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano is prosecuting the biggest case of her life--a woman who has been accused of murdering her husband in front of her two young children. Yuki's career rests on a guilty verdict, so when Lindsay finds evidence that could save the defendant, she is forced to choose. Should she trust her best friend or follow her instinct?

There's a different way to die

Lindsay's every move is watched by her new boss, Lieutenant Jackson Brady, and when the pressure to find the baby begins interfering with her new marriage to Joe, she wonders if she'll ever be able to start a family. With James Patterson's white-hot speed and unquenchable action, 10th Anniversary is the most deliciously chilling Women's Murder Club book ever.

My thoughts:
Three words...suspense, suspense, suspense!!

(Thank you to Hackette Book Group for my review copy.)

A Heartbeat Away / Review

2011-03-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

Author: Michael Palmer
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
(February 15, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780312587529

Book Description:

On the night of the State of the Union address, President James Allaire expects to give the speech of his career. But no one anticipates the terrifying turn of events that forces him to quarantine everyone in the Capitol building. A terrorist group calling itself “Genesis” has unleashed WRX3883, a deadly, highly contagious virus, into the building.

No one fully knows the deadly effect of the germ except for the team responsible for its development—a team headed by Allaire, himself. The only one who might be able to help is virologist Griffin Rhodes, currently in solitary confinement in a maximum security federal prison for alleged terrorist acts, including the attempted theft of WRX3883 from the lab where he worked.

Rhodes has no idea why he has been arrested, but when Allaire offers to free him in exchange for his help combating the virus, he reluctantly agrees to do what he can to support the government that has imprisoned him without apparent cause.

Meanwhile, every single person in line for presidential succession is trapped inside the Capitol—every person except one: the Director of Homeland Security, who is safely at home in Minnesota, having been selected as the “Designated Survivor” for this event. With enemies both named and unnamed closing in, and the security of the nation at stake, Griff must unravel the mysteries of WRX3883 without violating his pledge as a scientist to use no animal testing in his experiments…and time is running out.

Tense, thrilling, and entirely plausible, A Heartbeat Away will make you reflect, wonder, and be truly afraid.

About the Author...
MICHAEL PALMER is the author of fifteen novels of medical suspense, all international bestsellers. His books have been translated into thirty-five languages. In addition to this writing, Palmer is an associate director of the Massachusetts Medical Society Physician Health Services, devoted to helping physicians troubled by mental illness, physical illness, behavioral issues, and chemical dependency. He lives in eastern Massachusetts.

My thoughts:

A Heartbeat Away is a true to life drama with all the suspense and thrill you would expect from a seasoned, best-selling author like Michael Palmer.

This book grabbed me at the first page and wouldn't let go; I hadn't changed my mind on the last page either. This is definitely one of Palmer's best. There is everything a good suspense novel needs to keep the reader happy--edge of your seat action, drama, and believability. This has it all. 5 stars*****

(Thanks to the author for my review copy.)

Toys / Review

2011-03-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (March 14, 2011) ISBN-10: 0316097365 Book Description: James Bond and Jason Bourne have just been topped! A battle for the world is set into unstoppable motion and Hays Baker is the only one who can save it. Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth possess super-human strength, extraordinary intelligence, stunning looks, a sex life to die for, and two beautiful children. Of course they do--they're Elites, endowed at birth with the very best that the world can offer. The only problem in their perfect world: humans and their toys! The one with the most toys--dies. The top operative for the Agency of Change, Hays has just won the fiercest battle of his career. He has been praised by the President, and is a national hero. But before he can savor his triumph, he receives an unbelievable shock that overturns everything he thought was true. Suddenly Hays is on the other side of the gun, forced to leave his perfect family and fight for his life. Now a hunted fugitive, Hays is thrown into a life he never dreamed possible--fighting to save humans everywhere from extinction. He enlists all of his training to uncover the truth that will save millions of lives--maybe even his own. James Patterson's Toys is a thriller on a hyper plane--with a hero who rivals both James Bond and Jason Bourne. My Thoughts: Although, the Book Description gives Toys a glowing review, my own experience is a bit different. Patterson seems to be putting out books faster than he can come up with good solid material. Yes, indeed, he may be smiling all the way to the bank, but it would be nice to if he would sit still for awhile and reconnect with his muse. Having said that, true Patterson fans will never turn down another of his works-- if only to add it to their personal collection. (Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

The Coming Economic Armageddon / Review

2011-02-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Author: Dr. David Jeremiah
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: FaithWords
(October 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446565946

Book Description:
Never before have we read such jarring headlines, distressing news analyses, or dire predictions concerning the world's financial future. The American housing market -- or, more sentimentally, the American dream -- began to collapse in 2006, taking with it large chunks of the global financial system. Millions of jobs worldwide have vanished forever. Did Bible prophecy predict this catastrophe? Are there biblical clues to how soon, if ever, a viable, long-term recovery can be sustained? Is the financial collapse just one of several signs that we are living in the final days of Earth's history In THE COMING ECONOMIC ARMAGEDDON, David Jeremiah says we can know the meaning behind what we see in the daily news -- and understand and prepare for living in the New Global Economy.

My Review:
Caution: This book may be disturbing to sensitive readers.

The Coming Economic Armageddon is very sobering and even heartbreaking as we see that America is very likely on the verge of economic collapse.

Chapters include: The Fall of the American Economy; The New World Order; The New Global Economy; Satan's CEO; The Mark of the Beast; Financial Signs of the Times; God's Ultimate New World Order; and more.

This book has had very good reviews from other sources and appears to have solid facts which point to the "end times." 5 stars*****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Tick Tock / Review

2011-02-24T20:06:00.000-08:00

Author: James Patterson
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
(January 24, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0316037915

Book Description:
NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem--the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back.

The city has never been more terrified! Tick--a killer's countdown begins. A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.

Tick--Michael Bennett is on the chase. The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.

Tock--your time is up. Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan.

From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever.

My Review:
As a James Patterson fan and collector, I'm always excited when another of his books comes out in print.

This one is not quite a good as some of his others, yet it is still a fun read. I enjoy, too, his style of short chapters. His writing is always mesmerizing and to the point--pager turners!

I'm giving this one 4 stars****(5 being the highest).

(Thank you to Hachett Book Group for my review copy.)

The Inner Circle / Review

2011-02-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

Author: Brad Meltzer
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(January 11, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0446577898

Book Description:

Beecher White, a young archivist, spends his days working with the most important documents of the U.S. government. He has always been the keeper of other people's stories, never a part of the story himself...Until now.

When Clementine Kaye, Beecher's first childhood crush, shows up at the National Archives asking for his help tracking down her long-lost father, Beecher tries to impress her by showing her the secret vault where the President of the United States privately reviews classified documents. After they accidentally happen upon a priceless artifact - a 200 hundred-year-old dictionary that once belonged to George Washington, hidden underneath a desk chair, Beecher and Clementine find themselves suddenly entangled in a web of deception, conspiracy, and murder.

Soon a man is dead, and Beecher is on the run as he races to learn the truth behind this mysterious national treasure. His search will lead him to discover a coded and ingenious puzzle that conceals a disturbing secret from the founding of our nation. It is a secret, Beecher soon discovers, that some believe is worth killing for.

Gripping, fast-paced, and filled with the fascinating historical detail for which he is famous, THE INNER CIRCLE is a thrilling novel that once again proves Brad Meltzer as a brilliant author writing at the height of his craft.

About the Author:
Brad Meltzer is the author of seven New York Times bestselling thrillers: The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, The Book of Fate, and The Book of Lies. He is also the #1 bestselling author of the critically acclaimed comic books Identity Crisis and Justice League of America, and is the co-creator of the TV series Jack & Bobby. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia Law School, he currently lives in Florida. To learn more about Brad, please visit him at http://www.bradmeltzer.com/.

My Review:
If you are looking for a thriller...this is it! Meltzer continues to write quality novels. 5 stars*****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my ARC.)

Hell's Corner / Review

2011-02-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

Author: David Baldacci
Hardcover: 448 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(November 9, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446195529

Book Description:
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club return in #1 bestselling author David Baldacci's most stunning adventure yet.An attack on the heart of power . . .

In sight of the White House . . . At a place known as . . . HELL'S CORNER John Carr, aka Oliver Stone-once the most skilled assassin his country ever had-stands in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, perhaps for the last time. The president has personally requested that Stone serve his country again on a high-risk, covert mission. Though he's fought for decades to leave his past career behind, Stone has no choice but to say yes.Then Stone's mission changes drastically before it even begins. It's the night of a state dinner honoring the British prime minister. As he watches the prime minister's motorcade leave the White House that evening, a bomb is detonated in Lafayette Park, an apparent terrorist attack against both leaders. It's in the chaotic aftermath that Stone takes on a new, more urgent assignment: find those responsible for the bombing.British MI-6 agent Mary Chapman becomes Stone's partner in the search for the unknown attackers. But their opponents are elusive, capable, and increasingly lethal; worst of all, it seems that the park bombing may just have been the opening salvo in their plan.

With nowhere else to turn, Stone enlists the help of the only people he knows he can trust: the Camel Club. Yet that may be a big mistake.In the shadowy worlds of politics and intelligence, there is no one you can really trust. Nothing is really what it seems to be. And Hell's Corner truly lives up to its name. This may be Oliver Stone's and the Camel Club's last stand.

About the Author...
David Baldacci lives with his family in Virginia. He and his wife have founded the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. He invites you to visit him at www.david-baldacci.com and his foundationwww.wishyouwellfoundation.org, and to look into its program to spread books across America at www.FeedingBodyandMind.com.

My Review:
Well-written, filled with political narrative, and action, this book is sure to bring excitement to the reader who enjoys a good thriller. 4 stars****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Hollywood Hills / Review

2011-02-03T20:16:00.000-08:00

Author: Joseph Wambaugh
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
(November 16, 2010)
ISBN-10: 031612950X

Book Description:
The legendary Hollywood Hills are home to wealth, fame, and power--passing through the neighborhood, it's hard not to get a little greedy. LAPD veteran "Hollywood Nate" Weiss could take or leave the opulence, but he wouldn't say no to onscreen fame. He may get his shot when he catches the appreciative eye of B-list director Rudy Ressler, and his troublemaking fiancée, Leona Brueger, the older-but-still-foxy widow of a processed-meat tycoon. Nate tries to elude her crafty seductions, but consents to keep an eye on their estate in the Hollywood Hills while they're away.

Also minding the mansion is Raleigh Dibble, a hapless ex-con trying to put the past behind him. Raleigh is all too happy to be set up for the job--as butler-cum-watchdog--by Nigel Wickland, Leona's impeccably dressed art dealer. What Raleigh doesn't realize is that under the natty clothes and posh accent, Nigel has a nefarious plan: two paintings hanging on the mansion's walls will guarantee them more money than they've ever seen.Everyone's dreams are just within reach--the only problem is, this is Hollywood.

A circle of teenage burglars that the media has dubbed The Bling Ring has taken to pillaging the homes of Hollywood celebutants like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, and when a pair of drug-addled young copycats stumbles upon Nigel's heist, that's just the beginning of the disaster to come. Soon Hollywood Nate, surfer cops Flotsam and Jetsam, and the rest of the team at Hollywood Station have a deadly situation on their hands.

Hollywood Hills is a raucous and dangerous roller coaster ride that showcases Joseph Wambaugh in vintage form.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Scorpions / Review

2011-01-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

Author: Noah Feldman
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Twelve
1St Edition edition (November 8, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446580570

Book Description...
A tiny, ebullient Jew who started as America's leading liberal and ended as its most famous judicial conservative. A Klansman who became an absolutist advocate of free speech and civil rights. A backcountry lawyer who started off trying cases about cows and went on to conduct the most important international trial ever. A self-invented, tall-tale Westerner who narrowly missed the presidency but expanded individual freedom beyond what anyone before had dreamed. Four more different men could hardly be imagined. Yet they had certain things in common. Each was a self-made man who came from humble beginnings on the edge of poverty. Each had driving ambition and a will to succeed. Each was, in his own way, a genius. They began as close allies and friends of FDR, but the quest to shape a new Constitution led them to competition and sometimes outright warfare. SCORPIONS tells the story of these four great justices: their relationship with Roosevelt, with each other, and with the turbulent world of the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. It also serves as a history of the modern Constitution itself.

About the Author...
Noah Feldman is the author of four previous books: The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State (Princeton University Press, 2008), Divided By God (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2005); What We Owe Iraq (Princeton University Press, 2004); and After Jihad (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2003). In 2003, he served as senior constitutional advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, and subsequently advised members of the Iraqi Governing Council on the drafting of an interim constitution. Esquire named him among seventy-five influential figures for the 21st century and New York magazine designated him as one of three top "influentials in ideas." He is currently a professor at Harvard University, a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine, and an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

My Review...
A well-written and fancinating overview of the times, politics, and personalities of four of America's most liberal judges. Well worth reading!

(Thanks to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Lies The Government Told You

2011-01-14T09:43:00.000-08:00

Author: Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
(March 2, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1595552669

Book Description:
What new crisis will the federal government manufacture in order to acquire more power over individuals? What new lies will it tell?

Throughout our history, the federal government has lied to send our children off to war, lied to take our money, lied to steal our property, lied to gain our trust, and lied to enhance its power over us. Not only does the government lie to us, we lie to ourselves. We won't admit that each time we let the government get away with misleading us, we are allowing it to increase in size and power and decrease our personal liberty.

In acquiescing to the government's continuous fraudulent behavior, we bear partial responsibility for the erosion of our individual liberties and the ever-expanding federal regulation of private behavior. This book attacks the culture in government that facilitates lying, and it challenges readers to recognize that culture, to confront it, and to be rid of it.

My Review:

I found the book to be an interesting take on the relationship between government and citizens. Having said that, I did take exception with Judge Napolitano's gratuitous criticism of the Constitution when he stated "many Americans, including the Founding Fathers, recognized that it was wrong, in a way, makes us even more responsible for the crimes committed against the African-American race." Who is "us"?

In fairness to the Founders and the Constitution, the reality of the world in which it was created must be acknowledged. Never the less, Fredrick Douglas said that the Constitution "paved the road to abolition...." In other words, it was actually an anti-slavery document. Instead of a work producing shame and quilt, the Constitution should be looked upon with deep reverence, gratitude, and respect.

Lies The Government Told Us contains seventeen lies Napolitano feels we have been told. All Men Are Created Equal; Every Vote Counts; Your Body Is Your Temple; It's Only A Temporary Government Program; I'm From the Government, and I'm Here to Help; We Are Winning The War on Drugs; and America Has a Free Market are some of those he discusses in detail.

All in all, Judge Napolitano's book is a good read. I recommend it to anyone, irrespective of political persuasion. 4 stars****

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for my review copy.)

Coming Back / Review

2010-12-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

Author: Marcia Muller
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(October 28, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446581062

Book Description:
In Locked In, San Francisco private eye Sharon McCone was shot in the head and suffered from locked-in syndrome: almost total paralysis but with an alert, conscious mind. Now, as Sharon struggles to regain control over her body, she wants everything to go back to normal, but realizes that it may not be possible to return to her old life. Meanwhile, Sharon's relationships are suffering. Her husband is impatient with her refusal to accept help and some of her colleagues doubt her abilities after the accident. But when Sharon's friend from physical therapy goes missing, she must call upon those closest to her to find out the truth behind the disappearance. The investigation soon points to issues of national security and proves to be the most dangerous and critical case yet for Sharon and her colleagues.

My Review:
The first book I read by Marcia Muller was Locked In, in which the heroine,
Sharon McCone was shot in the head and lay dying in the locked in syndrome. In her new book, Coming Back, Sharon battles to regain her old self. While there are challenges with family and friends, there is also a murder that must be resolved. Can Sharon return to her former life? Can she help in some way to solve her friend's murder? These are the questions that we encounter in this intriguing story. If you liked Locked In, you must read this sequel.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

The Trials of Zion / Review

2010-12-22T09:10:00.000-08:00

Author: Alan M. Dershowitz
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
(October 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446576735

Book Description:

A shocking act of terror brings the Middle East to the point of explosion. As the resulting political conflict threatens to erupt, a young Jewish-American lawyer joins the defense team of an arrested but possibly innocent Palestinian. Soon the lawyer's father, a famed criminal attorney, must win the Palestinian's case or risk losing his daughter forever. To do so, he must take into account the tormented history of the Holy Land from every possible angle.

THE TRIALS OF ZION combines the tension of the greatest courtroom dramas with the action of a fast-moving thriller, all set against the colorful backdrop of one of the most complex cultural settings in the world. Filled with memorable characters, this novel offers readers not only compelling suspense, but a panoramic view of the history of a beloved and bitterly contested land, and a sharply controversial perspective on the sources of--and the possible solutions to--the world's longest and most crucial international crisis.

My Review:

The Trials of Zion is a superb, well-told, fast moving thriller that is thoroughly entertaining. The reader will get a look into the history of the Middle East while enjoying a first rate tale of intrigue. A page-turner.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Don't Blink / Review

2010-12-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

Author: James Patterson
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
(September 27, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0316036234

Book Description:

The good...
New York's Lombardo's Steak House is famous for three reasons--the menu, the clientele, and now, the gruesome murder of an infamous mob lawyer. Effortlessly, the assassin slips through the police's fingers, and his absence sparks a blaze of accusations about who ordered the hit.

The bad...
Seated at a nearby table, reporter Nick Daniels is conducting a once-in-a-lifetime interview with a legendary baseball bad-boy. In the chaos, he accidentally captures a key piece of evidence that lands him in the middle of an all-out war between Italian and Russian mafia forces. NYPD captains, district attorneys, mayoral candidates, media kingpins, and one shockingly beautiful magazine editor are all pushing their own agendas--on both sides of the law.

And the dead...
Back off--or die--is the clear message Nick receives as he investigates for a story of his own.Heedless, and perhaps in love with his beautiful editor, Nick endures humiliation, threats, violence, and worse in a thriller that overturns every expectation and finishes with the kind of flourish only James Patterson knows.

My Review:
Don't Blink may not be Patterson's best, but it is a good, fun read. For readers who follow author Patterson, it is one that you will not want to miss. I for one, enjoy collecting his books...some being great and others not so. This one fits somewhere in the middle, in my opinion. 3 stars***

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Life by Keith Richards

2010-11-30T07:41:00.001-08:00

Author: Keith Richards

Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

(October 26, 2010)
ISBN-10: 031603438X

Book Description:

The long-awaited autobiography of the guitarist, songwriter, singer, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Ladies and gentlemen: Keith Richards.With The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards created the songs that roused the world, and he lived the original rock and roll life.Now, at last, the man himself tells his story of life in the crossfire hurricane. Listening obsessively to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters records, learning guitar and forming a band with Mick Jagger and Brian Jones. The Rolling Stone's first fame and the notorious drug busts that led to his enduring image as an outlaw folk hero. Creating immortal riffs like the ones in "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Honky Tonk Women." His relationship with Anita Pallenberg and the death of Brian Jones. Tax exile in France, wildfire tours of the U.S., isolation and addiction. Falling in love with Patti Hansen. Estrangement from Jagger and subsequent reconciliation. Marriage, family, solo albums and Xpensive Winos, and the road that goes on forever.

With his trademark disarming honesty, Keith Richard brings us the story of a life we have all longed to know more of, unfettered, fearless, and true.

My Review:

Keith Richards, legendary guitarist for the Rolling Stones has finally come out with his life story. As "the rocker most like to die" we get a sense of just how intense he life story is. From heroine addict to family man, the details are all here. The book is well-written, exciting, fascinating! A great read for Rolling Stone fans.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Cross Fire / Review

2010-09-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

(November 15, 2010)
ISBN-10: 031603617X

Book Description:

Wedding bells ring...Detective Alex Cross and Bree's wedding plans are put on hold when Alex is called to the scene of the perfectly executed assassination of two of Washington D.C.'s most corrupt: a dirty congressmen and an underhanded lobbyist. Next, the elusive gunman begins picking off other crooked politicians, sparking a blaze of theories--is the marksman a hero or a vigilante?

A murderer returns....The case explodes, and the FBI assigns agent Max Siegel to the investigation. As Alex and Siegel battle over jurisdiction, the murders continue. It becomes clear that they are the work of a professional who has detailed knowledge of his victims' movements--information that only a Washington insider could possess.

Caught in a lethal cross fire.... As Alex contends with the sniper, Siegel, and the wedding, he receives a call from his deadliest adversary, Kyle Craig. The Mastermind is in D.C. and will not relent until he has eliminated Cross and his family for good.

With a supercharged blend of action, deception, and suspense, Cross Fire is James Patterson's most visceral and exciting Alex Cross novel ever.

My Review:

I enjoyed every page of this heart-stopping, suspense novel by James Patterson. It is vicious, wicked, depraved, and at times even tender.

As Alex Cross attempts to protect himself and his family from his old nemesis, Kyle Craig, murders of Washington's elite are taking place. Detective Cross has a BIG SURPRISE awaiting him... right under his nose, so to speak. How will he get out of this one? His death seems inevitable; it's bound to happen this time.

I believe Cross Fire is Patterson's best Alex Cross work so far. The tale has depth, characters are well-developed, and the suspense is riveting. I was hooked from the first page!

5 stars*****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

The Postcard Killers / Review

2010-09-15T14:41:00.001-07:00

Author: James Patterson
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (August 16, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0316089516

My Review:
Detective Jacob Kanon is in Europe for one purpose...to find the killer of his beloved daughter, Kimmy. Her death is eating him alive; he must find the evil people who are slashing the throats of young couples who are enjoying vacation time in Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, and Stockholm.

Postcards are being sent to the local newspapers preceding each new death. Kanon meets Swedish reporter, Dessie Larsson, who has just received a postcard in Stockholm, and teams up with her, not knowing that he and Dessie will become attracted to each other.

As Jacob and Dessie start putting clues together and relentlessly pursuing the killers, I was completely drawn in by Patterson's vivid writing. This novel kept me interested from start to finish; it was never boring. It also had some very sexy moments, I might add!!

Definitely 5 stars*****

(Thanks go to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Deliver Us From Evil / Review

2010-09-05T19:59:00.000-07:00

Author: David Baldacci
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing;
1ST edition (April 20, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446564087

Book Description:
Evan Waller is a monster. He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything . . . and anyone. In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture: one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe.

On Waller's trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from The Whole Truth, who must prevent Waller from closing his latest deal. Shaw's one chance to bring him down will come in the most unlikely of places: a serene, bucolic village in Provence. But Waller's depravity and ruthlessness go deeper than Shaw knows. And now, there is someone else pursuing Waller in Provence-Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate-and she has an agenda of her own.

Hunting the same man and unaware of each other's mission, Shaw and Reggie will be caught in a deadly duel of nerve and wits.

My Review:
Baldacci's Deliver Us From Evil is well written and fast paced. It was exciting from start to finish. Characters are well developed and the story is rich with suspense; although violent at times. A battle of wits. 4 stars****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

False Convictions / Review

2010-08-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

Author: Tim Green
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing;
1 edition (February 10, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446401528

Book Description:

Casey is counting on an open-and-shut case, a sure success for her first effort with the Freedom Project, the renowned charity group dedicated to helping exonerate wrongfully convicted prisoners. Not only is the Freedom Project giving Casey the chance to help innocent people, but its founder, Robert Graham, is offering Casey a one-million-dollar annual pledge to her legal clinic for taking on just two jobs a year.

Her first assignment is to revive the case of Dwayne Hubbard, an indigent black man serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of a college student seventeen years ago. Using DNA evidence, Casey expects to easily prove Hubbard's innocence. Yet when she arrives in rural Auburn, New York, she meets immediate and aggressive resistance.

Tormented by death threats and assassination attempts, Casey investigates a prosecution apparently rife with lies. From the judge, the lawyers, the jury, to the police, she traces a web of corruption surrounding the destruction of one young man. But in all the chaos, Casey's hardest challenge may be just staying alive.

My Review:

The storyline was excellent. The writing is as easy to read as ever. Green spins another wonderful thriller that will keep the reader on the edge throughout the entire book.

(Thanks to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

The 8th Confession / Review

2010-08-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing;
ISBN-10: 0446561347

Book Description:

Someone is killing the richest people in the city - and the Women's Murder Club will pay a high price for hunting him. At the party of the year, San Francisco's most glamorous couple is targeted by a killer - and it's the perfect murder.

While Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile killings, a saintly street preacher is brutally executed. Reporter Cindy Thomas inquires into this neglected case and discovers the victim may have had very dark secrets. As the search for two criminals tests the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly between Cindy and Lindsay's partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Club now faces its toughest challenge: Will love destroy all that the four friends have built?

My Review:

The eighth installment of the "Women's Murder Club" series is another example of James Patterson's prolific writing ability. It is a quick read with some exciting moments. Rarely is a Patterson novel a disappointment. 4 stars****

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Forbidden Passion / Review

2010-08-27T11:06:00.001-07:00

Author: Rita Herron

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0446199494

Book Description:

Fueled by her family's murder years ago, Dr. Marlena Bender has devoted her life to understanding violent criminals. But when a serial killer in this small Southern town starts taking the lives of women in diabolical ways--leaving trophies of his kills on Marlena's doorstep--it all hits too close to home. Terrified, Marlena turns to the only man she can trust...the man who saved her life.

BUT HIS SECRET IS HER WORST NIGHTMARE....

Sheriff Dante Valtrez would move heaven and earth to keep Marlena safe, but he's not the savior she thinks he is. A dark legacy runs through his blood and a dangerous secret lies within him. Now a fierce, hot, ruthless desire draws Dante and Marlena together--as a demonic force from his past threatens to rip them apart, destroying everything they hold dear.

My Review:

Herron provides the reader with romantic chemistry, intrigue, and surprise. This book has the non-stop action readers look for.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Private / Review

2010-08-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company;

1 edition (June 28, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0316096156

Book Description:

Former CIA agent Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily--and his staff of investigators uses the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases.

Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multi-million dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of 18 schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover, has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer.

Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Morgan has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans. With a plot that moves at death-defying speeds, Private is James Patterson's sleekest, most exciting thriller ever.

My Review:

I have reviewed many James Patterson novels, but I would place this one among his best. If you love a good mystery, this is certain to please. 5 stars*****

(Thanks to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Cemetery Dance / Review

2010-08-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Authors: Preston & Child

Mass Market Paperback: 592 pages
Publisher: Vision; Reprint edition (April 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446618691

Book Description:

Pendergast-the world's most enigmatic FBI Special Agent-returns to New York City to investigate a murderous cult.

William Smithback, a New York Times reporter, and his wife Nora Kelly, a Museum of Natural History archaeologist, are brutally attacked in their apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Eyewitnesses claim, and the security camera confirms, that the assailant was their strange, sinister neighbor-a man who, by all reports, was already dead and buried weeks earlier. While Captain Laura Hayward leads the official investigation, Pendergast and Lieutenant Vincent D'Agosta undertake their own private-and decidedly unorthodox-quest for the truth. Their serpentine journey takes them to an enclave of Manhattan they never imagined could exist: a secretive, reclusive cult of Obeah and vodou which no outsiders have ever survived.

My Review:

I couldn't stop reading; couldn't put this book down once I started to read! This one is a real thriller!

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy!)

Built of Books: How Reading Defined The Life of Oscar Wilde / Review

2010-08-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Author: Thomas Wright
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1 edition (April 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805092463

Book Description:

This intimate account of Oscar Wilde's life and writings is richer, livelier, and more personal than any book available about the brilliant writer, revealing a man who built himself out of books. His library was his reality, the source of so much that was vital to his life. A reader first, his readerly encounters, out of all of life's pursuits, are seen to be as significant as his most important relationships with friends, family, or lovers. Wilde's library, which Thomas Wright spent twenty years reading, provides the intellectual (and emotional) climate at the core of this deeply engaging portrait.
One of the book's happiest surprises is the story of the author's adventure reading Wilde's library. Reminiscent of Jorge Luis Borges's fictional hero who enters Cervantes's mind by saturating himself in the culture of sixteenth-century Spain, Wright employs Wilde as his own Virgilian guide to world literature. We come to understand how reading can be an extremely sensual experience, producing a physical as well as a spiritual delight.

My Review:
An excellent overview of the life of Oscar Wilde. 5 stars*****

(Thank you to Henry Holt and Company for my review copy!)

Hanging By The Thread

2010-06-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

Author: Donald B. Anderson

Paperback: 382 pages
Publisher: Granite Publishing & Distribution (May 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159936056X

Book Description:

For ten years, a secret society has risen to power. They have infiltrated every facet of the federal government. They are powerful. They have extraordinary access to public funds. They have incredible technologies. And freedom is their nemesis.They have sought to destroy economic freedom, amass power to the federal government, and create mass dependency. They call themselves THE THREAD. And now, they are poised to destroy the Constitution and rise to power.But, on the eve of their burst into power, a copy of their plan falls into the hands of a young man in the Utah State Capitol building. A small group forms and comes to understand the plan of The Thread. And now, the race is on. Time is short and the group must struggle to preserve their lives, their nation, and freedom itself.It also contains a fantastic lecture series that powerfully conveys the principles of freedom. Hanging By The Thread is a freedom thriller that educates.

(Thanks to the author for my review copy.)

Boneman's Daughters / Review

2010-06-01T09:38:00.001-07:00

Author: Ted Dekker

Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Center Street; 1 Reprint edition (March 3, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446547204

Book Description:

They call him BoneMan, a serial killer who's abducted six young women. He's the perfect father looking for the perfect daughter, and when his victims fail to meet his lofty expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones and leaving them to die. Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, on the other hand, has lost all hope of ever being the perfect father. His daughter and wife have written him out of their lives.Everything changes when BoneMan takes Ryan's estranged daughter, Bethany, as his seventh victim. Ryan goes after BoneMan on his own.But the FBI sees it differently. New evidence points to the suspicion that Ryan is BoneMan. Now the hunter is the hunted, and in the end, only one father will stand.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story 1958-2009

2010-03-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

Author: J. Randy Taraborrelli

Hardcover: 768 pages
Publisher: Hachette Book Group;

Updated edition (August 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446564745

Book Description:

So much has how been said and written about the life and career of Michael Jackson that it has become almost impossible to disentangle the man from the myth. This book is the fruit of over 30 years of research and hundreds of exclusive interviews with a remarkable level of access to the very closest circles of the Jackson family - including Michael himself. Cutting through tabloid rumours, J. Randy Taraborrelli traces the real story behind Michael Jackson, from his drilling as a child star through the blooming of his talent to his ever-changing personal appearance and bizarre publicity stunts. This major biography includes the behind-the-scenes story to many of the landmarks in Jackson's life: his legal and commercial battles, his marriages to Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe, his passions and addictions, his children. Objective and revealing, it carries the hallmarks of all of Taraborrelli's best-sellers: impeccable research, brilliant storytelling and definitive documentation.

My Review:

This massive book contains the life and times of the legendary Michael Jackson from 1958 through 2009. It documents his life in such intimate ways, the reader will be captivated.

Another solid work by J. Randy Tataborrelli.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Sleep No More / Review

2010-02-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

Author: Susan Crandall

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 044655684X

Book Description:

The night was always Abby Whitman's enemy. As a young girl she walked in her sleep, and one night, she started a fire that scarred her sister for life and left Abby with unbearable guilt . . . and a loneliness that echoes within her. Now Abby has begun blacking out again--with apparently fatal results. A car accident has killed the son of a prominent family. Even though the evidence seems to exonerate her, Abby is plagued by doubts--and soon by mysterious threats. Psychiatrist Dr. Jason Coble is intrigued by Abby and offers to help her explore the dark recesses of her mind. Through this terrifying journey, Jason's interest turns to passion, and he yearns to give her the love she craves. But first, Abby must trust him--and shed light on secrets that will rock this Southern town and reveal a danger that threatens them both.

My Review:

Intense, provocative, thrilling... a fast read. 5 stars!

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Kitty's House of Horrors

2010-01-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

Author: Carrie Vaughn

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (January 4, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446199559

Book Description:

Talk radio host and werewolf Kitty Norville has agreed to appear on TV's first all-supernatural reality show. She's expecting cheesy competitions and manufactured drama starring shapeshifters, vampires, and psychics. But what begins as a publicity stunt will turn into a fight for her life.

The cast members, including Kitty, arrive at the remote mountain lodge where the show is set. As soon as filming starts, violence erupts and Kitty suspects that the show is a cover for a nefarious plot. Then the cameras stop rolling, cast members start dying, and Kitty realizes she and her monster housemates are ironically the ultimate prize in a very different game. Stranded with no power, no phones, and no way to know who can be trusted, she must find a way to defeat the evil closing in . . . before it kills them all.

My Review:

The Carrie Vaughn books keep getting better and better. This one may be the best of all. It is well-written, as always, and full of dark, heart-stopping suspence...just the kind of book I love. If you are looking for a good "young adult" read that will keep you up all night turning pages, this one will not disappoint.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

I, Alex Cross

2009-11-16T08:56:00.000-08:00

Author: James Patterson

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (November 16, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316018783

My Review:

Don't mess with Detective Alex Cross, especially when it comes to his family members. With one family member murdered, and another in the hospital fighting for their life, Cross sets out to help solve a very personal murder case--a series of brutal murders that, not only involve his niece, but will take him to the top echelons of the US government.

James Patterson brings to the table, once again, all of his previous masterful talent and bold imagination. Although, some passages may disturb the squeamish, I was held captive throughout the entire book. I especially like the surprise ending.

This may be one of Patterson's best efforts yet. The thriller is written in short chapters, which I like, and the font is large enough to make reading enjoyable. The prose is clear, succinct, and paints a picture of full-blown evil and terror. A fast read.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

True Compass / Review

2009-11-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

Author: Edward M. Kennedy
Hardcover: 532 pages
Publisher: Twelve; First Edition, First Printing edition (September 14, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446539252

Book Description:

In this landmark autobiography, five years in the making, Senator Edward M. Kennedy tells his extraordinary personal story--of his legendary family, politics, and fifty years at the center of national events.

My Review:

In the last years of his life, Edward Kennedy tells his own story. It is not only his story, but the memories and accounts of his treasured family members. No matter how one feels about this complex historical figure, the reader must admit that his life and career was an important slice of the American political process. His contributions will long be remembered and he will no doubt go down in history as a model figure of the democratic party. This book is very well written and should be read for its historical value.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Don't Look Down

2009-11-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Author: Davis Dawson

Paperback: 194 pages
Publisher: Bridgeross Communications (August 17, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981003753

Book Description:

Four men, age 18 to 81, have murdered, and now share a room in the secure forensic psychiatry ward of a mental hospital. Who better to get inside their heads, and find both the tragedy and comedy of their lives than Canadian psychiatrist and novelist David Laing Dawson. Three of Dawson's previous novels, Last Rights, Double Blind, and Essondale have been published in seven European countries, the US and the UK. Dawson's novels have been described as a cross between Elmore Leonard and Seinfeld and as close to reality as it gets.

My Review:

This is a disturbing, yet compelling story of four seriously ill patients who share a room on a ward in a mental hospital. Though the characters are tragic, the author creates moments of humor and warmth. It was well-written and a fast read.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

A Walk For Sunshine

2009-10-30T14:49:00.001-07:00

Author: Jeff Alt

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Dreams Shared Publications; 3rd edition (September 12, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0967948231

Book Description:

Jeff Alt shares his "Life Lessons from the Trail" and much more in the new edition of A Walk For Sunshine: A 2,160-mile expedition for charity on the Appalachian Trail."

My Review:

What a fascinating book! It's a journal of stories, maps, and photos that made me feel good and wish that I, too, could have the courage to hike and explore the beauty of the Appalachian Trail. It was not only inspirational, but made me feel like I had been there with him all the way! This was an easy, delightfully refreshing, quick read.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Dream Reachers

2009-10-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

Authors: Chase Von and Betty Dravis

Paperback: 476 pages
Publisher: VonChasePublishing (May 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0976678780

Book Description:

"Dream Reachers" is a magical mix of success stories and interviews with people who have dared to stretch to reach for their dreams. From living legends to legends-in-the-making, the subjects of this book let their imaginations soar. Author Betty Dravis shares her experiences as a young journalist when her idols, like Clint Eastwood and Jane Russell, walked right out of the limelight and into her life...for brief, memorable moments. Author Chase Von, a celebrity interviewer and poet, shares his current interviews with high achievers in the arts: acting, writing, painting, photography, music and dance. As these achievers tell you in their own words why they kept stretching to reach their dreams, they enchant the readers with their determination, inspiring them to DREAM BIG. With over forty compelling stories and interviews, this literary work casts new light on what it takes to be a Dream Reacher. These are stories of how even disasters can turn into dreams, challenges into opportunities, with the right attitude of perseverance and determination. Whether you dream of walking the red carpet in Hollywood, taking the Big Apple by storm, having a cottage with a white picket fence––or all of those pleasures––this book will inspire you to “stretch” to make your dreams come true.

My Review:

This book shares the stories and interviews of extraordinary people, who were determined to reach their dreams. It show us how determination can lead to success, how misfortune can be overcome and even give purpose to our lives. It is not only inspirational, but gives us hope when we face road-blocks.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Embellish

2009-10-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Author: R. L. Sloan
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (June 23, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1432740326

Book Description:

Revenge has never tasted so sweet...

As a young girl, Solis Burkes is raped at the hands of ruthless school bullies-an incident that haunts her into young adulthood. Then she meets Nacio, a strikingly handsome man who seems to know everything about her-including the painful past Solis hasn't told anyone about. But what Solis doesn't know is that Nacio has been with her every step of the way, protecting her ever since that fateful episode.

It's a destiny he's been working up to for the last 257 years.Now, as Solis enters a dark world of vampires, voodoo, and passion, she'll need all the protection she can get. Unbeknownst to her, those responsible for Solis's rape have returned. Connected to the evil voodoo Priestess Aldicia, they'll stop at nothing in their plans to spew violence and mayhem throughout the city. And an old family feud dating back centuries puts Solis first on their list of targets. But not if Solis can unravel the clues fast enough, and inflict her own brand of revenge...Embellish mixes sexy romance with high-stakes paranormal intrigue for a keeps-you-guessing, fast-paced and savvy thriller, right up until the shocking finale.

My Review:
Vampires are currently in vogue now, so for someone looking for a fast-paced paranormal thriller about vampires and voodoo, you have come to the right place! This book is filled with page-turning drama, romance, and high-suspense. It's well-written, and sexy, as well. A fast read and thrilling to the very last page. And the cover is beautiful, too. Wow! It's the complete package!

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

The Magician's Book

2009-10-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Author: Laura Miller

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (December 3, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316017639

Book Description from inside cover:

The Magician's Book is the story of one reader's long, tumultuous relationship with C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia.

My Review:

Some may avoid this book when they consider it to be written from a skeptic’s point of view, and includes criticism of the much loved C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. I thought I might find it offensive, too, but to the contrary, I found it to be quite insightful, thought-provoking, and inspirational. Laura Miller has put together a work of beauty, a feast of childhood memories. The Magician’s Book has a spiritual quality-- that mystic veil of childhood awareness, the ability to see and sense things adults have long forgotten. It returns us to the books we loved so long ago; and our child-spirit, the awareness of something eternal, innocent, trusting, and beautiful.

This is a book lover’s book that reminds us of the precious volumes which shaped and formed, in large part, who we are today.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Cheerful Money / Review

2009-10-21T15:48:00.001-07:00

Author: Tad Friend

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company;

(September 21, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316003174

My Review:

How many ways can a reviewer say boring? I hoped this would be an exciting look into the elegant, distinguished, old-fashioned WASP lifestyle. I wanted to read, to experience, in some secondhand way, the glitter, the sparkle of the wealthy and socially elite. What I did get in this book was a lot of painfully boring stories, dry humor that I didn't think was funny or wasn't able to relate to, and affiliations that meant nothing to me. I wanted to love this book, but woe is me....I just didn't.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

W.O.M.A.N. / Review

2009-10-20T11:57:00.001-07:00

Author: Gina Cloud
Paperback: 92 pages
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (June 25, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439236313

Book Description:

In this revolutionary book, women (and men!) will learn a new perspective that empowers them biologically, sociologically and personally -- all from the inside out, through their own eyes, and free of media stereotypes and myths. With insight and humor, Gina Cloud guides the reader through a rich, soulful and thought provoking journey into each letter of her powerful acronym, W.O.M.A.N., introducing a new way to live a unique, true-to-yourself life. She reveals the wisdom of women’s bodies, long ago lost in places like the menstrual cycle, and shows how beauty is not skin deep, but soul deep and spirit fed. You’ll feel inspired and ready to celebrate your hormones and your unique biology as a woman. You’ll find new definitions for PMS and explore other revolutionary concepts that will excite and empower you. This book is for women everywhere who are tired of feeling like they’re not enough and want to feel good in their own skin.

About the Author

Gina Cloud is an internationally known radio talk show host, author, inspirational speaker, life coach, dancer, mother, and a passionate W.O.M.A.N. Her show is heard in 250 countries. She is also the creator of a unique workshop (The Sacred Facts of Life) for ‘Tweens which teaches young girls the birds-and-the-bees talk from a one-of-a-kind and empowering perspective. She has spent the last 25 years developing this revolutionary body of work based on the powerful – often misunderstood, misrepresented, even despised – biological cycles of women. Her work is the alchemical blending of self-help techniques from every part of the world. She is an expert in nutrition, alternative health strategies, and natural beauty. She is also an advocate for women creating images of woman that are woman-made. She is a native of New Orleans and currently lives in Los Angeles with her daughter.

My Review:

How does one start to express an amazing experience? I see through new eyes, feel through new senses, have become empowered in new ways after reading this profound and insightful new book by Gina Cloud. It fed my spirit and soul and made me more aware of my value as W.O.M.A.N.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Let It Bleed / A Review

2009-10-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

Author: Ethan A. Russell, Gerard Van Der Leun
Photographed by: Ethan Rusell
Format: Hardcover: 256 pages.
Publisher:
Springboard Pr (11/02/2009)

Book Description:

LET IT BLEED takes you where no Rolling Stones book has before. Author and photographer Ethan Russell was one of only sixteen people--including the Rolling Stones--who made up the 1969 tour. He was with them in their hotel rooms, at rehearsals, and on stage. He tells the story of this monumental and historic tour firsthand, including recollections from band members, crew, security, and other sixties icons--like Abbie Hoffman and Little Richard--they met along the way. And he also includes amazing photos of the performers who toured with the Stones that year: the legendary Tina Turner and B. B. King. Through vivid quotes taken from his interviews with the band and crew, and through more than 220 revealing photographs, Russell takes you behind the scenes for an uncensored look inside the Rolling Stones' world at the end of the sixties. It was an idealistic time, with an overarching belief that music could bring us all together. But the events that led to the terrible violence and stabbing death at Altamont would change rock and roll forever.

About the Author:
Ethan Russell is a multi-Grammy nominated photographer and director. He is the only photographer to have shot album covers of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. Ethan produced music videos with Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, kd lang, Rosanne Cash, Hank Williams, Jr. and Randy Travis, among others. He is also an award winning creative director and the author of Dear Mr. Fantasy (Houghton Mifflin 1985).

My Review:

Let It Bleed (The Rolling Stones, Altamont, and the End of the Sixties) is a comprehensive look at the remarkable 1969 Rolling Stones tour. Photographer, Ethan Russell, has documented with intimate, detailed photographs and interviews, the story few people have seen or have known before now. He takes the reader behind the scenes and gives them a firsthand look into the lives and journey of one of the most legendary bands to ever perform on any stage.

The infamous Altamont rock concert at the Altamont Speedway in northern California, held on December 6, 1969, is also featured in this large "coffee-table" style book. Headlining that night was The Rolling Stones, and several other famous bands, with the Rolling Stones taking the stage as the final act. Violence erupted during the concert, leaving several dead, including one fatal stabbing. Many had thought this 300,000 fan event would be another Woodstock, but instead, became a tragic experience for both the fans and for The Rolling Stones.

I am amazed at the numerous (on almost every page) personal, and many times intense photographs. I loved this fantastic pictorial documentary and will leave it on a table in my home for other fans to enjoy. I would definitely recommend it.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Locked In

2009-09-30T13:18:00.001-07:00

Author: Marcia Muller

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (October 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446581054

My Review:

Written with the precision of a master craftsman, Locked In, by Marcia Muller will excite her fans, just as her previous works have stirred and thrilled them in the past.

In this book, Detective Sharon McCone is shot in the head by an unknown gunman. The devastating injury leaves her unable to move or speak. She can only blink her eyes in response to questions, but her mind is as sharp as ever. The reader enters Sharon's thoughts and misery as she confronts her fears and her frustration. Is she going to die? Will she be taken off of life support? She cannot communicate, so how can she save herself, or find the person who did this to her? Sharon is on a rollercoaster ride between death and life.

Ms. Muller's latest mystery is well-developed, unique, suspense filled, and very moving. It was also a fast read. I finished it within 24 hours

Love You To Death

2009-09-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

Author: Shannon K. Butcher
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Forever (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446510297

Book Description:
Delicate, expressive hands...long, graceful legs...One man is looking for his perfect woman--and he'll stop at nothing until he finds her.

It's been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She's convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago--all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her...The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister's house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won't rest until he has his perfect woman.

My Review:

The story opens as reporter, Elise McBride, has just flown home from Hong Kong to look for her sister. Ashley hasn't been heard from in several days, so Elise knows something has to have happened to her... something very serious. Almost immediately after arriving at her sister's house, she meets Ashley's next door neighbor and former cop, Trent Brady. Elise is satisfied that her sister has met with foul play and sits out to prove it, not heeding the dire warnings of Trent.

Elise convinces Trent to help her look for Ashley, and they soon discover they are searching for a crazed serial killer who mutilates the bodies of his victims for his own deviant purposes. Eventually, the gorgeous Elise becomes the killer's idea candidate as he sets her up for murder. Can Trent save her from a gruesome death? Will they find Ashley alive?

The author delicately spins suspense and drama, touching on a bit of horror here and there, as the books forges on to it's dramatic climax. Building layer upon layer, character upon character, this well-developed story steadily unfolds, holding the reader spellbound with anticipation. Although, gory in some parts, it is fast moving, romantic, steamy, and very exciting.

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

(Thank you for the Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Chosen By Desire

2009-09-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Author: Kate Perry
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Forever (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 044654101X

Book Description:
It's down to the wire and Carrie Woods is leaving China without the proof she needs for her thesis: Wei Lin's journal. While on a final tour of the monastery, Carrie finally locates the scrolls and attempts to photograph the documents. Caught in a sticky situation, Carrie takes the scrolls, only to notice a mysterious monk watching her--the same monk that she's seen each time she's taken a tour. Unable to return the scrolls, she travels back to California and isn't too thrilled when she notices the monk at the airport.

Maximillian Prescott first came to the monastery as an orphaned teenager when he inherited the Book of Metal from a distant uncle he hardly knew. After spotting a woman stealing from the monastery, he follows her to get back the documents he knows she's stolen. Max is further intrigued when he finds out that the chatty woman is friends with his archrival, Rhys Llewellyn, and he will stop at nothing to get back everything he's lost.

My Review:

Carrie Woods, a scholar of Chinese history, has a burning ambition to teach at Cal, but first she needs something really special for her thesis--something that will get the attention of the board-something groundbreaking. To gain the information she needs, Carrie travels to a Chinese monastery, and there she steals (she calls it borrowing) precious ancient scrolls and documents.

The mysterious, Maximilian Prescott, a monk, who is living at the monastery is immediately captivated by her, but knows he must find a way to recover the manuscripts, while at the same time is sexually fantasizing about her.

Will Carrie fall in love with Max? Will he find out her secret? Will she risk her career goals to be with him? Can trust between them be restored?

This is a romantic paranormal mystery that is so erotic, so sizzling, the reader is in danger of being consumed by its heat. The book is filled with passion and danger. A very good read.

(Thank you for Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Diamond Rio (The Story of Diamond Rio)

2009-09-28T10:10:00.001-07:00

Author: Diamond Rio with Tom Roland
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 15, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1595552685

My Review:

For over two decades, the formidable Diamond Rio has thrilled music fans by turning out hit after hit singles, like Meet Me In The Middle; Norma Jean Riley; Love a Little Stronger; Walkin’ Away; That’s What I Get For Loving You; Imagine That; Unbelievable; One More Day; and Beautiful Mess. I’ve been a fan from the beginning and was happy to see this book in print. So when Beautiful Mess (The Story of Diamond Rio) was released, I jumped at the chance to read it.

The book begins with their 2005 disastrous performance at River Front Park in Nashville, Tennessee and goes on to take fans and readers through the ups and downs of the bands career. Chapters include: Edge of Disaster; Tennessee River Boys; Marty Roe; Dan Truman; Jimmy Olander; Brian Prout; Gene Johnson; Dana Williams; Wild Ride; Team Rio; Nowhere Bound; Revived; and also includes a list of Diamond Rio’s Top 20 Country Hits, and their major awards and nominations. It is filled with photos of the band and their families.

The book did not disappoint me. In fact, I walked away with even more respect for the band members and their music. I highly recommend it to Diamond Rio fans.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for my review copy.)

The First Thirty Seconds

2009-09-24T07:56:00.001-07:00

Author: Stephen M. Armstrong
Paperback: 238 pages
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (July 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1439245894

Book Description:

The First Thirty Seconds offers suggestive prompts for improving the management of one's behavior, thoughts, emotions, and relationships. It is presented in a unique format juxtaposing a relevant concept with a suggestion for further reflection. The result is a book that is effective as a personal growth resource and a library of thoughtful guidance.

My Review:

I am completely delighted with this book of inspiration. Each page provides the reader with an insightful and life changing thought, with a reflection after each. It's an easy to read book which doesn't take a lot of time out of busy lives. I read one or two pages every day and try to apply what I've read to my life. Chapters include: Thoughts; Feelings; Relationships; Power; Living Ideas; Character; Spirit; and much more. It is the perfect book for anyone who is looking for the motivation to improve their life.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

THE WINNER IS.....

2009-09-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

The winner of Dreamer is DebbieF. Congratulations! Please email your address to me, so I can send you book.

Thanks to everyone who entered.

DREAMER Giveaway

2009-09-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

Author: Phillip Davidson

Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: iUniverse (June 29, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1440149267

Book Description:

There are some things too terrible to forget. Even if you
manage to escape a memory, it will often return at night to haunt your dreams. Such is the case
for Major David Elliot in Dreamer by Phillip Davidson.

The images from a rainy Vietnam night have followed David to 1982 and still trouble his sleep.
On that night, he was ordered to execute a member of his Special Forces unit, Jude, who had
betrayed the team. But just as he was about to kill Jude, David's hand was knocked away by an
unseen force, allowing Jude to escape into the jungle.

What happens next affects the lives of each man in David's unit and follows them for many
years to come. When a crisis with David's wife, Sunny, brings the men begrudgingly back
together again, they come face to face with more powerful forces than they realize.
Dreamer offers an interesting perspective on the choices people make in life and the not-so-
subtle ways in which those choices are affected by higher powers. Davidson uses God and the
devil as characters who take the human form and are very much a part of the decisions people
make. The result is a compelling story that weaves elements of both fact and faith into one
cohesive narrative.

My Review:

I'm not going to do a long review, because there is enough said in the Book Description above, so I will just say this: Book lovers will know they have found a new favorite author when they read Dreamer. Powerful and thought provoking! (Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

I am giving away 1 copy Dreamer on September 18th.

Rules are:

*Leave a comment with your email address for 1 entry.

*Become a follower for 2 entries (let me know if you already follow)

*Open to US and Canada residents only

*No PO boxes, please.

Good luck and happy reading!

Looking For Dad

2009-09-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

Author: Frank Gorin
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Open Path Books (June 25, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0615216536

Product Description:

“Looking For Dad” is the quixotic, sometimes melancholy but more often funny confession of a youth searching for personal identity. It’s a search for a father figure (his own father died when he was two years old). What begins as a quest for God (“Father”) and a hunger to be a priest (“Father”) leads eventually to an emotional breakdown and abandonment of the dream. In middle age comes an awakening via Zen Buddhism and then, with reluctance, a renewal of his old journey, with a surprising, if unorthodox, finish. “You needn’t be unbalanced to make a complete fool of yourself in religion,” writes the author, “but it helps." The main events of “Looking For Dad” are a kind of time-piece, transpiring in the late 1950s and early 1960s, just before the Second Vatican Council changed the facade – some say the foundation – of Roman Catholicism. And so a good part of the story moves inside that musty, mysterious environment of authority, archaic symbols and Latin speech. The “oriental” aspect, covering experiences in Zen and Theravada Buddhism, will appeal to the growing number of readers interested in Asian spirituality topics, including fresh literary approaches to the Dharma.

My Review:
This is well-written... an interesting, thought-provoking book.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

On The Bluffs

2009-09-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

Author: Steven Schindler

Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: The Elevated Press; 1st edition (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0966240812

Book Description:

SOMETIMES THE BIGGEST LIES ARE THE ONES WE LIVE. While Brian DeLouise was working the graveyard shift at a conspiracy theory-crazed radio station his wife was alley-catting around Washington, DC. But a cheating wife and a dead-end job no longer made him angry or depressed. He was just numb. It took a daring brush with death to awaken his senses and a few clicks on Google to begin a journey to recapture a love he believed was gone forever. Brian finds his lost lover in a rundown mansion on the windswept bluffs of Cape Cod, where he must confront a fast approaching evil while he risks losing everything he now cherishes.

About the Author:

Born and raised in the Bronx, Steven Schindler's first two novels, Sewer Balls and From the Block, are artfully gritty portrayals of the neighborhood characters who hung out on the stoops, playgrounds, rooftops and barstools during the crazy days of the Bronx in the sixties and seventies. Both books offer a heavy dose of mad, inner-city youthful adventures laced with awkward teenage sex, rock and roll, and the search for the perfect egg cream, i.e. the essence of life itself. His third novel, From Here to Reality (Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books), is a hilarious send-up of a transplanted New Yorker's foray into the early days of reality television in Hollywood, and received praise from Jay Leno and Roger L. Simon (The Big Fix) Schindler's soon-to-be released novel, On the Bluffs, is a thrilling love story wrapped in a dysfunctional family mystery that begins on the trendy streets of Washington D.C. and winds up in a rundown mansion on the bluffs of Cape Cod.

My Review:

This book's author is new to me, so I didn't know what I would find or how I would like his writing. But to my surprise, I found a gifted writer. His story of Brian DeLouise is one filled with romance, mystery, suspense, and danger, with a little humor thrown in. The lead character gets a second chance at love, but also confronts evil.

This is a book that is superbly written, exciting, and unforgettable. It is one that I will read again.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Show No Fear

2009-09-06T09:33:00.001-07:00

Author: Maliss Melton

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Forever (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0446509272

My Review:

Lucy and Gus were lovers in college, until she joined the CIA, for deeply personal reasons. After his father was killed in the World Trade Center, Gus joined the Navy Seals.

When the story begins, Lucy has become a respected CIA agent, and Gus, a top Navy Seal. As fate would have it, the two former sweethearts are reconnected when he is called to rescue her from certain death.

Much to their dismay, they are later assigned to pose as husband and wife, and sent on a secret mission with a UN team, to the jungle of South America. The mission is to negotiate the release of two American hostages. If their identities are discovered, the two could face torture and possible death.

As Gus and Lucy rediscover their passion for each other, Lucy deals with her own demons and inner darkness. Guilt has caused her to bury her strong affection for Gus, the man she adored in the past. Can Gus help Lucy overcome her demons and recover her deep love?

Together in the untamed jungle, fighting the war on terror, Gus and Lucy also fight for their life and love.

The book was well-written and gave some exciting details about the life of CIA agents and Navy Seals.

(Thanks to the Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Lori's Song

2009-09-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

Author: Lori Foroozandeh
Paperback: 244 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (July 22, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1432738291

Book Description:

Though she endured a childhood of physical and sexual abuse, nothing would ever equal what happened to her in Iran the weeks following 9/11.

Lori, an American married to an Iranian, had been working and living as an ordinary member of Iranian society for almost 4 years when she had heard rumors that the U.S. was going to be attacked. That was on September 9, 2001. She tried and failed to call home and give warning.The news that all those rumors were horribly true came on September 11th 2001. That was when her husband suddenly announced that they had to go back to the States in case there were repercussions.

On September 12, 2001, Lori and her husband were at the Shiraz bus terminal intending to catch a bus to Istanbul and from there to Heathrow and home to the U.S.A. They were totally unprepared for the convoy of troop carriers that suddenly drove up and the armed men who came pouring out to take the hapless couple prisoner.There was no explanation offered. The men took Lori's husband one direction and she another, pushing them blindfolded into the back of the troop carriers with other prisoners, mostly Iranian. Who the armed men were was anybody's guess but they took their prisoners to POW camp in unfamiliar territory and there, Lori was held, tortured, raped, and starved with them for over a month. Her husband was not to be seen again.

Lori was rescued with one of her fellow inmates by the girl's family and, after riding a llama for 1-2 days over mountainous terrain; she arrived at the Iran Immigration center. By then, she weighed in at only 70 pounds, was still suffering from the many injuries she'd received at the hands of her torturers, and wanted badly to get home to her family in the USA. Even then, she had to fight Iranian Islamic bureaucracy to have permission to go, as the husband was unavailable to grant it. In any Islamic country, unknown to many western women, the husband or guardian's permission is always required for a woman to travel anywhere.

Lori had been married to Mohammad for 9 years and thought she could trust him but, since their arrival in Iran in 1998, his personality and behavior had changed so radically as to make this most recent nightmare highly suspicious.The events told here are true. It was no coincidence that this American citizen had been placed into a concentration camp. In fact, it raises many questions and should be a caution to many!

My Review:

Lori Foroozandeh tells her own story in this eye-opening book. This is the extraordinary true story of an extraordinary life. It is a must read that tells the heartbreaking story of one woman's pain, courage, and ultimate victory over evil.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

The Way Home

2009-09-04T15:39:00.000-07:00

Author: George Pelecanos
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (May 12, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0316156493

My Review:

This thriller by the popular author, George Pelecanos, is set in Washington, D.C., and spins the tale of revenge and suspense. After reading The Night Gardener by Pelecanos, I knew I had found another great author. The Way Home is just as good--maybe better. It's no wonder President Obama took it with him to read on his summer vacation. Good reads!

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Swimsuit

2009-09-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

Author: James Patterson

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (June 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316018775

My Review:

This was my first audio CD, and I could hardly wait to listen to the great James Patterson’s new work, Swimsuit. I figured I would listen to it while I drove on long trips, instead of listening to the same old thing on the radio.

The story is about Henri Benoit, a diabolical serial killer, who makes snuff videos for a group of perverted individuals. It was so perverse, so hideous, so disgusting; I got to about the sixth chapter and turned it off forever. I was depressed for days afterward. This was definitely not for me, and in my opinion had no redeeming value.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review CD.)

Distant Thunder

2009-09-02T14:30:00.001-07:00

Author: Jimmy Root Jr.
Paperback: 328 pages
Publisher: American Book Publishing (August 10, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1589825535

Book Description:

The prophet Ezekiel was never taken seriously when he predicted the destruction of Israel s enemies; unfortunately for them, he was right. The truth of Ezekiel s words will be felt by the entire modern-day world, and it seems chaos will reign supreme. In the midst of the ensuing mayhem, Pastor Ty Dempsey arises as the man who is able to connect modern-day occurrences to the teaching of old. Meanwhile, Israeli pilot Moshe Eldan starts to see the truth of the prophecies in his daily dealing with terrorists. Dempsey and Eldan soon realize that they are part of a bigger plan; however, they are not alone. This thriller provides an answer to an age-old question: What would happen if the entire world turned on Israel? This thriller provides the answer in a fast-paced read, filled with all the action and adventure that usually accompanies the end of the world.

My review:

If you love page-turning drama with biblical prophecy thrown in, then you are going to like this one. It's a thriller from start to finish and may even keep you awake some nights. A keeper.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Frozen Tears

2009-09-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

Author: Mary Ann MacAfee
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (May 8, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1439218196

Book Description:

In Alaska's stunning but brutal interior, where white and Native cultures clash, Kale Weaver struggles to survive a devastating tragedy that becomes the genesis for her allegiance to wolves and the circumstances making her target of a primitive superstition. Aided by her best friend, a worn-out helicopter pilot, and the bond shared with a wolf shaman, she then struggles against what follows: the bigotry and rejection imposed on her and her half-breed son,until she is challenged by the ultimate ordeal. Whatever the risks, she must fulfill a wish for her young son that she had never imagined for him. But above all, Kale's page-turning journey shows that love can triumph over life's most dire challenges and painful losses.

My Review:

Set in remote Alaska, this book offers all the elements for a good read-- love, loss, triumph over adversity, and the feel of a rich adventure in America's last frontier. Highly recommended.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Best Friends Forever

2009-09-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

Author: Jennifer Weiner

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Atria (July 14, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0743294297

My Review:

Just when 9 year old Addie Downs needed a friend, Valerie Adler showed up on her doorstep. Valerie and her mom had just moved in across the street, and being the free spirit that she is, Valerie came over to introduce herself. Although they were complete opposites (they say opposites attract), from that day the girls became best friends and continued until high school.

After years of separation, and hard feeling between the two, Valerie shows up again at Addie’s door in the middle of the night, believing she has possibly killed a fellow classmate after attending a class reunion, and begs for Addie’s help. Addie is furious and can’t understand, after what happened in high school, how her former friend could have the nerve to face her. Addie finally agrees to help Valerie search for the body, which turns into an adventure she would never have expected.

Even though the book is terrifically descriptive and fun to read, it does begin to lag a bit in the middle, but redeems itself after a couple of chapters. It is definitely chick-lit, entertaining, and very witty.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Gingham Mountain

2009-08-26T17:48:00.001-07:00

Author: Mary Connealy
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books; 1 edition (February 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602601410

My Review:

Grant, a single man, who had been an orphan himself, couldn't resist taking in needy children when the orphan train rolled in each year. Even though, he lived in run-down, crowded conditions, he knew that some of the children would not find a home unless they found it with him. He had taken in as many as twenty-five, over the years. Many of them had grown up, moved away, and married. But one thing was for sure, his children all loved him.

Enter, pretty and feisty Hannah Cartwright, who had just recently come into town with a chip on her shoulder. She had been a badly abused child when she was younger and didn't trust men at all. Determined to "save" Grant's orphans from what she thinks is abuse, Hannah fights Grant, "tooth and nail" until she finally understands the good man he really is.

This lovely book has romance, suspense, and humor all woven together to make another great novel by the Christian author, Mary Connealy.

(Thank you to Barbour Books for my review copy.)

The Castaways

2009-08-20T10:44:00.001-07:00

Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1 edition (July 7, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0316043893

Jeffrey and Delilah, Phoebe and Addison, Eddie and Andrea, Tess and Gregg--all best friends. Their lives were intertwined, they were happy when they were all together, even calling their group The Castaways, until there is a terrible accident at sea. Tess and Gregg are dead.

With the unexpected death of Tess and Gregg, facades are destroyed, wiped out; only truth remains in the heart of each friend. The secret life of each member of The Castaways comes alive with the telling of their personal history, their private thoughts and hidden actions.

I didn't want to miss a word of this fascinating novel. The author's writing is as smooth as a good wine-- creating, layer upon layer, a tale of friendship, love, lust, and guilt.

My favorite line from the book is, "The stories that made up the world, were infinite, like the stars." Some of those stories make up this book. By the time I finished reading, I felt like I had been an intimate friend of The Castaways.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Strange But True, America (Weird Tales From all 50 States)

2009-08-19T15:56:00.001-07:00

Author: John Hafnor
Illustrator: Dale Crawford
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Lone Pine Productions; 1st edition (August 31, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0964817551

This book is certainly one of the most unique books I've read recently-- with it's freaky facts from all 50 states. If you're looking for an evening of fun reading, you will find it here. It's also one that you can put down and pick up again as time allows.

Do you want a few little tidbits to share with friends and family-- this is just the book to read. Each chapter is short, but full of punch! It would also make the perfect gift for a history enthusiast. A very interesting read.

(Thanks to the author for my review copy.)

I Can See You

2009-08-17T08:40:00.001-07:00

Author: Karen Rose

Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (August 5, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446538345

Book Description:

New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose delivers her latest pulse-pounding suspense novel, where the line between the virtual world and everyday reality blurs when it comes to murder.

Eve Wilson's face was once scarred by a vicious assault. Terrified and ashamed, she escaped to the online realm, where she could choose the face she allowed people to see. Years later, her outer scars faded and inner scars buried, Eve has fought her way back to the real world and is determined to help others do the same. Now a graduate student moonlighting as a bartender, Eve researches the addictive powers of online communities. When her test subjects begin turning up dead as a result of apparent suicides, she doesn't know where to turn.

Homicide detective Noah Webster is one of the few people who believe the victims are connected murders. Eve becomes Noah's online guide and realizes that the handsome detective may have secret scars as painful as her own. As Eve and Noah chase a killer who is always one step ahead of them, together they try to overcome the tragedies of their pasts and learn to trust again, but they soon discover that danger is much closer than they think.

My Review:

This is the story of two broken souls and their connection to a serial killer.

Eve Wilson, disfigured and traumatized, believes she will never find real love again. Homicide detective Noah Webster lost his wife and child in an automobile accident, and is now a recovering alcoholic.

The mystery begins with the grim details of the murder of Martha Brisbane and continues as multiple killings take place. Eve Wilson and detective Webster work closely together to find the killer and in turn, find each other.

This is a complex tale of fear, evil, and suspense. The story skillfully balances on the edge of tension and horror. It is a book that will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning, and will have you checking to make sure you have locked and double-bolted all your doors.

This is undoubtedly one of the hottest reads of the summer.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Happy To 102

2009-08-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

Authors:

Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, CMC

James H. Johnson, PhD

Lily Sarafan, MS

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Home Care Press; 1st Edition edition (June 18, 2009)
ISBN-10: 061528194X

Description:

We are living longer than ever. Centenarians are the fastest growing segment of our population. Before we know it, 102 just may become the new 75. As we live longer, though, we want to enjoy improved health-span alongside increased lifespan. Happy to 102 lays out all those factors diet, exercise, sociability, mental challenge, sense of purpose that make the difference not only in how long we live but in how well we live. Based on groundbreaking scientific research of the longest living people on Earth, Happy to 102 spells out precisely what it takes to delay or escape Alzheimer's and other chronic diseases, slow down the process of aging and enjoy better health in our senior years. With an emphasis on aging in place with in-home care, Happy to 102 unlocks the secrets to longevity and inspires us to live happier, healthier lives at any age.

Authors:
Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, CMC is a Certified Geriatric Care Manager serving the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
James H. Johnson, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and the award-winning author of seven books. A former university professor and department chair, he holds a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Lily Sarafan, MS is a corporate executive and advocate for aging in place. She holds Masters and Bachelors degrees from Stanford University

My Review:

For those of us who wish to live long and happy lives, this is the book to read and keep on your nightstand, kitchen counter, or desk. It gives so many healthy hints! I loved reading it and I can assure you, I'm going to incorporate the information in the book into my own everyday routine.

Some topics in the book are:

*You Age What You Eat

*7 Super Foods That Prolong Life

*Aging Well Is No Accident

*We Can Control Our Life Timetable

It also deals with depression in seniors, physical activity guidelines, support networks, and much more. I highly recommend this important book.

The Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription

2009-08-10T10:09:00.001-07:00

Author: Vincent Fortanasce, M.D.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Gotham (July 31, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1592403794

At last there's a book that gives, old and young alike, the prescription, and hope of never developing the dreaded condition known as Alzheimers. I believe if we all followered the steps given to us in this book, we could live a long life of physical and mental vitality.

There are clear guidelines. Some of the chapters are:

*Understanding Alzheimer's Disease

*The 4-Step Anti-Alzheimer's Prescription

*Diagnosis, Treatment, and The Future of Alzheimer's Disease

After reading this well-written and user friendly book, I feel I have a much better understanding of how to resist developing this terrible disease. I would encourage everyone to read it.

Inglourious Basterds

2009-08-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

Author: Quentin Tarantino
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (August 17, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0316070351

The screenplay opens in the countryside of Nancy, France. A French family watches the road below their farm as a Nazi town car convertible drives up the road to their farmhouse. The farmer tells his family to go inside while he awaits what he knows could very well turn into a deadly confrontation-- thinking of the Jewish family hidden under the floorboards of their home. After an interrogation, violence erupts; all but one of the Jewish family is killed. A teenage daughter, Shosanna, survives and escapes into the nearby forest.

In chapter two, the reader is introduced to Lt. Aldo Raine, a hillbilly from the mountains of Tennessee. Raine is putting together a group of eight Jewish-American soldiers who want nothing else but to kill Nazis. In a plan to send a message to the Third Reich, he expects one thing from his men and that is for each one to take at least 100 Nazi scalps, taken from the heads of dead Nazis, or they better die trying.

Full of hatred, Shosanna ends up in Paris where she meets the ruthless Lt. Raine and his men, known as the “Basterds.” Shosanna and the brutal group of scalp hunters share one mutual desire and that is to kill as many Nazis as possible. A perfect plan is then created.

This is a thrilling, action-packed book by the award winning writer and director, Quentin Tarantino.

(Thanks to Hackette Book Group for my review copy.)

Marsha Altman Interview on Monday, Aug. 10th

2009-08-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

I'm hosting author, Marsha Altman, at EVERYTHING VICTORIAN on August 10th. She will be answering questions and talking about her new Jane Austen sequel, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers.

A set of The Plight of the Darcy Brothers and The Darcys and The Bingleys will be given away to one lucky winner on August 15th. So please stop by on the 10th for a visit with Marsha and enter the drawing.

(Thanks to Sourcebooks for the giveaway.)

Giv, The Story of a Dog and America

2009-08-05T11:44:00.001-07:00

Author: Boston Teran

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: High-Top Publishing LLC (June 15, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1567030556

Product Description:

"My name is Dean Hickok, sergeant, late of the U.S. Marines. I nearly ran down a dog one night on a back road during a Kentucky rainstorm. The dog, it turned out, had been made to suffer and left to die in a crate. But his will to survive, his determination to overcome the many cruelties inflicted upon him, and the ultimate and unabated goodness that abided in him afterward, are the actual reason these pages bearing my name exist at all. I was profoundly wounded of heart and empty of purpose as I drove through the Kentucky darkness that night. I had recently returned from Iraq, the lone survivor of my squad, when my headlights bore through a sweeping rain to find him there, stumbled and fallen. Both of us being on that same road, on that night, and at that moment, was not an accidental happenstance but the poetry of fate. For as much as I saved a dogs life, he saved mine."

My Review:

The story of Giv is not only the story of a dog, but is at the same time, an American adventure into some of the most tragic events in our history. It is a story that is well-written, sensitive, spiritual, and will touch the heart of all who read it. This one gets 5 stars!

Elemental Shaman: One Man's Journey Into the Heart of Humanity, Spirituality & Ecology

2009-08-05T11:00:00.001-07:00

Author: Omar W. Rosales
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0738715018

Book Description:
This fascinating true story chronicles one man's journey into the mysteries of spiritual consciousness and the indigenous healing practices of four shamanistic traditions: Toltec, Cherokee, Maya, and Buddhist.

In his travels around the globe, Rosales witnesses the powerful channeled spirit Niño Fidencio, receives messages and healing from a Toltec shaman, and experiences a dramatic soul retrieval from a Cherokee spiritwalker. Rosales travels to Guatemala, where he meets a Mayan high priestess, or a'j' r'ij, and the secret brotherhoods called cofradias, whose mission is to guard Maximón, the last living Mayan god. Rosales's last journey is to Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, where he spends time with a holy lama.

About the Author:
Omar W. Rosales (Vancouver) is a world traveler who writes extensively on the topic of archaeology, culture, and spiritual matters. He holds degrees in anthropology, economics, and law.

My Review:

This true story begins when the author's mother walks to her car, in a parking lot, and finds the pavement around the car circled with some sort of ash and sprinkled with blood. She steps across the line and enters her car. Shortly after this, she becomes ill. Her son is determined to find the answer to his mother's mysterious disease, where it came from, and what the ash and blood is all about.

This book captured my attention from the first paragraph and I could not put it down until the end. It is mesmerizing, mysterious, and intriguing. As soon as I began to read, I knew that I was entering into a holy adventure with the author. A stunning book.

The Night Gardener

2009-08-04T08:50:00.001-07:00

Author: George Pelecanos

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books; Reprint edition (June 10, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0316056502

About the Author:

George Pelecanos is an independent-film producer, an essayist, the recipient of numerous international writing awards, a producer and an Emmy-nominated writer on the HBO hit series The Wire, and the author of a bestselling series of novels set in and around Washington, D.C.

My Review:

Detectives Gus Ramone, "Doc" Holiday, and T.C. Cook come together to solve a twenty year old mystery. In 1985 three teenagers were murdered in what was called The Palindrome Murders. Twenty years later another teenager is murdered in the same fashion, which leads the three detectives to believe the killer is on the move again.

The story takes place around the Washington, D.C. area, where the author describes the places and events in a way that makes the reader feel they, themselves, are invisible spectators within the novel.

The book is filled with the raw dialogue of opposing cultures--the tough talking homicide detectives and the street-smart criminal gang types. Although, this is primarily a man's book with lots of macho bantering, it is an exciting modern mystery that can be thoroughly enjoyed by all. It's a page-turner from beginning to end!

(Thanks to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

As Long As He Needs Me

2009-08-03T10:22:00.001-07:00

Author: Mary Verdick

Paperback: 222 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (June 22, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1432724274

In honor of their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, Kitty and Clem Johanssen set off on what's supposed to be a dream vacation: a gracious cruise up the East Coast from New York to Montreal. But in a hectic rush to embark, Clem foolishly loses his cash to a couple of street swindlers. Unbeknownst to Kitty, the incident sets off a profound introspection of Clem's weaknesses, regrets, and mortality - amplified by the sudden appearance of his old war buddy-turned-politician, T. McCollough Boyle, during a shore excursion. As Clem grows more distant throughout the trip, Kitty falls in with an attractive - and mysterious - Englishman named Toby Knight, who offers everything Clem doesn't: grace, charm and hopefulness. Now, the slowly smoldering confrontations of the last three decades - the deep-seated resentments, half-buried insecurities and burning passions - will surface in a confrontation so powerful it will test the limits of the couple's love. At once, unsettling and compassionate, As Long as He Needs Me is a psychological novel of faith, memory, love and the unyielding supremacy of time.

My Review:

This is a novel of love, faith, rejection, and commitment. A look at the trials and successes within a relationship make this a book worth reading. Well written. It's a keeper.

Tales of Priut Almus

2009-07-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

Author: Robert Belenky, PHD

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: iUniverse.com (April 23, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1440131511

Book Description:

Thirteen-year-old Serogia was thrown out of his house by his drunken mother after his father died. Eleven-year-old Anya doesn't have many friends and is always sad; when she looks in the mirror she sees an ugly girl. Her ten-year-old sister Sashinka is shy, tough and fun loving. Their only living relative is their drunken father.

These are just three of the children who were living at Pruit Almus, a children's shelter in St. Petersburg, Russia, when author Robert Belenky began his visits in 1998. He returned many times during the next ten years. In Tales of Pruit Almus he presents his interviews with children and staff as he participates in this humane and innovative shelter unusual in that it focused on preparing children to create and live in a democracy.

Finally, we meet Almus' founding director, enigmatic man of the theater, Mikhail Markarievich, who provided the courageous vision.

The fifth in a series of books focusing on raising children whose lives have not been easy, Tales of Pruit Almus describes how this home has become a monument to the spirited and humane ways to raise children who are in need. Pruit Almus is a model of what may be possible for the United States in the realm of education and child care.

My Review:

This amazing book is well-written and gives tremendous insight into the plight of the "throw-away" children of Russia. The format for the book is a series of stories and observations describing the author's interactions with the children and staff of Pruit Almus. It is a reading experience that will not soon be forgotten.

(Thanks to the author for my review copy.)

Aging With Grace

2009-07-25T19:06:00.001-07:00

Author: Greg Liberman
Paperback: 158 pages
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (May 28, 2009)
ISBN-10: 143923681X

Book Description:
Grace, a middle aged housewife, is dissatisfied with her looks, her husband and her lifestyle. Grace is certain that she was meant to lead a more exciting life than the one she finds herself in. She finds the thrill she is looking for and more when she reconnects with a high school friend through a social networking website. Suddenly, Grace is hobnobbing with celebrities, wearing designer clothes, and being wooed by Victor, a mysterious Hollywood powerhouse. Soon, Grace is flying off to Malibu on a whim to hook up with Victor, all the while lying to her husband and her two daughters. Grace has no qualms about accepting all Victor has to offer: a fabulous beach house in Malibu with closets full of designer clothes, plastic surgery, a part in a movie as well as a lavish lifestyle. Does Grace finally get everything she always wanted and deserves or is there more to Victor than meets the eye? Find out in this exciting and fast-paced look at selfishness and desire.

My Review:
Grace was once a beautiful young woman. Where did the time and the beauty go? Why didn't she have the life she had dreamed of?

Grace, a middle-aged woman, is not unlike many women her age--a wrinkle here and a wrinkle there; a few kids; a boring life; time passing quickly. But when Grace reconnects with her old friend, her life begins to take on a life of its own.

This book follows self-centered Grace, through the twists and turns of what she believes is the life she has always dreamed of. Is it all it seems to be?

The book is well-written and a quick read.

(Thanks to the author for my review copy.)

The Impostor's Daughter

2009-07-25T10:23:00.001-07:00

Author: Laurie Sandell

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (July 29, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0316033057

Laurie Sandell has written and illustrated an intriguing and fascinating book with a unique format. Even though it is illustrated like a comic-book, it deals with the serious issues of deceit, drug addiction, the discovery of deep family secrets, and the journey into finding one's true self.

The author decribes in detail how she idolized her larger-than-life father until she found evidence that he was living a life of lies and deception. What should she do with the information she has uncovered? How does she deal with who she is becoming? Does she find true love at last? How does she come to terms with family secrets?

This book is realistic, contemporary, youthful, and a fast read.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

Understanding Other People:The Five Secrets to Human Behavior

2009-07-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

Author: Beverly D. Flaxington
Paperback: 104 pages
Publisher: ATA Press (April 13, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0615272290

Book Description:

This book should not be missed by anyone who wants to improve the quality of their relationships! Leveraging decades of experience working with people in many different areas and experiences, Beverly Flaxington has found a way to explain to all of us what we simply don't learn naturally - how to understand and communicate with others more effectively. Readers will gain the insights they need to identify relationship missteps, and then apply easy-to-learn techniques to bring relationships to a more meaningful level in both personal and business settings.

My Review:

The author has written a "must read" book on understanding and getting along with other people. How many times are we frustrated with people we either live or work with? Now there's a concise book, with simple steps, telling us how we can live happily while managing our reactions.

Here are a few things it contains:

*Behavioral styles come between us

*What is my experience?

*You better appreciate what I've done for you

*Step outside yourself

*How to interact with and influence others

*Hey, stop yelling at me!

Everyone on planet earth should read this book. Then, perhaps, we can start living in a more peaceful world.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Naamah's Kiss

2009-07-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Author: Jacqueline Carey
Hardcover: 656 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 24, 2009)
ISBN-10: 044619803X

Brief Description:
"Moirin has a secret.... From childhood onward, she senses the presence of unfamiliar gods in her life--the bright lady and the man with a seedling cupped in his palm. Raised in the wilderness by her reclusive mother, Moirin learns only when she comes of age how illustrious, if mixed, her heritage is......"

First, let me disclose the fact that I have not read the other books in this series, which puts me at a terrible disadvantage. When I began to read this book, I was immediately confused by Moirin’s complicated heritage, her lifestyle, and the history of her people. I felt as if I was reading a foreign language.

I will say, though, the author has a unique writing style and great creativity. Even though I wish I had more background from reading her earlier books, I did appreciate her interesting characters and imaginative story-line.

My advice, to anyone who is just becoming familiar with the series, is to start with the first book and continue forward from there. Although, this one could be called an interesting read, I feel it is best to start fresh from the very start. It will certainly be less confusing and much more enjoyable in the long-run.

(Thank you to Hachette Book Group for my review copy.)

DUCHESS OF DEATH, The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie

2009-07-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

Author: Richard Hack

Hardcover: 284 pages
Publisher: Phoenix Books (July 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1597776203

Product Description
"Although she is the most popular novelist in history, with over two billion books sold worldwide, Agatha Christie lived a life shrouded in secrecy and fueled by curiosity. Nearly as notorious for her aversion to the press as she was for her 80 books and collections of short stories, Christie made no secret of her need for privacy. Utilizing over 5,000 previously unpublished letters, notes, and documents, award-winning biographer Richard Hack allows Christie to write again, 33 years after her death.

DUCHESS OF DEATH is her story, as full of romance, travel, wealth, and scandal as any mystery Christie ever crafted.There have been numerous biographies of the Queen of Crime, all of which claim to be definitive. However, DUCHESS OF DEATH is the first to draw from such an enormous number of previously unpublished correspondence and notes, effectively establishing it as the most authoritative, penetrating look at the personal and literary life of Christie."

My Review:

Not only was Agatha Christie a prolific mystery writer, but she also created mystery as she lived her own life. Mystery seemed to follow her. In any case, her name is synonymous with suspense.

Richard Hack has created in Duchess Of Death, a work that will delight Agatha Christie fans. He gives the reader an extraordinary glimpse into the mysterious life of an extraordinarily gifted legend.

(Thanks to Library Thing for my review copy)

The Talking Baby: Simple Techniques To Encourage Your Baby To Speak Sooner

2009-07-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

Authors: Jeremy & Karina Sweet

Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Jema Alka Worldwide Publishing (May 12, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0615243827

Becoming a parent isn't easy and babies don't come with instruction manuals. From birth on, we are faced with a thousand questions about childcare and development.

Example: It sometimes becomes a great worry to parents when their baby seems to be slow at picking up the simple words we use everyday. Much of the time one doesn't know where to turn for advice.

Now we have a concise and intelligent book we can turn to for help when we need it. Jeremy and Karina Sweet have written a wonderful guide which gives techniques that encourage our babies to learn to speak sooner.

Some of my favorite chapters are:

-A Happy Home

-Praise Pays

-Got Book?

-TV Good?

-Prop It Up

If you are a parent or grandparent looking for help, you will certainly want to buy this excellent easy-to-read book which will, no doubt, jump-start your child's vocabulary.

Ageing Well, A Guide to Rejuvenation and Longevity

2009-07-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

Author: Dr. George Cromack, D.C., F.I.A.M.A

Paperback: 150 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (April 3, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1432733656

"There is a reason why more and more people today are turning off to traditional healthcare and turning on to alternative therapies and natural medicines-and it's not just because they're more affordable.

Ageing Well not only explores the latest health practices but takes you on a journey that examines the most beneficial ways you can make your body healthy and strong.

In Ageing Well, you'll learn about:

-Chiropractic techniques and how they should be done

-The effects of the foods we eat

-The invaluable benefits of Super-foods, antioxidants, probiotics, and enzymes

-The techniques of ridding your body of inner and outer toxins

-The types of exercises that will have you up and moving - and feeling great again"

I am amazed at the wealth of health information covered in just 150 pages. The reader will learn about diet, the correct pillows for sleeping, lumbar supports, inversion slings, traction units, gallbladder cleanse, fasting, strength training, and much, much more.

This is an important resource for good health.

Across The Pond

2009-07-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Across The Pond

Author: Storyheart

Paperback: 120 pages
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation; 1st edition (September 25, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1436371767

"Finding himself packed off to friends in the USA, fifteen-year-old English-born Fred Squire is not happy.....

Then he meets Brittany."

After reading several adult mysteries this spring and summer, I was ready for some light reading. Across The Pond is just that--teenage romance, adventure, and a happy ending. There's nothing better than young love, is there?

Not only was this a nice story that I would recommend to my children, but I was fascinated with all the language differences, too. For instance, a word that has a certain meaning to we Americans may have a completely different meaning to the British. I must say I got some giggles from those examples.

This book is fun, romantic, and a quick read. I recommend it to young and old alike--anyone who is looking for a fresh, unforgettable story.... especially, as summer reading.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

The Light, The Dark, and Ember Between

2009-07-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Light, The Dark and Ember Between
Author: J.W. Nicklaus
Paperback: 196 pages

Publisher: American Book Publishing Group (May 14, 2009)

ISBN-10: 1589825055

Cover Description:
"This book is a collection of uplifting images that delve into the reflections of the human condition. These stories will cause you to think, laugh, and even cry at the beauty of emotional memories. You will smile at the thought of love lost and found again in "Paper Doll." You will think about your life's choices in "10:18." You will cry tears of joy while reading about the hidden gift in "Winter Rose." This is a must-have collection of thought-provoking reflections perfect for your bedside or the beach."

If you are a fan of inspirational short stories, this is the book for you. You will smile a little; perhaps cry a little; and find joy in the pages of this small book with a deep emotional impact.

A few of the fifteen stories are:
*Streetlamp
*The Run
*Paper Doll
*Blind
*Winter Rose
*In The Name of Love
....and others which you are sure to enjoy.

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Sassy by Gloria Mallette

2009-07-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Sassy
Author: Gloria Mallette
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Gemini Press; 1st edition (May 22, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0967878934

Myra Barrett lie dying--stabbed over and over by the man she was secretly dating and who she had fallen in love with. Her best friend, Carrie, lay dead nearby.

Why? Why was this happening? She had so much to live for--her career; her child. Thoughts raced through her head as life drained from her; her killer still standing over her helpless body. He would soon shower, and dress in fresh clothes, in her own apartment before attending another important date with someone very special.

Four hours later, Sassy Davenport, a popular romance novelist, is having a book signing party. The line is long. This had been a good night for selling her latest novel. Norris Yoshito, is the next customer to ask for her autograph. As their eyes meet, they are instantly drawn to each other. He wants to meet her afterward, and a romantic relationship develops.

As multiple murders unfold in this unforgettable novel, the reader is held spellbound from the opening paragraph. Will the murderer be caught before it's too late for Sassy?

This is a thriller that I couldn't put down...I read it within 24 hours! For mystery lovers, this is a "must read."

(Thank you to the author for my review copy.)

Fire At Midnight

2009-07-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

Fire at Midnight

Author: Lisa Marie Wilkinson

350 pages
Publisher: Medallion Press (March 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1933836547

The year is 1703. Rachael Penrose has been imprisoned in the "Bedlam" insane asylum in London, where the conditions are deplorable. Her uncle, Victor, plans to dispose of her and her little brother so that he can inherit the family fortune.

With the help of a friend, Rachael manages to escape the mental hospital and sets out to find her brother before it is too late. Shortly thereafter, she meets Sebastian Falconer, a dashingly handsome, French privateer and smuggler. Masquerading as a friend, Sebastian offers Rachael his home as a refuse from danger, but in reality he is setting a trap for this woman he believes to be his mortal enemy. An intense, romantic love/hate relationship builds almost immediately between these two determined, and strong-spirited main characters.

Fire at Midnight has all the right ingredients: treachery, sexual tension, maniacal plotting, intensely passionate love scenes, and a clever story-line. Ms. Wilkinson has spun a tale of mystery that will keep the reader holding their breath from the first page to the last sentence.

(Thanks to the author for my review copy.)

Italian for Beginners: A Review

2009-07-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

Italian for Beginners

Author: Kristin Harmel

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: 5 Spot (August 13, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446538302

Cat Connelly is a thirty-four-year-old Manhattan accountant who has always lived a responsible life. She has lived on the safe side, even taking care of her younger sister and father when her mother left the family. But Cat starts to question her life choices while attending her sister's wedding.

When wedding guests ask her about finding the right man and walking down the isle, and when she hears quiet gossip, within earshot, she becomes embarrassed and frustrated. Where is the justice for someone who has, seemingly, done all the right things, but still hasn't found the life she rightfully deserves? She tries to leave the wedding party, but runs into a mysterious man who takes her breath away. Is he single or married, which turns into a major issue.

Cat, feeling confused, and low in spirit, returns to work, where a friend encourages her to take a much needed month's vacation to visit her former boyfriend in Italy. Cat talks to her father, who tells her it is a good idea for her to get away for awhile. She now has to choose between her perceived responsibility at home or a chance at happiness.

Arriving in Italy, Cat finds herself on a virtual "Roman Holiday" as her life becomes very similar to Audrey Hepburn's character in the movie by that name. Although, she finds romance, disappointment, betrayal, and love, she also must face some serious old ghosts that have haunted her in her earlier life. Does she have the courage to live as a stranger in Rome? Will she conquer her demons? Will she find her true self? Will she find the love of her life? These are questions that make the book a pure pleasure to read.

I give this a perfect 5 stars*****

(Kristin Harmel is also the author of The Art of French Kissing)

My Baby

2009-07-01T08:58:00.001-07:00

This doesn't have much to do with books, but............

Daughter Becka came for dinner with Jim and I last evening and while she was here she took this picture of my sweet, little Riley. Becka was with me when I bought Riley as a puppy and she's always been very close with him. He just goes wild when she comes to visit. In this photo, he's looking up at her. Can't you see the love in his little eyes?

Obama's Blackberry

2009-06-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

Obama's Blackberry

Author- Kasper Hauser

144 Pages

Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.

By this time we all know how attached President Obama is to his blackberry. Now there's a book spoofing fictional text messages, which might appear on it.

This newly published book is packed with irreverent and humorous messages from famous people like former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Oprah Winfrey, John McCain, Sean Penn, Madonna, and many others.

This small fictional book with it's smartly designed cover, could easily be carried in a purse or briefcase. It would also be a real conversation item if placed on a desk or coffee table. Consider it, too, as a fun gift for either Democrat or Republican. It is certain to become a piece of Americana and may even become a presidential collectible when President Obama is no longer in the White House.

At a time when there's not much to laugh about, this book brings a little levity into the lives of political junkies.

Passeggiata, Strolling Through Italy

2009-06-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Passeggiata: Strolling Through Italy
By-G.G. Husak
355 pages

The very name of this book makes one want to pack their bags and fly off to romantic Italy.

This book, Ms. Husak's travel memoir, will appeal to those of us who are retired; single and longing for a little adventure; or taking that dream, family vacation. It takes the reader to major tourist centers, and out of the way, tiny Italian villages. It takes the guesswork out of travel and teaches valuable lessons that will make the journey easier and more relaxing.

Whether you want to stay in a quiet village, or take in all the historic sights and art of Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, or Naples you will not want to leave home before reading Ms. Husak's book.

Some chapters which are included are:
*Culture Shock
*On Our Own
*The Italian Riviera
*Hill Towns
*and much, much more

Even if you don't have the means to actually travel to Italy, you will want to use this as an exciting armchair travelogue.

This book is well written and is sure to please the world travel reader.