Always Time To Die by Elizabeth Lowell

From Barnes and Noble:

"The powerful Quintrell family of New Mexico has spent decades in the public eye. Now the recent death of the clan's patriarch, a former U.S. senator, has placed his son, Governor Josh Quintrell, squarely in the spotlight as he prepares his run for the highest political office in the land. It is not a good time to be rattling skeletons in the family's closets.

Researching personal histories isn't just Carolina "Carly" May's profession, it's her passion. When the governor's eccentric Aunt Winifred invites Carly into the Quintrells' private Taos compound to compile a genealogical record of the illustrious residents, she can hardly believe her good luck. But digging into the past is raising troubling questions about the would-be president's private life, his late father and catatonic mother, and the grisly street crime that left his notorious drug-addicted sister dead. And it soon becomes frighteningly apparent that the motivation of the dotty old woman who hired Carly might be something more akin to revenge -- and that someone is determined to remove the inquisitive genealogist from the picture by any means necessary.
As a dark world of twisted passions and depraved crimes slowly opens up before Carly, she realizes that there is no one whom she dares to trust -- perhaps least of all Dan Duran, a dangerous and haunted mystery man who's somehow tied to the Quintrells' past. But she will need an ally to survive the terrible secrets a father carried to the grave and an even more devastating evil that lurks among the living -- because following the bloodlines of the wealthy and power-hungry can be a bloody business ... and some dead secrets can kill. "

I like Elizabeth Lowell. I usually can't wait for her to come out with another book. Most of them are connected in some way but you don't have to really read them in any order. I feel like I can generally see an author progressing with each new book. Sometimes it's a good progression, sometimes not. This is an older book by Lowell and it was good, but not nearly as good as her newer ones.
I like it when things progress that way. I see it oddly as a child that has grown when I see an author getting better with each passing book.
I like how Lowell lets you meet the characters. All their good and bad. Their impatience and grumpiness. Every little thing.
This was a fast paced book that gave me plenty of suspense and romance. I liked it. Not my favorite ever, but it was good.



The Rescuer by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Stephen O'Malley is a paramedic who has been rescuing people all his life. His friend Meghan is in trouble: Stolen jewels are turning up in interesting places, and she's in the middle of it. Stephen is about to run into a night he will never forget—a kidnapping, a tornado, and a race to rescue the woman he loves.
Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.  "

What a great conclusion to a good, feel good series.
Henderson did a great job rounding out the series and finishing it all off. I would like to see Tom later, but overall this ending was great.
I loved that Meghan had a few moments of pity and tiredness (like we all would) but she bucked up and moved on.
I love that Stephan got settled and found what he was looking for.
I loved that it was Kate that had a baby.
I had a great time reading this series, Henderson did a great job with it.

The Healer by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Rachel O'Malley works disasters for a living. Her specialty? Helping children through trauma. When a school shooting rips through her community, she finds herself dealing with more than just grief among the children she is trying to help. One of them saw the shooting, and the gun is still missing.

Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.  "


What a great book. It did justice to the folks we've met so far.
I was very impressed with alot of things that Henderson tackled in this one. She tackled school violence and children's trauma. She also handled someone being overwhelmed by their job even though they are good at it.
I can't spout off statistics but I know that burnout's in fire fighters and ems are fairly short. I can't say I know alot about Red Cross psychologist, but I could imagine they are much the same.
I loved watching Cole and Rachel come together. It was such a sweet and easy development.
It was sad that Jennifer died, but the way she handled it was beautiful.
This book was a very bittersweet thing. 

The Protector by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Jack O'Malley is a fireman who is fearless when it comes to facing an inferno. But when an arsonist begins targeting his district, his shift, his friends, Jack faces the ultimate challenge: protecting the lady who saw the arsonist before she pays an even higher price.

Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.  "


I like books with firefighters. They are a group of people like none other. Henderson has done a great job of grasping how the fire industry works. She did a great job of getting the general feel that you feel around the fire family.
I had been looking forward to meeting Jack. I totally get the person that most people don't take very seriously. He uses his humor to defuse situations that would normally be painful or stressful.
I liked Cassie alot. She is just getting over the physical part of a fire accident. She's been struggling with the emotional part too. But whereas Jack struggles with faith, Cassie does not.
As she has been doing this series, Henderson has tackled with different reasons why the character's don't believe. Instead of just going with a generic "I don't believe," she has had these characters struggle with specific reasons behind their lack of belief. I really like that.
Yes, it's fiction. But I learn alot from fiction. I take some small piece with me from every book I read. These books have been full of scripture and real like instances that I feel like I've learned from.
I feel like after reading them I am a better witness. I can better answer questions because of them.

Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Women are turning up dead, and Lisa O'Malley has a habit of walking into crime scenes, curious. She's a forensic pathologist, and mysteries are her domain. U.S. marshall Quinn Diamond has found loving her is easier than keeping her safe. Lisa's found the killer, and now she's missing too.

Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit."

Oh good! We got back to getting to know the nitty gritty of a person. I feel like Lisa's story meant more somehow, because we caught a glimpse into her past to see just how far she had come.
We also got to know what makes Quinn tick. Seeing his patience and steadiness was great. I liked getting to know him a bit better.
These two were perfect for each other. It's always awesome to see two people that get each other so well.
It was good to see the O'Malley's coming together so much for Lisa. She had a hang up about people leaving her, so the O'Malley's work extra hard to make her see that they love her. That had the ability to be annoying, but it wasn't.



The Guardian by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"A federal judge has been murdered. There is only one witness, and an assassin wants her dead. U.S. Marshall Marcus O'Malley thought he knew the risks of the assignment . . . but he was wrong.

Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit. "

I walk away from this book wishing that I had gotten to know both Marcus and Shari better.
Shari had some insecurities that I thought she would completely overcome in this book that really weren't touched on. We saw her moving in the right direction, but no definative change.
I expected alot more from Marcus. I expected to know him much better. I thought that I would see into his past a bit. He's the dark and mysterious one of the O'Malley's so I thought that we would find him to be a super strong guy with this incredible past. That could be, but we just don't know.
I liked that Dave had a pretty strong presence and Quinn as well.
I really feel like that in order to really appreciate all that's going on in the character's lives now, we need to know alot more about the past.
I can't say that I'm totally disgusted or anything, but I am a wee bit disappointed that I didn't really get to know these people.

The Negotiator by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"FBI agent Dave Richman from Danger in the Shadows is back. He's about to meet Kate O'Malley, and his life will never be the same. She's a hostage negotiator. He protects people. He's about to find out that falling in love with a hostage negotiator is one thing, but keeping her safe is another!

Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.  "

So this is the official start of the O'Malley series. I'm really glad that she tackled a non-believing main character so early in the series. I really liked Dave from Danger in the Shadows and am really glad to see him so soon. I wished we had seen Sara and Adam a little more, but they did at least show up.
I loved getting to know the O'Malley's and how they made their family.
Most of the time in christian fiction they non-believer is not a nice person. They are the bad guy or at the very least a snotty person. I'm really glad that Henderson choose this whole clan of people that are overcoming their dark past, but are good people, to be non-believers.
I like Dave alot. I like Kate and Marcus (as they were the most visible in this book). I'm excited that I'll be meeting the rest of the family and hopefully will hear a bit more from Dave and Kate.

Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Sara is terrified. She's doing the one thing she cannot afford to do: fall in love with former pro-football player Adam Black, a man everyone knows. Sara's been hidden away in the witness protection program, her safety dependent on staying invisible—and loving Adam could get her killed!
Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.  "


I LOVED this book. It started out fast and never slowed down. I loved all the characters.
I loved how Henderson tackled alot of big things in this book. She was pretty brave with this one. There's suspense that involves sicko's and children and then there is christian fiction. Somehow she portrays this guy's insane mind while staying true to the christian ficiton plot. It was amazing.
She tackles some pretty large issues too. Not handing over your fear to God if you were kidnapped as a child and still hunted seems pretty logical. I would think I would fear everything, forever.
This was a touch issue that she had to address in this book.
She didn't pull a hokey way of doing it either. She make the whole situation very believable.
I love Dave (I hope to see him later) and Adam.
This is my favorite Dee Henderson book so far and I can wait to get started on the rest of them that I have waiting for me!

True Courage by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Someone snatched his cousin's wife and son. FBI agent Luke Falcon is searching for a kidnapper and sorting out the crime. He's afraid it's the work of a stalker. He's afraid they're already dead, and he'll do anything required to get them back alive--he just didn't plan on falling in love with the only witness.

Uncommon Heroes: Welcome to a world where friendships go deep, loyalties stand strong, and uncommon heroes perform the toughest jobs in the world. Dee Henderson's military romance series provides a detailed passage into the world of the military and homeland heroes, and those they love.  "


This book felt a little slow to me. It had alot of things going on and it was sort of fast paced, but for some strange reason.
I liked  Caroline and Sharon and Benjamin.
Luke had alot of struggles going on with his profession, but he knew what he needed to do to get the job done.
I wish I could have seen a little bit more of Caroline, but since she was missing, I get it.
I also wish that I felt that Luke got a little bit more satisfaction or a kind of light bulb moment, especially after he found Caroline.
Mark was a good side character, but he could have been a bit more involved I think.
This wasn't my favorite one, and really it didn't connect at all to the other three books and that was kind of strange.
I wish I had gotten another book from the SEALS team, but this was pretty good.

True Honor by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"CIA officer Darcy St. James is after a man who knew September 11 would happen—a man who chose to profit from the knowledge. Navy SEAL Sam "Cougar" Houston is busy: The intelligence Darcy is generating has his team deploying around the world. Under the pressure of war, their romance flourishes. But it may be a short relationship: for the terrorists have chosen their next targets, and Darcy's name is high on the list.
Uncommon Heroes: Welcome to a world where friendships go deep, loyalties stand strong, and uncommon heroes perform the toughest jobs in the world. Dee Henderson's military romance series provides a detailed passage into the world of the military and homeland heroes, and those they love."

I am still on the liking Dee Henderson kick. This book added in alot of suspense. I liked meeting Darcy and Gabe. I liked seeing a little more of Wolf and getting to know Cougar.
I loved how Henderson worked in Darcy feeling guilty about what she does. She is ultimately responsible for the information that will either kill the bad guy or save the bad guy and innocent people die. She struggles with how God will feel about her being a part of people (good or bad) being killed. She also struggles with the whole good and evil thing.
I loved how Cougar always has such a profound statement when they are needed. I loved how he stuck with her even when she was less than blissful.
There were alot of struggles in this book. I loved the struggle themselves, because they are so real. And I loved how the struggles worked themselves out. I also love to learn a little bit about myself when I'm reading a book. Henderson works scripture into her books that shed light on everyday things.  



True Valor by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Heroes get a new meaning when you see inside their lives. Gracie is a Navy Pilot; Bruce works Air Force Pararescue. With dangerous jobs—often away from home—they write love letters. When Gracie is shot down behind enemy lines, Bruce has one mission: get her out alive.
Uncommon Heroes: Welcome to a world where friendships go deep, loyalties stand strong, and uncommon heroes perform the toughest jobs in the world. Dee Henderson's military romance series provides a detailed passage into the world of the military and homeland heroes, and those they love. "

I was looking forward to this book and I wasn't disappointed. I love the concept of writing a book through letters. I love letters, especially love letters! You can see so much of a person based on a letter. It's truly a lost art. The most important thing in my house are my letters from my husband.
I just really loved Grace and Bruce. I loved getting to meet them. I loved that Henderson tackled the toughness that is dual military. I love that she shows the good side of the military life. Often we hear the bad side. I love how she was able to truly display what it is that people around the military feel. It's a pride to be able to do something for their country.
I will leave you with this fantastic quote.

""Not taking relationships for granted is part of what life teaches you. When you're in the military, you just learn that lesson sooner. I think of it as the life squeeze, the pressure deployments put on decisions about priorities. Most people in the civilian world can become workaholics and ignore fmaily because they come home every night and think it's enough. Only when you're gone for months at a time do you learn how strong the relationships you have really are.
Civilians lose out on so much: doing something that benefits a nation, being in a job that requires excellence every day, getting reminded regularly why you should pay attention to the real priorities in life. The military teaches you not to get attached to the place or the thing but the people."

True Devotion by Dee Henderson

From Barnes and Noble:

"Kelly Jacobs watched with pride as her husband, Nick, triumphed in his demanding SEALs military training. When he dies on a mission three years later, she is wounded to the soul-yet copes with the determination of a SEAL's wife; bracing herself to keep going despite the loss. In return, Nick's comrades watch over Kelly as part of their family. Joe Baker had been leading the team when Nick was killed. He takes the loss especially hard: Nick had led him to Christ and was his best friend. When Nick dies, Joe suffers survivor's guilt. He takes care of Kelly and plans to find her a new husband. He figures he owes her that-he just hadn't counted on falling in love with her. As Kelly struggles to move on and Joe is torn between loyalty to Nick and love for Kelly, God provides surprising answers to their dilemmas and reveals the beauty of the truth that "a friend loves at all times."

I couldn't wait to get home and blog about this book. It's been a long time since I've wanted to read and read and keep reading.
I was a little bit skeptical about reading it because first thing was that Kelly is a war widow. I wasn't sure if I was quite ready for that yet. BUT, I read alot of firefighter books with DH was a fireman, so I figured it would be ok.
I have been wanting to read Henderson for a while now. I sort of gathered that she was similar to Terri Blackstock, and I love her.
I was not disappointed. She does a great job developing characters and building suspense. I loved these people. I loved how she worked the Word into this book.
There was lots of great build up that had me coming back for more. She did a great job of making the people real. I felt like I got to know them.
I highly recommend this book. I'm going to finish this series and start on the next.  

Whiplash by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

Coulter was trying to take on somethine big in this book. She didn't quite get there for me. I think it's because she is now consistently putting two different plots in the same book. I think that the drug angle was a bit too much for a half of a book.

Yale professor Dr. Edward Kender’s father is undergoing chemotherapy when the supply of a critical accompanying drug, Culovort, suddenly runs out. Unwilling to accept the drug manufacturer’s disingenuous excuse of production line problems, Dr. Kender hires private investigator Erin Pulaski to prove that something more sinister is going on at Schiffer Hartwin.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, married FBI agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich are investigating a rather unusual case: Senator David Hoffman is experiencing a ghostly apparition with possible malicious intent. The case is baffling, and Sherlock and Savich are not sure what to believe, even after witnessing the disturbing specter for themselves. They’re no closer to cracking the case when a call comes in from Connecticut: A top foreign Schiffer Hartwin employee has been found murdered behind the drug company’s U.S. headquarters.
Unbeknownst to the FBI, Erin Pulaski had uncovered a bombshell in her investigation: The Culovort shortage is set to bring in a windfall profit in excess of two billion dollars. Upon learning of the murder, Erin is certain it has something to do with her findings, but she risks exposing herself by coming forward. As the feds move in, the case becomes even more complicated for Erin, since the murder of a foreign national on federal land can mean only that the pharmaceutical house has a secret of epic proportions — one it would do anything to keep hidden.

I also didn't like how she put so much in the plot with the senator for it to just flop. That's how it felt to me. It's like she started with this whole elaborate other-worldly story and then she just let it drop by using a lame excuse.
It took me a long time to read this series, and I'm glad that they it's over for now. I may come back to Coulter at some time, but I can say that she's not really one of my favorites.

Knockout by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"The first time she spoke to him was at midnight. Seven-year-old Autumn Backman needed a hero. When she saw Special Agent Dillon Savich on TV after he’d brought down bank robbers in a Georgetown bank, she knew she’d found him. She called Savich, but she didn’t use the phone. They were burying dead people in my daddy’s grave . . . they’re coming after us. Please help me. Who’s they? Blessed, he’s coming. Ethan Merriweather, sheriff of Titusville, Virginia, a small mountain town near the Titus Hitch Wilderness, goes looking for a missing little girl. Soon after he finds her, Ethan realizes that Autumn has brought him a huge problem – a relentless madman who has the ability to control others simply by looking at them. And the madman is after her and her mom.
It’s Uncle Blessed, and he wants Autumn.When Savich answers Autumn’s call, she tells him Blessed is from Bricker’s Bowl, Georgia. Savich and Sherlock go to Blessed’s home, learn about his brother, Grace, and meet their mother, Shepherd. Savich soon realizes the only way to stop Blessed is to “cut off the snake’s head.” Back in Titusville, Ethan, Autumn, and her mother, Joanna, are forced to hide from Blessed and Grace in the wilderness. Ethan knows the brothers will never give up their insane pursuit for Autumn.
It’s a race to stop the madness, or the madness will destroy them all.

Weird, weird I tell you. I loved little Autumn. I feel like Coulter keeps pointing more and more to Savich and Sherlock having another child. I loved how Autumn was critical in both cases. I tend to get tired of one author if I read them too much in a row. Right now I'm finding Coulter to be lacking in some parts of a story line.
It's hard to have a romantic suspense without the romantic. She elludes characters having a relationship after the book is over. That's not really a romance.



Tailspin by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"When a fellow agent's plane crashes deep in the Appalachian Mountains, married FBI agents Savich and Sherlock find the pilot and his passenger alive. But that's just the beginning of a case that plummets them into a whirlwind of vicious murder attempts, powerful suspects, political secrets, and escalating terror. "

Somewhere along the way this book lost me. Totally lost me. It was a chore really, for me to finish. The last couple of books have had several completely different story lines going on. These two story lines were just all over the map. They sort of came together in a few places, but really it was just ALOT.
I liked Rachael, but Jack was lacking something for me.
There are also some weird things going on here with Savich and Sherlock. I haven't quite put my finger on it yet, it could just be that I'm tired of them both.
For some reason this book is lacking the suspense and chemistry that most of the series has had. I had to make myself finish it.

Double Take by Catherine Coulter

From Fantasticfiction.com:

"It's been more than six months since her husband's brutal death, and Julia Ransom is just beginning to breathe again. She loved her husband, renowned psychic August Ransom, but the media frenzy that followed his murder sapped what little strength she had left. Now, after dinner with friends, strolling along San Francisco's Pier 39, she realizes that she's happy. Standing at the railing, she savors the sounds around her-tourists, seals on a barge-and for a moment enjoys the sheer normalcy of it all. And then it comes to an end.
Out of nowhere she's approached by a respectable-looking man who distracts her with conversation before violently attacking her and throwing her the railing. If it hadn't been for Special Agent Cheney Stone, out to stretch his legs between courses at a local restaurant, Julia would have vanished into the bay's murky depths. Not only does he save her from a watery grave, but he senses a connection between her assault and her husband's death, and sets out to serve as her protector while reopening August Ransom's murder investigation.
Meanwhile, in Maestro, Virginia, Sheriff Dixon Noble-last seen in Point Blank-still mourns his wife, Christie, who vanished hree years earlier. His life, too, is just getting back to normal when he learns of a San Francisco woman named Charlotte Pallack, whose shocking resemblance to Christie sends Dix across the country. Though he knows in his heart that she can't possibly be his wife, Dix is compelled to see her with his own eyes. Once in San Francisco, Dix and Cheney's paths inevitably cross. With the help of agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock, whose San Francisco connections prove essential in unlocking the mystery behind Charlotte Pallack's identity as well as the forces behind Julia Ransom's attempted murder, Sheriff Noble and Agent Stone push deep into a complex world of psychics and poseurs. As the stakes and the body count rise, Savich, Sherlock, Dix, and Cheney fight for answers-and their lives."

Woah, I feel like I just went on a roller coaster ride. What a ton of stuff going on here. We've got the psychic world that is interesting to say the least and we've got Ruth and Dix AND we've got some crazy stuff going on with Sherlock and Savich. What a ride.
I was shown some new perspective on things that I have never even thought of while they were interviewing the psychics. For a fluff fiction book to make me take a different look at things is rather nifty.
I was a little upset that Dix took a walk on the wild side and that he let things get under his skin enough to make him change his morals. I am also pretty upset with him in reguards to Ruth. I wonder where that's going to go?
I liked the Julia and Cheney element. I thought they were cute and a breath of fresh air.
It seems like things are getting a little stressful and too much for Savich. I think he's having a harder time dealing with things that Sherlock is.

Point Blank by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"The tenth installment of Catherine Coulter's FBI saga (Blowout, Blindside, et al.) may be her most action-packed, psychologically intense thriller to date. As husband-and-wife agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are faced with the most intimately frightening case of their careers (apprehending a psychopath obsessed with evening the score with Savich for some long-ago injustice), FBI special agent Ruth Warnecki is busy trying to unravel the bizarre mystery of a murdered music student found in a rural Virginia cave."

Coulter had two seperate story lines going on this time, they had nothing to do with one another. It should have been a mess and it should have been confusing, but somehow it wasn't. She had a nice blend of the both. If she had done a book per mystery it would have gotten boring at some point. But since she played them both at the same time, it didn't get bogged down.
When we first meet Dix, he seems old. He seems like he's too old to be in this series. Still in the end of this he seems like an old soul. Could be the grief, could be the perpetual confusion he seems to be in.
Ruth is very independant. She doesn't place herself in the middle of Dix's family, but somehow she ends up there. Their relationship isn't the type that either person will just simply DIE without the other, but it works.
I LOVED the scene when Savich and Sherlock get in a fight. I thought he was being a total pig about the whole thing.
This was a pleasant book. For some reason it took me longer to get through it than it should have. I'm not sure if my mind just wasn't fully engaged or what.



Blow Out by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

Secrets, surprises, and suspense are the hallmarks of the novels in Catharine Coulter's bestselling series of contemporary FBI thrillers. That has been true ever since The Cove came out in 1996, with its chilling story of a woman on the run and the FBI agent who saved her.

Coulter's Blowout heralds the return of handsome, perceptive Detective Ben Raven (from Blindside) of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., working again with the ever-popular FBI couple, Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich. Raven is less than pleased when his federal agent friends ask him to team up with investigative reporter Callie Markham in their new case involving the brutal murder of a Supreme Court justice who happens to be Callie's stepfather. And it soon becomes clear that the crafty killer isn't about to stop at one victim, no matter how highly placed.
With the press keeping a spotlight on the growing peril in the nation's capital, Savich must also come to grips with a more elusive case he came upon by chance. Following a minor traffic accident while on vacation in the Poconos, Savich encountered a desperate young woman who pleaded for his help and led him to the scene of a violent crime only to disappear. When Savich goes to the local authorities, he's told that everything he "witnessed" took place almost 30 years earlier -- a revelation supported by evidence (or lack of it) when he returns to the scene and finds that the elegant house he'd searched before was now a ramshackle shell. But that doesn't mean Savich can forget the fear that haunted the woman who came to him for help or change her need for justice.

So Coulter's been walking the line with adding a supernatural element to this series for a bit now. Up until now she was just dancing on the line, but this book she stepped on over. I've got nothing against some "other" elements going on in books, I'm cool with it.
This book took a little bit to get moving. I liked Callie and I'm glad that Ben got his own book. I was pretty happy that Sherlock got to be the lead in this. Savich is usually the one who is the brains behind everything, but this time Sherlock was the one that was on top of things this time.
The whole scene with Samantha and Austin was a little bit out there. Not so much out there as in too much supernatural, just out there as in not really in the storyline. It didn't mesh at all with the bigger story.
I'm thinking that the whole thing with Callie's mom is going to come back. It just didn't wrap up like most things Coulter does. There wasn't a neat little bow. I also didn't like how the bad guy picked his victims. That seemed just a little too easy. Maybe those two things will come back around at some point.
This book lacked some of the suspense and excitment of some of the others.
I didn't not like it, but I do hope that the next one's a bit better.

Blindside by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"New York Times–bestselling author Catherine Coulter's FBI series never fails to deliver sensual sizzle along with the suspense. In Blindside, husband-and-wife FBI agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich team up again on two vital cases: a killer who targets Washington, D.C., teachers and the kidnapping of an old friend's son. Though six-year-old Sam manages to escape and take refuge with Tennessee sheriff Katie Benedict and her daughter, Keely, his kidnappers quickly strike again...and pay a deadly price for the rematch when reinforcements arrive in the form of Sam's dad (a former FBI agent) and his buddy Savich. But the terror isn't over: It soon becomes clear that whoever is behind the kidnapping has only changed strategies, not abandoned the plan. The investigation leads in unexpected directions, particularly among the followers of a powerful local evangelist. As the story unfolds in a beautiful town nestled amid the Smoky Mountains, the quick-thinking sheriff uncovers unforeseen hazards, surprising secrets...and an extraordinary opportunity for love."

This one is probably my favorite FBI Thriller book so far. I love Katie and Miles and the kids. I loved the interaction with Keely and Sam and how Coulter made them a huge part and interactions in the story.
There were some things in the story line were a little touchy to me. The bad guys were bad because of their extreme zealous religion thoughts. I was a bit touchy because some of the things that the bad guys were saying were not that far off. Not enough wacky to be evil-like.
I like how things ended. I like that we got the big L word and the world seems to have worked itself out. I was a bit worried that Katie would give up who she was in order to have the guy and have the best for her child. She held true to herself though, so I liked that alot.
I'll give this a 3 out of 5

Eleventh Hour by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"In their seventh crime swoop, FBI agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich track down a very elusive murderer. Father Michael Joseph, the twin brother of a FBI colleague, is slain, but the only witness to the crime vanishes. To the double mystery of murder and disappearance is quickly added a third element: Sherlock and Savich discover a connection between Father Michael's killing and one "committed" on an upcoming episode of a trendy new TV series. Is the murderer a copycat killer or a psychic?"

I loved this one. It was very very emotional. I love how Coulter will mention an agent here and there and give you just enough to hope that there will be a book about them. I loved meeting Agent Carver. I loved Nick. I was very impressed with how long Nick held on to her secret.
I thought I figured out the mystery early on, then I got side tracked and it took me a while to get back around to it.
I really like how Coulter gives you more than one story line at a time, but not so many that your mind is blown. She gives you a nice balance. She's not too mushy with the love stuff and in fact, in most cases you don't really get a ton of looooove stuff going on. You are on the "case" most of the time.
I really liked this case. I loved that you saw all kinds of sides of Dane and Nick.

Hemlock Bay by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"FBI agents Dillon Savich and his wife, Lacey Sherlock, are in the middle of a frightening case involving two psychopathic killers and a series of ghoulish kidnappings, when trouble hits on the home front. Dillon's younger sister, Lily, has been injured after crashing her sports utility vehicle into a giant redwood tree and, if Dillon is to believe Lily's father-in-law, the crash was no accident. But was it another suicide attempt, the second since Lily's daughter was killed by a hit-and-run driver just seven months ago? Convinced that fast answers could save Lily's life, Dillon and Lacey race to California's Hemlock Bay, and what they find proves shocking even to them.

Unbeknownst to Lily, her latest "accident" is part of a twisted plot to steal from her eight valuable paintings bequeathed to Lily by her famous grandmother, artist Sarah Elliott. When Lily leaves Hemlock Bay, taking the paintings with her, it doesn't take long for art broker Simon Russo to spot four of the paintings as forgeries. So where are the originals?
That's what Lily and Simon are determined to find out, following clues that will take them from prestigious Washington, D.C. galleries to New York, back to Hemlock Bay, and across the globe to Switzerland, where a notorious collector holds the secret to the missing paintings -- and Lily and Simon's fates -- in his hands. And this time, they're on their own, as Dillon and Lacey are called back into action to catch a killer whose terrifying powers exceed anything the FBI agents have ever encountered anywhere in this world."

So it was great to meet someone from Savich's life. We have met plenty of his friend, but not really his family. I liked Lily, I liked Simon alot. The fact that Savich's friend ends up with his sister.
I love that we have a book in this series that neither one of the main characters were cops. Simon is an ex-cop, but for the duration of this book he's not a cop.
I love who the "bad guys" ended up being. Although I felt bad for Tennyson.
I loved how she wrapped up the Tuttle fiasco. I really thought it was awesome how Lily played into that.
I was fairly pleased with how Coulter grasped depression and Lily's "attempts" at suicide.
The international ploy going on here, I didn't particularly care for...but somebody had to be behind it all.
I liked it, although it hasn't been my favorite to date. I give it a 2 out of 5.

Riptide by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"Becca Matlock thought she had it made when she landed a job as political speechwriter for the campaign to re-elect a popular New York governor. Then the nasty phone calls began, the threats reached a fever pitch, and an innocent person was killed. Now, as a stalker draws nearer, Becca flees for the safety of coastal Maine and the sanctuary of Riptide. But the only thing waiting for her at the seaside estate is a killer fueled by a generation of hate -- and a watery grave."

It's been a while since I read this book so I had to do a little brain digging to remember it. That's what I get for waiting to write the reviews.
This book had a lot of stuff weaving in and out. I liked Becca, I liked Adam alot.
Becca's mom has just died from cancer. She thinks that her dad died a long time ago when actually he was a super secret spy. Adam is part of that spy stuff. It's really cool how it all plays out. I will admit though that the Krimakov thing played out a little weirdish for me.
Tyler was out of left field, That added a whole other  feel to the book, but not in an unpleasant way. Becca was a go-getter. I loved her sense of humor and the way that she and Adam played off each other.
Alot of times you have already figure a book out at least by about the halfway point. BUT, this one I hadn't figured out until late in the book what the heck was going on.
I liked it, I'll give this a 2.75 out of 5

The Edge by Catherine Coulter

From Amazon:

"Following the success of The Cove, The Maze, and The Target, Coulter again delights readers with her latest offering, The Edge. Recovering in a D.C. hospital from a Tunisian car bomb accident, FBI agent Ford MacDougal awakens from a violent dream in which his sister Jilly drives off a cliff and into the ocean. Ford feels her fear as well as her anger and agony over the betrayal by someone named Laura, and shares the utter stillness as the frigid waters engulf her. The next morning, he receives the news that Jilly was indeed in a car accident. And when he arrives in Edgerton, Oregon, it quickly becomes obvious that something mysterious and deadly is going on in the quiet, little town. Add a quirky cast of characters, including a sexy, undercover DEA agent named--you guessed it--Laura, a drug that improves sex exponentially but has the unfortunate side effect of making its users psychotic, and you've got all the ingredients for a fast-paced, can't-put-down thriller."

This book was a little different than anything I've never read before. First of all it's pretty rare for me to pick up a book that's in the first person. I'm not really sure why, I just think it's strange. On top of being in the first person, it's from a man's perspective. I cannot say that I recall ever having read a book in the first person by a man.
Surprisingly enough, Coulter did a fantastic job of getting the male perspecitve, in my opinion. She did go off on a few description tangents involving flowers and butterflies that were a wee bit unbelievable though.
The plot to this one was a little bit out there for me. She got a bit nitty gritty with the "sex drug." It was actually kind of disturbing, some of the things that went on.
I'm going to continue with this FBI Thriller series, I just hope she steps back a little from the weirdness of this book.
I will give it a 2ish out of 5.

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

From Barnes and Noble:

"Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic. Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend."

So I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but my mood tends to go along with whatever book I'm reading. So since DH has been away I've tried my best to just read books that are happy-go-lucky. I've tried to keep everything around me as upbeat as possible so that I can stay that way.
This book was cute. It was funny, and it did a great job of seeing inside someone with flaws and how she fixed them. But it made me rather sad for pretty much the whole book.
Harper had alot of stuff going on, and she did her best to fix things as she knew how. But she ran into one road block after another. I felt so bad for her. I felt the pain that she was feeling, and that my friends is not good for me...lol.
It was good. Higgins did a great job and under other circumstances I would love this book. But instead for right now it has brought me down a bit. But that's only because Higgins did a great job of making you believe and feel her characters.
I will definately read her again, but I will make sure I have my DH back first...just in case.



Already Home by Susan Mallery

From Barnes and Noble:

"After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store. Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.
Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love…."

As stated before, I LOVE Susan Mallery. She writes stories that usually have a little twist to them, but they are always sweet. I love a sweet story.
I loved all the characters, except of course Aaron.
Violet was a great girl, I am so pleased that Dragon ends up with her. I am a little disappointed that they don't get their own book though, that would have made for some laughs!
I liked Ellington and Jenna.
It was very cool to see the dynamics when a wrench is thrown into family times.
I love a book that makes me feel good when it's over, this book did it for me. I always look for any Mallery books that are coming out, and this one was good!
I give it a 3 out of 5





Cinderella and other stories by Richard Harding Davis

I want to get some classics and children's books read because there are so many that I have not read. I sort of have to bribe myself into reading them, because there are so many other books that I want to read. But, they are classics for a reason, so Try I will!

Cinderella

I thought that this whole book was Cinderella, and that it was THE Cinderella. It is not, however. I read it anyway and enjoyed it immensely. It was rather hilarious actually.
It was set in America, and there was a servant's ball. At this ball was a woman that although her name was Annie, was called Cinderella. She danced beautifully.
It was remniscent of Pygmalion in that there are two men that have decided to make a lady out of a servant type girl. I do love that we see the other side of it. Who's to say she wasn't perfectly happy in the life that she was already living? Who's to say that changing her life so dramatically will actually benefit HER instead of just being a whim that these two men take.
The humor in this story was fantastic, I loved it. I also like the story line alot. I like things that are a little bit different than what you'd expect.
I still want to read the real Cinderella, but I am very happy that I found this one.

Here are a few favorite quotes:

"She said he was an elegant or-gan-ist, putting the emphasis on the second syllable, which made Van Bibber think that she was speaking of some religious body to which he belonged. But the oragnist make his profession clear by explaining that the committee had just invited him to oblige the company with a solo on the piano, but that he had been hitting the champagne so hard that he doubted if he could tell the keys from the pedals, and he added that if they'd excuse him he would go to sleep, which he immediately did with his head on the shoulder of the lady recitationist, who tactfully tried not to notice that he was there."

"Van Bibber was consious that his friends were applauding him in dumb show from the balcony, and when his partner asked who they were, he repudiated them altogether, and said he could not imagine, but that he guessed from their bad manners they were professional entertainers hired for the evening."

Miss Delamar's Understudy

This however, was really strange. A group of men were sitting around talking about how much they loved adventure, and that they just couldn't see themselves tied down to a wife. They made some comparisons of love to petting a dogs head that was really quite funny.
So they were discussing that they would like to make a kind of trial run at marriage to see if they would like keeping the company of a woman before they actually considered getting married. So one of the gentlemen did an experiment on being married to the photo of a woman that he found to be the most beautiful woman in all the world.
He sat down to dinner and conversation with the photograph and then an evening discussing old stories, reading and chatting with the photograph.
Strange I tell you, rather strange.

The Editor's Story

Man, this one was rather strange too.
An editor runs across a poem that he recognizes and having been published in a paper already. The poem has been plagarized by the son of an upstanding powerful man. When the editor finally figures out who the plagarist is, he takes a report to confront the man in hopes to get a scandalized story out of it.
Instead they decide not to write the story, not to publish the plagarized poem and to just let the whole thing drop.
I failed to find "the REST of the story, and good day!"

The Target by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

FBI agents Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock are faced with the case of an abducted child. But is the girl's kidnapper really her savior?

She's getting better by the book! I liked this one alot. I liked all the characters. I loved the interaction between Emma and Ramsey, that was just sweet as pie. I liked Molly alot. I loved how all the characters grew and learned lessons by the end of the book. I love the way Coulter left it sort of open ended with Mason and Molly's mom.
I also love that Savich and Sherlock had a baby, and that she only got sick when Dillon said the P word! That was cute.
I liked the way that Coulter touched on abuse. I like that she also took us through the steps of healing, instead of just that Emma was abused. I'm glad that she put that real world aspect into it. People have to heal after they are hurt.
I think that I'll be reading more of this FBI series!
I'll give it a 3 out of 5



The Maze by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

FBI Special Agent Dillon Savich teams up with new agent Lacey Sherlock in a case that leads them back to the murder of Sherlock's sister seven years ago, and puts both their lives on the line.

This book definately was an improvement from The Cove. She got it down to one plot, and gave me a plot that kept moving but didn't get strangely complicated. I love the interaction between Savich and Sherlock. I really liked Savich from The Cove, so I'm glad that I got to meet him again. Coulter did a great job of letting you see inside some of the outer characters.
I also liked seeing Sally and James from the previous book.
I liked that Sherlock had a totally screwed up family, because who can't relate to that?
I think this book had the right amount of suspense and romance.
I'm really glad that this was better for me than The Cove was. I'm looking forward to reading more.



The Cove by Catherine Coulter

From Barnes and Noble:

"So perfect, like a Hollywood set," FBI agent James Quinlan thinks as he enters The Cove, a seemingly tranquil, picture-postcard town situated on the Oregon coast. Quinlan has been on Sally Brainerd's trail since her arms-dealing father, Amory St. John, was murdered. Sally is the key witness, and it's Quinlan's job to bring her in. Quinlan, whose cover is working as a PI hired to find an old couple who had mysteriously disappeared three years earlier, quickly learns that when he starts asking questions, bad things start happening. Coulter (The Nightingale Legacy), whose contemporary suspense novels are, unfortunately, few and far between, delivers a fast-paced, solidly structured read despite the occasionally cartoonish characters."

So right now I'm trying to read real fast through all the book that I have at home and get rid of them so that I don't have to pack and lugg them on our journey. I'm not even positively sure where this book came from, but it was in the stack so it had to be read.
This was my first Catherine Coulter novel. I am familiar with her because she is so popular, but I had never actually read her myself.
I'm not really sure how to express myself on this book. It started out like any good romantic suspense, but somewhere along the way it just got strange. It's like there was about 4 different plots going on. I think she for sure could have gotten two books out of this one. It was ok. It was not would I would really call fast paced. Somehow for it to have so much going on, it actually moved rather slowly for me.
For me, I would have liked it better had she stuck with one or the other. Stick with Sally's stuff, or stick with the town's stuff. It was just alot to take in.
Based soley on this book, I cannot say that I'm a Coulter fan. I have one more book to read before I fully decide. It was just ok.
We'll give this one a 2 out of 5.

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader by Neil Gaimen et all

From Barnes and Noble:

Best-selling author Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN) joins a murderer's row of talented artists in lending his unique touch to the Batman mythos for this Deluxe Edition hardcover! Spotlighting the story "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?" from BATMAN #685 and DETECTIVE COMICS #852 in which Gaiman joins artist Andy Kubert and inker Scott Williams for a story that shines a new light on the Batman mythos. Also collects Gaiman stories from SECRET ORIGINS #36, SECRET ORIGINS SPECIAL #1 and BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE #2. This collection is not to be missed!

The New York Times - George Gene Gustines

Its title story, written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Andy Kubert, imagines several variations of Batman's death. This anthology, published by DC Comics, also includes other stories by Mr. Gaiman about the millionaire Bruce Wayne's famous alter ego. The other tales are very good, but "Whatever Happened to ..." packs enough emotional punch to stand solo.

So, as part of my book group I went out on a limb. This is my very first go with a graphic novel. I went in with an open mind (I think). The goal of the book group was for us to read things that we would not normally read. To be more well rounded readers.
Now, I cannot lie, I know absolutely NOTHING about Batman. The super heroes and comics never held any appeal to me. So this book may mean something completely different for someone else.
I loved the premise. There have been multiple writers and illustrators for the Batman series over the years. They each had their own feel and look. The Neil Gaimen and Andy Kubert did a fantastic job of working in all the various Batman's that have evolved through time. I loved that they brought together all the different styles.
I also though that it was rather neat that they had Batman listening in on his own funeral. That he got to hear it all.
I thought that it was also nifty that each person in attendance had their own version of what happened.
I did not however like the ending. I just cannot believe that they would play off of Good Night Moon for Batman of all characters.
Seriously, "Good Night Bat Signal" For Real?!?!
Anywho, I can now say that I have read a graphic novel. It wasn't painful. It was however at times confusing, but I guess you would just get used to that.
I think it would have been easier for me to have read a graphic novel that I wasn't plunking right down in the end, with no prior knowledge, but I made do.

Death is Forever by Elizabeth Lowell

Since Barnes and Noble, I'll give you a synopsis.

Erin is a photographer that has been through some rather rough experiences in the past. She was used by her father (a CIA agent) in a mission that ended up with her beaten and raped repeatedly. She as a result no longer trusts anyone and is more at home in the wilderness without people.

Cole Blackburn has also been forced to see the bad in people and has in turned lost his ability to trust.

Erin and Cole are half owners in a diamond mine that is believed to have the most magnificent diamonds ever seen, they just don't know where it is.

Everyone is trying to get them to either not find the mine, or turn it over to someone else. With only each other to trust they must survive the brutal Austrailian build-up and find the mine.

This book was full of adventure. I liked the fast pace and I enjoyed learning about the diamond industry. I found both Erin and Cole likeable characters. I liked how they evolved over the book. The only thing that I would have liked to have seen was a little more development of their relationship. They stayed mad at each other over pretty much the entire book. They were both working through internal things and didn't really leave much room for the development of the relationship.

I felt like there at the end it was all rather sloppily thrown together. Their last meeting was kind of just there. No lead up, no real ending I felt like.

I did like it, it was a nice story and I feel like I can take something away with me.

Overall I think I'll give this one a 2.5 out of 5



Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

From Barnes and Noble:

There's little as thrilling as firefighting-at least to Rowan Tripp. The Missoula smoke jumpers are in Rowan's blood: her father is a legend. She's been fighting fires since her eighteenth birthday. At this point, returning to the wilds of Montana for the season feels like coming home-even with reminders of the partner she lost last season still lingering.
Fortunately, this year's rookie crop is one of the strongest ever-and Gulliver Curry's one of the best. He's also a walking contradiction, a hotshot firefighter with a big vocabulary and a winter job at a kids' arcade.
Everything is thrown off balance when a dark presence lashes out against Rowan, looking to blame someone for last year's tragedy. Rowan knows she can't complicate things with Gull-any distractions in the air or on the ground could mean the end-but if she doesn't find someone she can lean on, she may not make it through the summer. . . .

I love the way Nora Roberts tells a story. She gives time for a build up, plenty of suspense and she develops characters like nobody else I've found. I just love her. It always disappoints me how quickly I read through a Nora Roberts book. I want it to last longer.
Of course I flew through this book in two days. I was a tad bit disappointed that the end just happened. You were in the middle of the good part and BAM, the end. She did wrap it up nicely and take care of everything, but I think I needed a little time to adjust :)
I loved all the characters and even felt a bit bad for the bad guy. I liked meeting these people and walking through this with them. Dobie was probably my favorite, he was a fun guy.
I love the way she weaves everyone in and out of each other and always teaches me something that I didn't know about. Not that I feel like I'm an expert on Zulies now, but I feel a bit better informed.
Thanks Nora, it was great!

I give this a 3.5 out of 5!



Don't Tell by Karen Rose

From Barnes and Noble:

It was a desperate plan. But Mary Grace Winters knew the only way to save herself and her child from her abusive cop husband was to stage their own death. Now all that remains of their former life is at the bottom of a lake. Armed with a new identity in a new town, she and her son have found refuge hundreds of miles away. As Caroline Stewart, she has almost forgotten the nightmare she left behind nine years ago. She is even taking a chance on love with Max Hunter, a man with wounds of his own. But her past is about to collide with the present when her husband uncovers her trail and threatens her hard-won peace. Step by step, he's closing in on her- and everything and everyone she loves.

I think I'll be done with Karen Rose for a while. I can only stick with one author for a certain amount of time. I was a wee bit disappointed with this book. It didn't move fast enough for me. There was alot of things going on in alot of different places and it just didn't go off quite how I would have liked. I didn't really have a particular fondness of any of the characters really. I would however, like to read later about Evie and Steven (I'm not sure if they are together or not). This to me seemed like a spring off book. Like she had to make it to introduce some of the characters in books that will follow later. I was just not enamored with this book. It was just O.K. to me.

(I'm hoping to find some little graphic that will be my rating system. I have not come up with one yet, but I think from now on I'll rate at the end with a 0-5 scale)

I give this a 2 out of 5

You Can't Hide - Karen Rose

From Barnes and Noble:

Terror has forever changed the life of psychiatrist Tess Ciccotelli. Someone is tormenting her patients, pushing them to commit suicide, and setting her up to take the blame. But Tess can't break her oath to protect her patients' privacy at all costs. Even when detective Aidan Reagan demands a list of everyone she's treating. Even when the mounting danger threatens Tess herself.

This is my third Karen Rose book in a row. I like her. Aiden sort of made himself hard to like at first. I warmed up to him, but I still like his brother Abe better. Aiden is the tough guy cop that every girl loves. Tess was great. She did not feel like she had to explain every little thing. She lives her life not apologizing for what she believes and if you don't like it, oh well. I liked her.

The story line got a little complicated there towards the end. There was alot going on in alot of different directions. It all came together nicely in the end though. I must admit that I didn't really see the bad guy coming. I like when something comes together that I didn't see coming. Boo predictability.
I like how we got to see some of the characters from other books. Not enough to mess with the plot, but just enough to feel like you know them.

I'm Watching You - Karen Rose

From Barnes and Noble:

I Know Their Crimes. Star prosecutor Kristen Mayhew has a dangerous secret admirer. He seems to know her every thought, her every move. He sends her letters. And he kills the criminals she herself is powerless to stop. I Hunt Down the Guilty. This avenger even knows Kristen's deepest secret-the one that has kept her from surrendering her heart to Abe Reagan, the police detective sworn to protect her. Like Kristen, Reagan is haunted by the loss of something precious that can never be regained. But in the shadow of a calculating serial killer, the two turn to each other and dare to rediscover passion...even as the messages and vicious murders continue. Even as the killer's thirst for retribution makes Kristen a target for murder.

After reading Count to Ten, I was very interested to meet Abe. This did not disappoint. The story line was great. Somehow Rose made you feel sorry for the bad guy, I liked him. She took a whole new spin on vigilante justice. I liked Abe alot. I love his family. I related to Kristen. She had some serious things going on, but she's tough. She's a very likeable character.
I like suspense, but I do not however like scary. I love how Rose is able to keep you on the edge of your seat without being overly gorey and scaring the crap out of you. I have enjoyed reading her. She's definately on the good list!



Count to Ten - Karen Rose

From Barnes and Noble:

In all his years in the Chicago Fire Department, Lieutenant Reed Solliday ahs never experienced anything like this recent outbreak of house fires - devastating, vicious and in one case, homicidal. He has another problem - his new partner, Detective Mia Mitchell. She's brash, bossy, and taking the case in a direction he never imagined.
Mia's instincts tell her the arsonist is making this personal. And as the infernos become more deadly, one look at the victims' tortured faces convinces her and Reed that they must work closer to catch the killer. With each new blaze, the villain ups the ante, setting firetraps for the people Reed and Mia love. The truth is almost too hot to handle: This monster's desire for death and destruction is unquenchable ... and for Mia he's started the countdown to an early grave.


So, this is the first book quite like this I have read. It was long, but I love a long book as long as the characters and plot are developing. I took a liking to this book. I liked all the good guys. I loved Beth, she had such a strong character and the mystery around her sneaking out was great.
I liked watching the plot unfold and although I knew early on who it was, the why unfolded nicely.
I liked Mia, I liked Reed and I liked them together. I like the way they developed and I loved the way Rose let you see the struggle with the two.
Overall I did like this book. It wasn't my favorite all time book, but I will (and in fact am) read Karen Rose again.
I briefly looked through her book shelf and like that she has series and several books that are not quite series, but do intertwine.

Dead Even - Mariah Stewart

From Barnes and Noble:

Three devious prisoners vow murderous revenge.
Now the third is free.
FBI Special Agent Miranda Cahill has always played by the rules: always maintain a respectful professionalism, and never mix business with pleasure. Except when it comes to fellow agent Will Fletcher. Their on-again, off-again relationship has left painful scars even he has never seen.
Now, a series of murders has the two agents racing to outwit a killer before he can strike again. Miranda and Will know that lives depend on identifying intended victims and tracking them down before the killer does. But as they begin to unravel this homicidal agenda, it becomes clear that Miranda may be the last and final target in a twisted game. With the clock ticking, time is running out on a killer who is determined to cross Miranda’s name off his hit list . . . permanently.

This is my third Stewart book in a row (I'm trying to get rid of some books so I have less to pack). I think this was my favorite so far. In this one we saw a tiny bit of development of the relationship of Miranda and Will. The story line was great. There were tons of twists and turns, but not so much that it became confusing. It was just enough of each element. I liked both Miranda and Will. Miranda reacted to each death to passionately, I like to see that. At times it was hard to "get" Will, but in the end he came through. I read ths book out of sequence, so all these characters are also in other books of this series. I hope to be able to read them. I am glad that this book picked up for me. I was almost to the point of giving up on Stewart, but I think based on this one that I'll give her another try.



Last Look - Mariah Stewart

From Barnes and Noble:

THE TRUTH WON’T STAY BURIED.
News that the body of a recently murdered prostitute–stabbed repeatedly and dumped on Georgia’s Shelter Island–has been identified as Shannon Randall stuns the FBI, particularly special agent Dorsey Collins. Twenty-four years ago, nineteen-year-old Eric Louis Beale was convicted and later executed for Shannon’s murder–and the agent in charge of the case was Dorsey’s father. Now Dorsey is determined to find out where her father’s investigation went wrong, what part he played in the death of an innocent man, and where Shannon has been all this time.
The heat is on FBI special agent Andrew Shields to discover what happened to Shannon on that night decades ago–to find out who killed her and why. Dorsey shadows Andrew’s every investigative move, hoping to redeem her father’s reputation and capture a cunning killer. Together, Dorsey and Andrew unravel a shocking mystery that will shatter one family and rock an entire town.

The story line of this book kept me moving. I could not quite wrap it all up until she told me the end. I felt with and for these characters. I liked Dorsey, I liked that she was there to investigate something her father screwed up and she went there with an open mind. She knew that she could very well find something out about her father that was bad, but she went for the truth. I liked how all the characters interacted and mingled with each other. I did hope that there would be more development of the relationship between Dorsey and Andrew though. I liked that the story spanned a long period of time. I liked that even though it had been 24 years, we found out what really happened. I did hate what happened to Eric Louis Beale, but I'm glad that it all came to light. I admired Dorsey's toughness. She rolled with the punches and kept going.

Last Words - Mariah Stewart

From Library Journal:

A serial killer with a penchant for swaddling his victims in plastic wrap is at work in peaceful St. Dennis. Police Chief Gabriel Beck agrees to call in the FBI for help, but attractive special agent Mia Shields isn't quite what he expected. Then the killings increase, and the two realize they must now use Mia as bait. The romance between Beck and Mia develops nicely, right along with the investigation, and while it doesn't get in the way of the mystery, it is important to the story. Second in Stewart's trilogy about the Shields family, this graphic woman-in-jeopardy tale is typical of her suspense novels and sure to keep her fans entertained. The final chapter in the series, Last Breath, will be out in August 2007. Stewart (Last Look) lives in the Philadelphia area.

So this Shields family is in quite a few Stewart book, but I found Mia less likeable than most of the other Shields folks. The book had a good storyline. The idea was good, it just never really came to that point of "good" for me. It was ok. I liked Beck, I liked most of the side characters. I found Mia to be a bit whiney. I think that Stewart had a good idea but I think maybe the battle with alcohol and depression was just a little ambitious for this book. There was a bit too much going on for her to be able to give that the attention that it needed. I read Mariah Stewart a long time ago, and I remembered liking her. I think (hope) that she has maybe evolved since this book, because I kept reaching out for something that wasn't quite there. I wanted to see Mia and Beck's relationship emerge, and it just didn't. In fact there were several times that I wondered if he even liked her. It was just o.k. for me.



New Format

So I want to work harder on this part of my blogging world. I try very hard to write something everyday in my personal blog, so I would like to get more serious about this blog too.
I've looked around and found a format that I'll be using. It's for school children, but I think that I really like how it's set up.
*Random Tid Bit ~ Whenever I'm researching something, I go straight to the Juvenile Non Fiction section. In a children's book you get basically the same information, only they get right to the point. If I need to expand on that, then I head to the Adult Non Fiction.
So in this case, I feel the same way (although I'll tweek it a little). I hope that works out!

Challenge!

So I've been looking around to find a few more challenges to get me out of my little box of things I read.

I've found a few that I'll be trying.

First is the Lost! Reading Challenge

I'm signing up under the WALT! Level. Kind of Scary...I know!

NEXT:
Because I neglected to do this with Tonya when I was gonna!!!

Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge

I have signed up at the Lorelei level. That means 10 different books from three different categories.

Whew, I'm exhausted already!



The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

From Barnes and Noble:

Whisked away from his comfortable, unambitious life in his hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a company of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.

Well folks, I can check this one off. Boy did it take me forever. There were parts of this book that I found cute, and I liked the little hobbit, but this was no life changer for me. I've heard so much about this book that are just glowing reviews and hints at it being just life changing and wonderful. I didn't see it. I was determined to finish. I was annoyed to have to keep reading. I did not enjoy the rambling through the forest, the talk about all these creatures nor the fighting. I enjoyed the little ramblings going on in Bilbo's head. He vaguely reminds me of Winnie the Pooh. The best thing about this book, to me, is that I can now write it down as one of those things that I've done. UGG, glad to be done...unfortunately that means I have to read Lord of the Rings now...

**Favorite Quote from The Hobbit:
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold (as the hobbits do), it would be a merrier world."
Followed closely by:
"Please don't cook me, kind sirs!"