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!