Book #16 of 2012

Origin in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This series always gives me just what I expect. A good book, with some mystery and detecting, a little romance, and memorable characters. The futuristic aspect is well-done I think. The author gives us a glimpse into a future that doesn't seem too far-fetched to be real. I love the auto-chef and I want one, but I wonder if it will be just as aggravating to program a meal as it is to plan and cook one? The clean up should be easier, right? The basis of the mystery in this volume scared me. I see some of these scientific advances being made in the world we live in today and wonder if something like this could happen. I hope not and while the subject was scary and creepy I did enjoy reading this one as I'm sure I'll enjoy reading the next one. Nora Roberts as J. D. Robb delivers another great futuristic story! On to the next in this series!


View all my reviews

Book 15 of 2012

The Peach Keeper: A Novel by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a really good book. There wasn't as much magic in this book as there was in the other books I've read by Sarah Addison Allen. That's okay. I needed a light, happy book to read after the darkness of the last couple of books I'd read. There were times when I was looking for a little bit more.


View all my reviews

Book 14 of 2012

A Perfect Husband by Douglas Wickard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book via a Goodreads friend who gave it a 5 star review. When I see a 5 star review by someone who has similar taste, I almost always try to find the book and read it. While I gave this book a solid 4 stars (4 1/2 if Goodreads allowed 1/2 stars) instead of 5 it was absolutely worth the time I spent reading it. I messaged the publisher and offered to review the book and received a copy for my Kindle via email. Thanks Untreed Reads.


There were many positives in this thriller. Smitty. Wow, he is one sick and creepy monster. He's a beautiful man. His looks play a pretty big role in his ability to find his victims. Girls are in awe of his looks. He's a kind,attentive husband to a fragile wife and a sweet, gentle father to his new baby girl. He's a dependable employee. He's also a sociopath with a cemetery full of dead wives. Sami is a great protagonist. She's in a really bad place. Just divorced, ready to move on to the next step of her life. She's moving out of the city to a cabin in the woods. Creepy stuff starts to happen and we see how Sami handles it. She's at times scared and at times strong. Just like a real person! The supporting players are woven into the story in a believable easy way. The ending was a little too schmaltzy for my taste, but the build up was great. The only negatives were the lack of back story for Smitty. I'd like to know than just the little blip about his mom being abusive. There was also one little thing that pissed me off. Toward the end of the book, there was scene with a cigarette and it was referred to as a 'fag'. This book is set in the US, and NO ONE in the US calls a cigarette a 'fag'. Little things bug me and this little thing was just silly and out of place.


I'm looking forward to Donald Wickard's next thriller.


View all my reviews

Book 13 of 2012

Live to Tell by Lisa Gardner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I like D.D. Warren. She's a great investigator and I like her vibe.

This book had a very compelling story. The issue of mental illness in children is a difficult one to read about. It's hard to believe that there are children who have such severe mental illnesses that locking them away is the only option. But those children are out there.

2 families murdered. It looks like the father murdered everyone and then committed suicide. Both families have a connection to the locked pediatric psych ward at the local hospital. There's a nurse working there who is the lone survivor of a similar attack. There's another counselor who also has a similar family incident. A family that is going through a crisis. A spiritual healer. All little pieces of the puzzle. There are a couple of elements thrown in that are a little questionable, but over all this was a good mystery with a somewhat believable conclusion.

I'll definitely be reading the next D.D. Warren thriller.


View all my reviews

Book 12 of 2012

The Accident by Linwood Barclay
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

There was too much going on in this book. The story became too contrived.


When Glen Carver's wife Sheila is killed in a drunk driving accident he's devastated. He can't believe that she would get behind the wheel of a car and drive if she was drunk. Not only did she kill herself, but a father and son are also killed in the accident. A couple of days later, her daughter's best friend's mother dies in a suspicious accident. As Glen delves into his wife's last day he uncovers some very unsavory happenings.


Too many types of counterfeit goods. Too many sexually perverted affairs. Too many murderers. Too many side stories. All put together it just muddled up the book and made it much less enjoyable.


I probably won't try another by this author unless I just run out of things to read.


View all my reviews

Book 11 of 2012

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Kate Daniels series and I definitely enjoyed it. I have several more of these on my Kindle and will be reading them soon. Love the setting in Atlanta, GA. Since I live just south of Atlanta and go there frequently it was fun to read about the sites around town.

I really loved that this series treats the monsters like they are monsters. And boy were there some scary monsters in this book. No pretty, sparkly drop dead gorgeous vamps and weres in Hotlanta!

I hope we get a little more back story in the next installment. I'd love to learn more about Kate's dad and what drives her. I'm anxious to delve into the Guild, the People, the Pack, and the Order. I hope there's much more in subsequent books.



View all my reviews

Book 10 of 2012

Survivor In Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been a long time since I read a book from this series. I don't know why I waited so long. I really really like these books. Dallas just goes right in and kicks ass and worries about cleaning up the mess later. The cast of characters always offers just the right amount of assistance and comic relief.

In Survivor in Death the 23rd in the series, Eve investigates the murder of a family with a lone survivor. 9 year old Nixie had sneaked downstairs during the night to drink a forbidden orange fizzy drink leaving her best friend Linny in her bed. While she's drinking she sees a shadow slip into the housekeepers room and thinking it's a boyfriend and they are gonna 'do it' she slips in to watch. What she sees is the shadow cutting the housekeeper's throat, slipping up the stairs and joining a second to kill the rest of the family. Eve's investigation turns up other murders that may be connected and a suspect.

The setting in the future always makes me smile. I hope that many of the things that J.D. Robb has imagined are truly in our future.


View all my reviews