Book 72 of 2011 Iron House by John Hart

Iron House by John Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Brutal. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would definitely be brutal. Two boys are found beside a creek and taken to an orphanage in North Carolina. While there the younger one, Julian, is brutalized by a group of older boys. The older brother, Michael protects him while he can, but isn't always there. Eventually the Julian stabs one of the boys and Michael takes the blame and runs away. Julian is adopted by a rich woman who arrives just as Michael is running away. She had come to the orphanage to adopt both boys. Michael grows up on the streets of NY and is eventually taken in by a mob boss and trained as an enforcer. When the old man dies, Michael wants out of the family because he is in love and his girl Elena is pregnant. The old man's son and his other enforcer aren't gonna let that happen.  Elena can't handle the brutality she sees in Michael as they try to flee NY. Eventually they end up at the home of Julian's adoptive parents. The brutality gets worse and the mystery surrounding the brothers increases. Michael finds more questions than answers and he's eventually drawn back to Iron House the orphanage.

While I enjoyed the story and the mysteries in this novel, the brutality almost turned me off. I've named my favorite genre 'sick shit', but this was over the top brutal and not in a good way. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age?


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Book 71 of 2011 Disturbed by Kevin O'Brien

Disturbed by Kevin O'Brien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another new author for me. Another book about a serial killer. And another killer. A family falling apart. Revenge. Philandering. Debauchery. So...there was alot going on in this book. It all started when a student, Chris, saw the school counselor hugging another student and maybe kissing him on the top of his head. He told his step mom, she went with him to the principal. His dad and mom went a little crazy. Some students texted, tweeted, and facebooked about it. The counselor lost his job, his wife left him, his daughter ran away and the book begins with him being murdered by a person he hired so that his wife can collect some insurance money.

I liked this book alright, but I did have it all figured out pretty early on. I like a little more surprise in my mysteries, but it was good enough that I'll probably seek out other titles by this author.


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Book 70 of 2011 Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great mystery by a new to me author. Will definitely be going back to read previous in this series.

I'm anxious to read the earlier books in this series. I enjoyed the Canadian setting and the side mystery of Samuel Champlain. I didn't know that his burial site was unknown. The politics involved in Quebec with the English speakers and French speakers was an interesting aspect of the book also. The flashbacks to the terrorist attack and kidnapping were extremely interesting. The secondary mystery of the reexamination of  a previous case made me want to know more. I kept wondering if these cases were in a previous book or if they were new to this one. Inspector Gamache seems a very complex and likable character.


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Buffalo Chicken and Potato Casserole

I've been hanging out, wasting loads of time on Pinterest for awhile now. I've pinned many recipes, diy projects, crafts, decorating ideas and on and on and on. I've tried a few of the recipes and found some keepers and at least one that wasn't so great. Friday afternoon I decided to try this Buffalo Chicken Potato Casserole since I love me some Buffalo wings. It was good. I'll definitely make it again.

Recipe from : Holy Cannoli Recipes via Pintrest

1 1/4 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 inch pieces
1/3 cup buffalo sauce (I used Texas Pete hot sauce)
6 cups shredded potatoes (I used frozen hash browns)
1 cup Ranch or blue cheese dressing
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup cheddar ( I used more, cause you can't have too much cheese!)
1/2 cup panko crumbs

Preheat oven to 350° F., spray a 9 x 13 dish with cooking spray.  Pour the buffalo sauce over the chicken and stir it together. Put sauced chicken in single layer in your dish. In a bowl, mix together the dressing and soup add the potatoes then stir in the cheese. Spread this mixture over the chicken. Top with the panko crumbs. Cover with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes, remove foil and bake for another 20 to 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

I used the blue cheese dressing and it was good, but next time I'm gonna try the ranch dressing. I also used probably a cup of cheddar cheese and I had to kick the oven up to broil to brown the panko crumbs a little.

One other little tidbit...I learned today that to get that nice degree symbol up at the top of your number you hold the alt key and type in 0176. How about that?

Book 69 of 2011 Cross by James Patterson

Cross by James Patterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don't know why I keep doing this to myself. The Cross books are certainly better than some of the others Patterson keeps churning out with his co-authors. That being said, they aren't as good as they used to be. I think I've come to the conclusion that all good series must come to an end and this one is another that is ready.

After many years, Alex and his friend Sampson are on the trail of the person Alex thinks killed his wife Maria, 'The Butcher of Sligo'. Alex quits the FBI and goes off on his own with his good friend John Sampson.  He and Sampson investigate a series of rapes in DC. Eventually they tie the rapes to murders that are being committed by the Butcher (a mob hit man) and to Maria's murder. So the Butcher is a hit man, he's killing folks for money, he's committing horrible rape/tortures, he's being chased by the mob (they want him dead) and the police AND he's playing at being a good daddy.

Alex is setting up his practice, helping a woman who is being abused by a police officer, worrying about his friend Kayla who has been stabbed, chasing a rapist/torturer and trying to come to terms finally with his wife Maria's death.

There was way too much going on in this book and none of so the book just touched on each story. Not enough depth for me.


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Yummy

Meatball Sliders

We wanted something a little different to eat and decided on these meatball sliders that I pinned on Pinterest a few days ago. They were super easy to make and hit the spot. This is definitely a keeper. A little confession, I didn't make these. My son was the chef last  night. Makes it even better.

Book 68 of 2011 Bad Blood by John Sandford

Bad Blood by John Sandford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is some seriously sick shit! EWWWWWW
Bobby Tripp is a high school football star. While working at a grain elevator in rural Minnesota he kills a local farmer. There seems to be no good explanation for it but he's arrested. The next morning he is found dead in his cell. Pretty quickly it's determined that he hasn't committed suicide like it's been made to seem. The deputy on duty is suspected and the sheriff calls in Virgil Flowers from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. When the sheriff and Virgil get to the deputy's house, they find him dead on the couch. This one's a murder set up to look like a suicide also. Two of the dead men as well as a teenage torture/murder victim are associated with the World of Spirit church. The investigation turns up some pretty bad stuff with this church.
Reading about the abuse of the children and some of the women in this church is almost too much to read. These are the kinds of monsters that scare me.  


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Book 67 of 2011 Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta

Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book held my interest from the beginning. Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard are former policemen who are now private detectives. They are hired by Wayne Weston's father to investigate his alleged suicide and the disappearance of his wife and daughter. Weston was also a PI who worked for a prominent businessman in town. The Russian mob is involved and there are several twists. All in all a great suspense/crime novel. It was good enough that I'll be reading more by Michael Koryta.


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Book 66 of 2011 10th Anniversary

10th Anniversary by James Patterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

There were some good ideas in this book, but I wish Mr. Patterson had used fewer of them in one book and expanded.Sometimes I think he has so much in his head that he just can't do them justice.  I felt like things moved too fast and too flighty. The mysteries weren't deep enough. And everything had a happy ending.


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Made from Pinterest

So, I've been pinning so much stuff over on Pinterest. And if you don't know what Pinterest is yet, oh my are you in for a treat. It's this web-based place where you can 'pin' things that you see on the ole internets and then when or if you ever want to see those things again or try those things out, you have it right there at your fingertips. Or at least that should work in theory. You can set up different 'boards' to hold your stuff. I have two for recipes, one for savory and one for sweet. A board for DIY and crafts, for books I read and love and recommend, and several other things. If you haven't checked it out, you should. If you like what you see, message me and I'll send you an invite.

I made this Broccoli Salad yesterday and ate some last night. It was delicious and even better today at lunch. I recommend it if you like raw broccoli.

Source: mynameissnickerdoodle.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Book 65 of 2011 The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

 The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A sweet and easy little book to read. The magic in this book was fun. I was disappointed in the ending. Why not wrap it up? Is there a sequel to this book?


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Book 64 of 2011 Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Is it the beginning of the end for this series? I think for me, it's just about run it's course. The beginning of this book was just okay, the end was a lot better. I like the fairy part of Sookie's family and would like to learn a bit more about it. I'm somewhat weary of the vampire parts of the book and getting to that point also with the weres and shape shifters. Maybe it's just a little too much saturation with the vamps and weres. This series goes on the list of series that I'll read when there's nothing else calling my name, not the list that I'm lusting for as soon as I finish the the current offering.


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book 63 of 2011 Blood Game by Iris Johansen

Blood Game by Iris Johansen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Why do I keep reading these books? They aren't getting any better. They are getting sillier. I don't know if I'll read any more of these. I think it's time to put Bonnie to rest, but I think there about 4 or 5 more books before that happens. Don't think I'll make it.


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Book 62 of 2011 Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen

Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I went back to read this after the character from it played a big role in an Eve Duncan book. I've always like Iris Johansen because lots of her books are set in and around Atlanta. This one was a little off for me, but I would definitely read more in the series. Not sure if there are more, but I'll be back to the Eve Duncan series for sure.


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Book 61 of 2011 The Affair by Lee Child

The Affair by Lee Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What else can I say about Lee Child and Jack Reacher? YUM! This book took us back to the beginning. Where and why Reacher got out of the Army. And oh my goodness what a story. So parts of it are unbelievable probably. Who cares? It Jack Reacher and he can do no wrong.

There's an Army base that does some stealth shit. There are 3 beautiful women dead. There's a senator's son who may be involved. There's a Marine who is now the Sheriff. And she's beautiful.

Reacher is sent undercover to the town to see what he can find out. Munro (another MP) is sent to the base to investigate. All kinds of things seem suspect. Throw in a few red herrings and finish up with a bang!

I hope that somewhere out there there is a man who has the type of morals and values of Jack Reacher. I don't need to know him, but I hope he's there.

I've read a few books in a number of series recently that left me feeling blech. Not this one and it' #16. I'll be reading more of this series. I'm just happy to know that some authors still know how to do it and haven't started just calling it in.


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Book 60 Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

another fun romp with Rachel and friends in the Hollows. I'm not sure how many more men Rache can handle. She has really bad luck with the men in her life. The Coven was a nasty, evil addition to the action especially Brooke and Vivian. I wonder if they will continue to figure in Rachel's life. I'm ready for some things to be wrapped up. Specifically the deal with Trent. Let's do something. There was some sadness in this book but it was to be expected.


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Book 59 of 2011 Quicksand by Iris Johansen

Quicksand by Iris Johansen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Eve Duncan is still looking for her daughter Bonnie. Bonnie disappeared when she was 7 and has never been found. Eve and Joe are on the trail of a child killer who may be the one who took Bonnie. They got his name from Montalvo as a part of his promise to Eve when she helped him to identify his wife's body. Now Montalvo has joined the hunt.

Kistle the killer who is pure evil leads Joe, Eve, Montalvo (and his side kick Miguel) to the Okefenokee Swamp and an island that has been his burial ground. He does this by kidnapping a little girl and telling Eve that he'll lead her to Bonnie's grave.

A new character (from a stand alone book Pandora's Daughter) is called in to assist. She's a 'listener' and hears the voices of the children who have been killed.

This books is all about the search for Bonnie's killer. There really isn't much else in it and that's okay. If you like sick killers and suspense, then this one is for you.


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book 58 of 2011 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

enjoyed this little book. It was a quick read and left me wanting to know even more about the Waverly family. I don't think it's a series, so I guess I won't get what I want. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.


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Book 57 of 2011 Worth Dying For by Lee Child

Worth Dying For by Lee Child
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

this is one series that I've not been disappointed in. Great addition to the Reacher series. The setting was bleak and that really added to the feeling of this book. It was one evil family and it was good to see them get what they had coming.


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book 56 of 2011 Conviction by Richard North Patterson

Conviction: A Novel by Richard North Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was very difficult for me to read. It's about a death row inmate and his lawyers attempts to have his execution stayed.

My feelings and thoughts regarding the death penalty have changed over the years. The recent execution in Georgia made me start thinking about it again. I was at the library browsing the shelves and ran across this book. I've read many of RNP''s novels and like his style so I picked this up and started it. It's a difficult subject to read about.

The book follows Renell Price's attorneys through the days preceding his scheduled execution. It takes you through the crime and the investigation and trial. The subsequent maneuvering through the justice system. I sincerely hope that the Supreme Court of the US isn't as petty as this book portrayed them.


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Book 55 of 2011 Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm still enjoying Sookie and Gang, so I guess this series hasn't reached saturation point for me yet. The Weres and Shifters have finally 'come out' and revealed their existence to the world, but this doesn't play as big a role in this installment as I thought it would. A werepanther is mutilated and crucified in the parking lot of Merlotte's and there's a huge battle brewing among the fae. Sookie seems to be at the center of all the mess.

I enjoyed learning more about Sookie's fairy side of the family and hope this is expounded upon in future books. The sexual tension with Eric is still good, but I really hope that this series doesn't devolve into all sex and brutality and lose the humor that makes it more readable.


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Book 54 of 2011 Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Reading the blurb for this book really excited me. I was so anxious to read it and immediately put it on my hold list at the library. When they emailed and called to let me know it was available I rushed over to get it, put down the book I had started earlier and dug in. So...maybe my expectations were too high?

Sara is adopted and has known it since she was a young child. After her adoption her parents had 2 natural daughters and Sara has always felt like the odd man out. She decides to find her birth mother and after finding her discovers that her father is a serial killer and her mother was the only victim that got away. The RCMP are still trying to find the Campsite Killer and Sara is convinced to become the bait to capture him.

The police officers (one of whom becomes a 2nd villain) are too ridiculous for words. The phone calls are predictable. The interactions with Sara's family are foolish. The boyfriend and his reactions are preposterous. The whole thing is almost mindless and cliche.

I was disappointed.


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A to Z reading challenge

Read a book for each letter of the alphabet.  I decided to go back and enter all the books I've read in my alphabet list. Still have some letters to complete and they are not looking real easy. Only 'J',  'X', and 'Z' to go!

A       
The Art of Keeping Secrets  by  Patti Callahan Henry
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian  by Sherman Alexie
B       
Beastly  by Alex Flinn
A Bend in the Road  by Nicholas Sparks
C       
The Cracker Queen  by Lauretta Hannon
Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Conviction by Richard North Patterson
D       
Devil Bones  by Kathy Reichs
Duma Key  by Stephen King
Death Masks by Jim Butcher
Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
E       
The Edge of Sleep  by David Wiltse
Envy the Night   by Michael Koryta
F      
Flesh and Bone  by Jefferson Bass
Fallen  by Karin Slaughter
Fallen  by Lauren Kate
G        
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  by Steig Larsson
The Girl  Who Played withFire  by Steig Larsson
The Girl  Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest  by Steig Larsson
Grave Surprise  by Charlaine Harris
Grave Peril   by Jim Butcher
Georgia Bottoms  by Mark Childress
The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
H       
The Hunger Games  by Suzanne Collins
Hush Hush  by Becca Fitzpatrick
House Rules  by Jodi Picoult
I  
I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
J
K
Killing Fear  by Allison Brennan
L        
Lucia, Lucia  by Adrianna Trigiana
Looking for Alaska  by John Green
Lisey's Story  by Stephen King
The Land of Painted Caves  by Jean Auel
M       
Murder List  by Julie Garwood
Mockingjay  by Suzanne Collins
Middlesex  by Jeffrey Eugenides
Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani
N        
The Ninth Judgement  by James Patterson (Maxine Pareto)
Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens
O
One Grave Too Many  by Beverly Connor
P         
Pretties  by Scott Westerfeld
Q
Quicksand by Iris Johansen
R        
Room  by Emma Donoghue
S         
The Straw Men  by Michael Marshall 
The Silent Girl  by Tess Gerritsen
Summer Knight by Jim Butche
Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
Specials by Scott Westerfield
Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
T         
Total Recall   by Sara Paretsky
Torment  by Lauren Kate
Thirteen Reasons Why  by  Jay Asher
U        
Uglies  by Scott Westerfeld
V
A Visit from the Good Squad  by Jennifer Egan
W        
Wild Fire  by Nelson DeMille
Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
Worth Dying For by Lee Child
X
Y
The Year of Fog  by Michelle Redmond
Z

Book 53 of 2011 One Grave too Many by Beverly Connor

One Grave Too Many by Beverly Connor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked this book first because I needed a book with an "O" title to help complete my A to Z reading challenge. It's also set in Georgia and that gives it another star. I enjoyed the mystery and didn't figure it out until the very end which makes it a good mystery in my book. I enjoyed the setting and the characters. Will probably check out more of this series if the library has copies.



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Book 52 of 2011 The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke

The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm thinking that JLB is getting tired. Tired of writing good, meaty stories about Dave R. This book was only okay. The story was basically just a re write of the same old crimes, and criminals. I'm beginning to think that after six or eight in a series it's time to 'just say no'. I felt the same way after the last Janet Evanovich Stephanie book, the last Tess Gerittsen Rizzoli and Isles, and the last Kathy Reichs Tempe book. Maybe I need to find some new series.

Even though there was something of a cliffhanger at the end of this one, I'm not sure I'll bother with the next one.Sorry JLB, I love you but I need something more from you and Dave.


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Top Ten DJ list??

from my friend  Ladyjanet I'm trying to pick my top ten songs.
1. Poison and Wind by The Civil Wars
2.  Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
3 Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
4. Can't You See by Marshall Tucker Band
5. Blue Sky by Allman Brothers Band
6. Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson
7.Mountain Music by Alabama
8. Old Man by Neil Young
9.Maggie May by Rod Stewart
10. A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Haram

That's my 10 for now. I may change my mind if you ask me again next week. I'm sure I'll think of 10 more! It's hard to narrow it down to just 10.

Book 51 of 2011 Milk Glass Moon

Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

the last of the Big Stone Gap trilogy. I like the way things were wrapped up. I appreciate an author who takes me on a journey and wraps everything up in the end. Some of the story lines didn't end the way I would have liked them to, but you can't have a perfect ending for everyone. Don't know why I waited so long to read this, but I'm glad I finally did.


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book 50 of 2011 Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had really high hopes for this book since I loved Melissa de la Cruz' YA series Blue Bloods. This series gets off to a pretty slow start with 2 sisters and a mother who are witches banished to live in the mortal world without using their witchy powers. There are a couple of brothers who one of the sisters is trying to choose between. One she's engaged to, the other she's having hot wild sex with. The other sister is a librarian who has a thing for local cop but won't act on it. Dad is mysteriously missing and has been for years. I wanted more detail and set up of the magic world that these characters are going to inhabit. Perhaps in the next book, we'll get more of that. I'll definitely read the next in the series before I write this series off.


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Book 49 of 2011 Death Masks by Jim Butcher

Death Masks by Jim Butcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

that Harry Dresden gets into the damnedest situations. First he's agreed to a duel to the death with Ortega of the Red Court of Vampires. Next he's been hired to find the missing Shroud of Turin. And it seem that there are some hired hit men out to kill him.

Enter Michael and his friends Shiro and Sanya the other Knights of the Cross. Susan makes an appearance and the Denarians are some bad ass freaks who are also very hard to kill. The baddest of those dudes, Nicodemus, is trying his best to make Harry go away or join his horde. Never a dull moment in Chicago when Harry Dresden is on the job!


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Book 48 of 2011 The Year of Fog by Michelle Redmond

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Abby Mason is walking on the beach with her fiance's 6 year old daughter Emma. She has her camera. She looks away for a minute and Emma vanishes into the fog or the ocean or up the highway in one of the cars that were in the parking lot. The year that follows is filled with guilt and heartbreak. The search is extensive and when everyone else including Emma's dad gives up Abby continues the search going out of the country to Costa Rica.


I think this book had the potential to be a 4 star book. I really loved the writing. The descriptions are vivid and really left an image in my mind. The anguish that Abby felt resonates and feels very real. Jake's reaction is spot on. But, there are too many cliches and impossibilities in the book for me to give it the 4 stars. The whole business with David was predictable. The scenes with Nick and Wiggins were improbable. The final scene on the beach was fantastical. So to say that I was slightly disappointed with the last third of the book after a great beginning would be honest. I liked it, but I really wanted to love it.


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Book 47 of 2011 Killing Fear by Allison Brennan

Killing Fear by Allison Brennan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Something about this book was familiar, but I'm not sure if I'd read it years ago or if the characters were just familiar because they were in another series by the same author. This one was a pretty good representation of the romantic suspense genre. The main killer was a known entity, but there was a secondary killer that was a slight surprise. This was the first in the 'Prison Break' series so I suppose I'll have to check out the other two. This book isn't going to change your life, but it's an entertaining story to read (if you like sick killers).


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A to Z Reading Challenge

Read a book for each letter of the alphabet.  I decided to go back and enter all the books I've read in my alphabet list. Still have some letters to complete and they are not looking real easy. 

A       
The Art of Keeping Secrets  by  Patti Callahan Henry
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian  by Sherman Alexie
B       
Beastly  by Alex Flinn
A Bend in the Road  by Nicholas Sparks
C       
The Cracker Queen  by Lauretta Hannon
Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
D       
Devil Bones  by Kathy Reichs
Duma Key  by Stephen King
Death Masks by Jim Butcher
E       
The Edge of Sleep  by David Wiltse
Envy the Night   by Michael Koryta
F      
Flesh and Bone  by Jefferson Bass
Fallen  by Karin Slaughter
Fallen  by Lauren Kate
G        
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  by Steig Larsson
The Girl  Who Played withFire  by Steig Larsson
The Girl  Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest  by Steig Larsson
Grave Surprise  by Charlaine Harris
Grave Peril   by Jim Butcher
Georgia Bottoms  by Mark Childress
The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke
H       
The Hunger Games  by Suzanne Collins
Hush Hush  by Becca Fitzpatrick
House Rules  by Jodi Picoult
I    
I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
J
K
Killing Fear  by Allison Brennan
L        
Lucia, Lucia  by Adrianna Trigiana
Looking for Alaska  by John Green
Lisey's Story  by Stephen King
The Land of Painted Caves  by Jean Auel
M       
Murder List  by Julie Garwood
Mockingjay  by Suzanne Collins
Middlesex  by Jeffrey Eugenides
Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani
N        
The Ninth Judgement  by James Patterson (Maxine Pareto)
O
One Grave Too Many  by Beverly Connor
P         
Pretties  by Scott Westerfeld
Q
R        
Room  by Emma Donoghue
S         
The Straw Men  by Michael Marshall 
The Silent Girl  by Tess Gerritsen
Summer Knight by Jim Butche
Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
Specials by Scott Westerfield
Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
T         
Total Recall   by Sara Paretsky
Torment  by Lauren Kate
Thirteen Reasons Why  by  Jay Asher
U        
Uglies  by Scott Westerfeld
V
A Visit from the Good Squad  by Jennifer Egan
W        
Wild Fire  by Nelson DeMille
Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz
X
Y
The Year of Fog  by Michelle Redmond
Z

book 46 of 2011 A Visit from the Good Squad

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Worst book I've read this year! I can't believe this drivel won the Pulitzer Prize. What was the committee thinking? Did nothing else get nominated?

This might have been a decent book it the author had bothered to write a book instead of throwing a bunch of crappy stories together and calling it a novel. The book confused me. Each chapter was a totally different story about different people (who sometimes sort of related back to another character in a different story). The time line jumped around and confused me further. Don't waste your time. Can you give a book zero stars? That's what I'd like to give this one.


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Book 45 Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It hurts me to give a Stephanie Plum book a 2 star rating, but it really was only okay. Maybe it's gone on too long, I don't know. Some of the writing seemed tired. Do we really need Stephanie to keep blowing up cars? Does Grandma Mazur need to try to pry open a casket at another viewing? I've loved Stephanie's shenanigans, but this book just seemed to recycle everything and I want something new and funny. The identity of the killer wasn't even a surprise. Hope 18 is better.


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Book 44 of 2011 Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 While this is a book about a hermaphorodite, it's more a family saga. I loved Lefty and Desdemona's story. So very sad and tragic with moments of supreme happiness. That happiness makes the sad parts sadder for some reason. Callie/Cal's story is important, but not the meat of the book as I thought it was. And not really as tragic as it could have been. The interlude in SF was seriously hopeless but somehow  necessary. Overall, I give this a thumbs up as an interesting Greek family saga. I also learned some genetic stuff, I wonder if it's factual? Hmmm. Glad I read this, sorry I took so long!


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Book 43 of 2011 Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Another YA book that tells a very sad story. We follow Clay Jensen on a completely terrible journey. He' listening to a series of cassette tapes recorded by his classmate and crush Hannah Baker. Hannah committed suicide 2 weeks earlier and mailed out this box of cassette tapes. In the tapes she tells her '13 reasons why' and each corresponds to a person. Each person is directed to mail the tapes to the next person on the list or risk having all the tapes released to the public. There is also a map that goes along with the tapes.

Poor Clay. He listens to the tapes wondering when he will appear and what it was he did or didn't do to be included as one of the 13 reasons why gradually become more distraught. We don't see the effect of the tapes on any of the other 13 and that disappoints me, but the effect on Clay is terrible to read.

I don't like Hannah. How selfish of her to tell everyone after the fact what was wrong with her. I felt like her tapes were meant to hurt. She became a bully, the same as the people she accused of being her 13 reasons


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Book 42 of 2011 The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel

The Land of Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow, it's finally finished. This one took a long time. I did read some other things in between since it was so long.
While this book was nowhere near as good as the others in the series, it was still a must read for me. I needed to see the series wrapped up. I read some reviews before I started it and was disappointed to find that many people gave it only one star. I chose 3 stars because I did like it. I would definitely put it as the worst of the series, but it was not awful.
The one thing that I along with most reviewers hated was the repetition. I really don't think it was necessary. I realize that this book was a long time coming, but I think most fans of the series didn't need the repeated reminders of what went before. And I don't think that too many folks will attempt to read this one without reading the others. If they do, they'll probably give up thinking it's not a great book. Too many descriptions of caves. Ms. Auel became obsessed with caves. I know that's the title of the book, but if you've seen (or read about) one cave drawing of a deer, bison, cave bear, cave lion or big red dots...you've seen (or read about) them all. I also got tired of having the 'Mother's song' sung or recited over and over and over. I know it played a significant part in the conclusion also, but enough is enough.
This series has confirmed for me that a series can go on too long. (Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes anyone?)


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A to Z Reading Challenge

Read a book for each letter of the alphabet.  I decided to go back and enter all the books I've read in my alphabet list. Still have some letters to complete and they are not looking real easy. 

A       
The Art of Keeping Secrets  by  Patti Callahan Henry
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian  by Sherman Alexie
B       
Beastly  by Alex Flinn
A Bend in the Road  by Nicholas Sparks
C       
The Cracker Queen  by Lauretta Hannon
Crooked Letter Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
D       
Devil Bones  by Kathy Reichs
Duma Key  by Stephen King
E       
The Edge of Sleep  by David Wiltse
Envy the Night   by Michael Koryta
F      
Flesh and Bone  by Jefferson Bass
Fallen  by Karin Slaughter
Fallen  by Lauren Kate
G        
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  by Steig Larsson
The Girl  Who Played withFire  by Steig Larsson
The Girl  Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest  by Steig Larsson
Grave Surprise  by Charlaine Harris
Grave Peril   by Jim Butcher
Georgia Bottoms  by Mark Childress
H       
The Hunger Games  by Suzanne Collins
Hush Hush  by Becca Fitzpatrick
House Rules  by Jodi Picoult
I      
I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
J
K
L        
Lucia, Lucia  by Adrianna Trigiana
Looking for Alaska  by John Green
Lisey's Story  by Stephen King
The Land of Painted Caves  by Jean Auel
M       
Murder List  by Julie Garwood
Mockingjay  by Suzanne Collins
Middlesex  by Jeffrey Eugenides
N        
The Ninth Judgement  by James Patterson (Maxine Pareto)
O
P         
Pretties  by Scott Westerfeld
Q
R        
Room  by Emma Donoghue
S         
The Straw Men  by Michael Marshall 
The Silent Girl  by Tess Gerritsen
Summer Knight by Jim Butche
Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
Specials by Scott Westerfield
Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
T         
Total Recall   by Sara Paretsky
Torment  by Lauren Kate
Thirteen Reasons Why  by  Jay Asher
U        
Uglies  by Scott Westerfeld
V
W        
Wild Fire  by Nelson DeMille
X
Y
Z

Book 41 of 2011 Torment by Lauren Kate

Torment by Lauren Kate
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The promise of this series isn't fully realized in this 2nd book. I enjoyed the first much more. This book starts with Luce being spirited away to a boarding school on the California coast. There are 'normal' kids as well as a number of Nephilim at this school. Here she learns bits a pieces more of her story with the fallen angel Daniel and all little about some of her past lives. She also learns more about the 'shadows' and now knows that they are really called announcers and that they can show her the past. Daniel is still keeping too many secrets and Luce is having a difficult time figuring out who is good and who is bad. The book ends on a cliff hanger so I'll probably read book 3 just to see where the series is going.


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Book 40 of 2011 Envy the Night by Michael Koryta

Envy the Night by Michael Koryta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed my first novel by Michael Koryta.

Frank Temple III found out 7 years ago that his father, a US Marshall, was also a contract killer. Those 7 years he has drifted around the country trying hard to come to terms with the loving father he knew being the monster that the public perceives him to be. He believes that the son of one of his father's buddies, Devin Matteson, is the informant that gave his dad up to the FBI. When this informant heads back to the isolated cabin on a Wisconsin lake from Miami, Frank heads there to kill him. On his way to Wisconsin he encounters a vehicle that he is sure is occupied by Matteson. He is involved in a crash with the car and it isn't who he thinks it is. By the time he gets to the lake, he discovers that Matteson isn't in the cabin on the island in the lake and that it's occupied by a mysterious lady and a gray haired man. A pair of assassins arrive from Miami and some innocent locals become involved.

This book kept my interest from beginning to end. There were just enough twists and turns but not too many. It was just dark enough but not too dark. I became very involved with Frank, Nora and Ezra. This is why I like series of books. I get to stay with the characters I love and follow their lives. With 'stand alone' novels, when it's over, it's over and you never know what happens to the characters after. Is it weird that that makes me sad? Probably, but it does.


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Book 39 of 2011 The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen

The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rizzoli and Isles are quite a team. Isles was not around much in this installment, but that was okay with me. She isn't as interesting a character as Jane in my opinion. I enjoyed this book right up until the end, but did not like the ending. That's why 3 instead of 4 stars.


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Book 38 of 2011 Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another very good Young Adult book. Set at an Alabama boarding school with a cast of characters filled with outcasts, this is definitely one of my favorite reads this summer. The Alaska that is being looked for is a young lady not the state and her story is a compelling one. Her friends Pudge, The Colonel, Takumi and Lara are perfect. I know nothing about boarding schools, but the author of this book went to one in Alabama so I suppose he knows something about them. My favorite part is glimpsing the humanity of the Eagle.


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Book 37 of 2011 Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

an absolutely wonderful example of Southern fiction.  The characters are amazing and I became invested in them. They each had such personality and likability. The story was amazing. So tragic and yet sweet.  I hated for this book to end and want to know how Larry and Silas finish out their lives. I'm a Southerner and the dialog was spot on. So many times when writers write Southern language they exaggerate it. Tom Franklin got it just right. I'll definitely be looking for other books by this author.


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Book 36 Fallen by Karin Slaughter

Fallen by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I always love Karin Slaughter's books. The Grant County series is one of my favorites of all time. She's also a Georgia author and the books take place in Georgia. Don't you just love reading a book and recognizing places and things? I do.


This book is the GBI series and focuses around agent Faith Mitchell's family. Her mom Evelyn, a former APD narcotics investigator is kidnapped. Faith arrives at her mother's home to find her infant daughter in a shed, a bloody kitchen, a dead body in the laundry room and a hostage situation in the back bedroom. Her mother is nowhere to be found. Two of the men are shot by Faith and another gets away wounded. Was Faith's mother dirty when she ran the narcotics squad at the APD? Who has kidnapped her and why haven't they contacted anyone with a ransom demand? The twists and turns in this mystery are numerous and leave you guessing until the very end. I didn't figure this one out. Was this a high brow, important read? Nope, but it was a damn good mystery with a little side of romance and I enjoyed every minute of it.


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Book 35 Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm really enjoying this series. The final battles are so over the top. It's unbelievable that Dresden can ever get through another one, but he always does (with a little help from some friends). I love the different characters and hope to see Susan and Elaine in future books. This was #4, I know I'm late to this series, but that means there are lots for me to read and no waiting!


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Book 34 of 2011 Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fun, fun, fun. I love Stephanie Plum. In this installment, Vinnie has been kidnapped by some pretty crazy characters. He owes some mob types lots of money and he's been cooking the books at the bail bonding agency. What's a girl to do? Why Stephanie must go rescue him. Stink bombs, breaking and entering, and hobbits are all involved. Morelli or Ranger? I'm still pulling for Ranger. The next book should be interesting.


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Update...A to Z Reading Challenge

Read a book for each letter of the alphabet. Should be pretty easy. Titles that begin with articles (A, an, the) won't count, I'll skip to the next word in the title. It should be interesting and fun.

A        The Art of Keeping Secrets  by  Patti Callahan Henry
B        Beastly  by Alex Flinn
C        The Cracker Queen  by Lauretta Hannon

D        Devil Bones  by Kathy Reichs

E         The Edge of Sleep  by David Wiltse

F         Flesh and Bone  by Jefferson Bass

G        The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo  by Steig Larsson

H        The Hunger Games  by Suzanne Collins

I          I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman

J

K

L        Lucia, Lucia  by Adrianna Trigiana

M      Murder List  by Julie Garwood

N       The Ninth Judgement  by James Patterson (Maxine Pareto)

O

P        Pretties  by Scott Westerfeld

Q

R         Room  by Emma Donoghue

S         The Straw Men  by Michael Marshall 

T         Total Recall   by Sara Paretsky

U         Uglies  by Scott Westerfeld

V

W        Wild Fire  by Nelson DeMille

X

Y

Z