What's up with Michelle

Book 9 of 2012

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure if you can count a novella as a book, but for the purposes of my blog I'm going to.

Faint of Heart by Jeff Strand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This thriller novella plunges right into a really scary place.Rebecca lives with her husband Gary in Alaska and she has some pretty extensive hangups. She's really, really scared of being alone. Gary and his friends are going on a weekend camping trip and Rebecca's not thrilled to be home alone. When Gary doesn't return by late Sunday afternoon, Rebecca becomes very worried. Then Alan shows up at her door pretending to be a State Trooper. Let the horror begin. What follows is a couple of days of torture for Rebecca, reliving Gary's torture. If Rebecca can relive the entire weekend of torture just like her husband Gary did, the 2 sadistic kidnappers promise they will both live.

I'm not sure I'm really fond of novellas. I think this could be a really great full length novel. There was just a little bit too much violence/gore for me, but if you like sick shit, this is definitely gonna be right up your alley.

View all my reviews

Book 8 of 2012

2012-02-09T07:12:00.001-08:00

S is for Silence by Sue Grafton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I forget how much I enjoy these books and then I read another and remember why I like them. I enjoy the setting. They are not set in present day, yet they are set in recent times. It's like just going back a few years and enjoying the time all over again. They're modern but not today. Takes me back to my 'good ole days'.

This book takes Kinsey to a small town to find a woman who disappeared about 30 or so years ago. Her daughter hires Kinsey to find her or find out what happened to her. The books moves between the present and Kinsey's investigation and the past in the days leading up to the disappearance. We're provided with a cast of several suspects. I was waffling between a couple of those right up until the end. I should have figured it out quicker.

I'll be getting on to the next in the series, "T" working up to "V".

View all my reviews

Book 7 of 2012

2012-02-02T05:40:00.001-08:00

Buried Prey by John Sandford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So glad that John Sandford didn't disappoint. Buried Prey is #21 in the Lucas Davenport series and it's just as good as the previous 20.

This book begins with the discovery of two sisters buried under an old building that is being torn down. Davenport worked the original case, first as a patrolman then as a plain clothes. This is the case that got him out of a patrol car and into the detective bureau. I loved the flashback and getting to see Lucas as a young policeman. Lucas was never happy with the outcome of the case. He didn't believe the party line that the mentally ill, homeless man who was shot fleeing the police was the kidnapper.

As Davenport investigates the case, he comes back to his initial conclusion that the mentally ill man was not guilty and that the mysterious tipster may well have been the criminal. Del plays a big part in the investigation and Jenkins and Shrake play a bit part. And Marcy, oh Marcy. Why?

As always I'll anxiously await the next book in this series and in the meantime, I'll just be off to read #5 in the Virgil Flowers series!

View all my reviews

Free books and Kindle Fire contest

2012-02-01T06:34:00.000-08:00

http://bigkindleboogie.blogspot.com/ has an awesome contest going on, sponsored by some great authors. Hey, they have 75 free books on Feb 1&2 and a chance to win 10 Kindle Fires. What's not to love. Go grab some free books and enter to win!

Book 6 of 2012

2012-01-28T09:37:00.001-08:00

The Litigators by John Grisham
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Easy read and lighter than I would generally like my legal thrillers. Guess it really wasn't a thriller, just a legal novel. I'd like to expect more from Grisham and certainly I used to. I'm beginning to read more new authors since most of my old standbys seem to be letting me down with books that seem to be just re-hashing of old themes.

David Zinc works inhuman hours for a mega law firm until one day he has a break, spends the day in a bar and winds up drunk at the law offices of Finley & Figg. What ensues teeters between serious law and comic tragedy. First, Wally Figg comes across what seems to be an open and shut case of a drug gone wrong and a huge settlement from an evil drug company. This turns into a national class action suit run by some major tort firms. Rather quickly it turns into a dog. During the time it takes for this sure thing to turn into a nightmare, David comes across some Burmese immigrants who have been treated unfairly by an unscrupulous employer and in settling their case finds a child who has been grievously harmed by lead tainted fake teeth. On the quiet he works to find the importer of these teeth and engineer a settlement for this family. Wrapped into the story is David and his wife's pregnancy and birth, senior partner Oscar Finely's divorce, Wally's decline back into his alcoholism, and the ever saucy secretary Rochelle.

The inner workings of tort law doesn't really seem like an interesting setting for a novel, but it was. The bumbling, ignorant lawyer is overdone in legal fiction. I'm tired of reading about him.

View all my reviews

Book 5 of 2012

2012-01-23T06:37:00.001-08:00

The Search by Nora Roberts
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

this one wasn't one of my favorites by Nora Roberts, but it was ok for what it was. Fiona is a dog trainer who survived a serial killer several years ago. He is in prison, but the killings have started back. Is it a copy cat or his protege? The dog trainer aspect was interesting and I enjoyed it, the search and rescue part was also pretty interesting. The serial killer part was just meh. I guess this book was more romance than suspense and I like a little more suspense than romance in my romantic suspense books!

View all my reviews

Book 4 of 2012

2012-01-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

The Red Church by Scott Nicholson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a freebie that I downloaded via the epic kindle giveaway. It was creepy. A little too something for my tastes. I tend to like horror stories that make sense to me. Things that could actually happen. This was too far off the realm of possibility for me. There seems to be a couple other books in a series. Not sure if I'll try to read them though since I have a bunch of stuff on my Kindle waiting to be read.
So, while this wasn't exactly my cup of tea, it was worth my time to read it.

View all my reviews

Worst books of 2011

2012-01-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - Worst book this year by far. Would have given it a big fat 0 stars if Goodreads allowed 0 stars.

Smoking Seventeen by Janet Evanovich - I was seriously disappointed in this one. I probably won't read anymore of this series. These books have become just a big recycle.

10th Anniversary by James Patterson - Another series I'm done with. The mysteries were too shallow and wrapped up to easily. I need more meat!

I was also disappointed with James Lee Burke's latest Dave Robicheaux offering, but it wasn't quite as bad as these.

Book 2 of 2012 Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2012-01-14T06:18:00.001-08:00

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Can't wait for the next book in this new series. I don't remember where the recommendation for this one came from, but I'm glad I followed up on it and read it. This was YA fantasy at it's best . The world that Laini Taylor has created is new and interesting. The two species of characters are intriguing. The heroine is a smart, creative, pretty, flawed young lady. And I love her. The romance is just enough. And the heartache makes the story just right. I want to know more! This book set up the back story and told it perfectly.

View all my reviews

Book 3 of 2012 The Dead Man by Joel Goldman

2012-01-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

The Dead Man by Joel Goldman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a free download from the Kindle store and it was well worth my time. It's the second in a series and while I've not read the first, the author did a good job of filling in the back story. I'm sure I missed out on some of the nuances and didn't have the full story, I was still able to follow the characters and get the gist.
A serial killer seems to be targeting the participants in a dream study. Jack Davis, a retired FBI agent (who left under a cloud of suspicion) is hired by the billionaire who is funding the research to find out what's really going on. There are some interesting secondary characters that are sure to become primary in future books.
I enjoyed this one enough that I'll be on the lookout for others in the series.

View all my reviews

Book #1 of 2012 The Drop by Michael Connelly

2012-01-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

The Drop by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love Harry Bosch and really enjoyed both the cases in this one.
Case #1 Harry is asked by the powers that be to investigate the apparent suicide of Irvin Irving's son George. Was it suicide or was it murder related to his job as an attorney/lobbyist. Was there impropriety attached to his handling of a cab company's bid for a new locale 'lease'? While this mystery was apparently solved in this installment, there is still an angle that Harry may explore further in the next.
Case #2 an Open Unsolved case with some odd DNA evidence that leads to an undiscovered serial killer. This case had an unsatisfying end for me. I'd have liked to seen more investigation into the crimes of Chill.
Case #2 also brought a new lady into Harry's life. Might the romance continue? I'd also like to see more of Harry's daughter in subsequent books. I'm also liking Harry's partner Chu and interested in how Harry's relationship with Kiz goes forward. Unlike some of my favorite characters and series, this one continues to hold my attention and I'll definitely be reading #17 when it's published. Thanks to Michael Connelly for continuing to write good books with characters and story lines I care about!

View all my reviews

Book 73 of 2011

2012-01-02T19:55:00.001-08:00

R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I always enjoy going back these. Fun stuff.

View all my reviews

Book 72 of 2011 Iron House by John Hart

2011-12-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

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?

View all my reviews

Book 71 of 2011 Disturbed by Kevin O'Brien

2011-12-17T20:21:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 70 of 2011 Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

2011-12-17T19:55:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Buffalo Chicken and Potato Casserole

2011-12-10T12:53:00.001-08:00

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

2011-12-05T11:50:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Yummy

2011-12-01T06:44:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-27T11:02:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 67 of 2011 Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta

2011-11-24T19:30:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 66 of 2011 10th Anniversary

2011-11-16T06:15:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Made from Pinterest

2011-11-13T14:15:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-13T10:24:00.001-08:00

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?

View all my reviews

Book 64 of 2011 Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

2011-11-13T10:23:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

book 63 of 2011 Blood Game by Iris Johansen

2011-11-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 62 of 2011 Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen

2011-11-06T16:02:00.001-08:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 61 of 2011 The Affair by Lee Child

2011-11-05T08:48:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 60 Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

2011-10-31T11:33:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 59 of 2011 Quicksand by Iris Johansen

2011-10-24T10:06:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

book 58 of 2011 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

2011-10-22T17:00:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 57 of 2011 Worth Dying For by Lee Child

2011-10-21T13:52:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

book 56 of 2011 Conviction by Richard North Patterson

2011-10-17T15:07:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 55 of 2011 Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

2011-10-09T07:43:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 54 of 2011 Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

2011-10-07T14:46:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

A to Z reading challenge

2011-10-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 52 of 2011 The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke

2011-09-28T08:42:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Top Ten DJ list??

2011-09-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-22T20:01:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

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

2011-09-20T16:59:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 49 of 2011 Death Masks by Jim Butcher

2011-09-15T19:42:00.001-07:00

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!

View all my reviews

Book 48 of 2011 The Year of Fog by Michelle Redmond

2011-09-15T05:07:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 47 of 2011 Killing Fear by Allison Brennan

2011-09-04T09:02:00.001-07:00

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).

View all my reviews

A to Z Reading Challenge

2011-09-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-01T17:06:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 45 Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

2011-08-31T05:37:00.000-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 44 of 2011 Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

2011-08-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

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!

View all my reviews

Book 43 of 2011 Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

2011-08-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

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

View all my reviews

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

2011-08-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

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?)

View all my reviews

A to Z Reading Challenge

2011-08-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-13T18:38:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 40 of 2011 Envy the Night by Michael Koryta

2011-08-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 39 of 2011 The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen

2011-08-03T13:39:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 38 of 2011 Looking for Alaska by John Green

2011-07-31T07:39:00.000-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

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

2011-07-26T18:34:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 36 Fallen by Karin Slaughter

2011-07-16T09:21:00.001-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Book 35 Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

2011-07-12T06:17:00.001-07:00

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!

View all my reviews

Book 34 of 2011 Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

2011-07-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

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.

View all my reviews

Update...A to Z Reading Challenge

2011-07-02T20:11:00.001-07:00

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

L Lucia, Lucia by Adrianna Trigiana

M Murder List by Julie Garwood

N The Ninth Judgement by James Patterson (Maxine Pareto)

P Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

R Room by Emma Donoghue

S The Straw Men by Michael Marshall

T Total Recall by Sara Paretsky

U Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

W Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille

Book 33 of 2011 The Edge of Sleep by David Wiltse

2011-07-02T20:08:00.001-07:00

Edge of Sleep by David Wiltse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I think this book is in the middle of a series featuring John Becker. In this one Becker is on an extended medical leave from the FBI but is pulled into a serial kidnapper/killer case by his former protege Karen Crist. Becker does a profile, but gets it all wrong. I would like more background on the kidnappers/killers. And having Crist's child become a victim was just a little too much. Other than those two things it was altogether a good example of one of my favorite genres...sick shit. I'll probably read more of this series if the library has copies.

View all my reviews

Book 32 of 2011 Lisey's Story by Stephen King

2011-06-27T15:58:00.001-07:00

Lisey's Story by Stephen King
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm so glad that I've finally finished this epic book. I put it down about halfway through because it was just too slow moving and because I really didn't like it. My opinion (despite King's snarky comment at the end of the book about the editing) is that this book is about 300 pages too long. I got really tired of the flashback within a flashback within a flashback. I also got tired of hearing about the same incident 47 times. (okay 47 is an exaggeration, but you get what I'm saying). I had to read about certain incidents over and over and over. I also tired of smucking and Manda Bunny and babyluv and SOWISA and all the other tired 'inside' crap after the nth time they were used. And don't get me started on booya moon. Had this book been more about the author and his survival of an awful childhood and how he grew and coped and how he survived and lived and married and then how his widow survived and lived and coped after his death without all the booya moon, I think I might have enjoyed it. The extent of the fantasy turned me off. It just did. I couldn't recommend this to anyone.

View all my reviews

Book 31 of 2011 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2011-06-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

just saw an article about this one being banned by a school board who admitted that none of them had even read the book. Banning a book makes it more appealing to me. So, I ran over to the Nola Brantley Branch of the Houston County Public Library and snapped it up to read. Back when I'm done to write a review.

Arnold Spirit Jr. is born with hydrocephalus, underwent several surgeries, dealt with seizures and grown to the ripe old age of 14. He's been picked on pretty much his entire life by everyone. After an incident at his reservation high school, he decides to go 'off the rez' to a white high school in a small town. At first he's also picked on there. And the torture from the other Indians on the reservation gets worse.

The book tells the story of that year. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. This book was banned by this school board who decided it was too much for 9th graders (without reading it of course) I think 9th graders would probably think it's pretty lame. It is a little dark, but not so much that it would be harmful for high school kids to read. I'd let my 5th or 6th grader read it.

View all my reviews

Book 30 of 2011 Specials by Scott Westerfeld

2011-06-20T10:44:00.001-07:00

Specials by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book nicely wrapped up the trilogy. While the author left some room for maybe another book or books, it was still a satisfying ending if he doesn't chose to continue the journey with more books I'm okay with that.

In this book we follow Shay, Tally and the Cutters clique of Specials on some unfinished business. Out to find the 'new smoke' and the Smokies. When they finally get there things aren't quite what they expected. Do they finally grow up? Maybe, although Tally still aggravates the hell out of me, she's still a kid and I kept having to tell myself that.

View all my reviews

Book 29 of 2011 -- A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks

2011-06-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What can I say, it's Nicholas Sparks so it's mindless drivel...perfect for summer reading when you don't want to think. I certainly didn't have to. I figured out the 'twist' (if it can even be called a twist) very early on. It's been done before, and better. I think I probably should steer clear of Mr. Sparks from now on, even for mindless summer reading.

View all my reviews

Book 28 of 2011 Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

2011-06-13T05:36:00.000-07:00

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Tally is back in the City and the operation is complete, she is finally Pretty. She's becoming a member of the Crims gang, she has the perfect boyfriend and everyone wants to be like her. But, she isn't as happy as she thought she would be. She has a sense that something is not right. Then at a party a message from her Ugly/Smoke past arrives with a note that she wrote to herself. She and Zane her perfectly beautiful boyfriend embark on a quest to find the 'New Smoke' and regain their memories of the past.

Two stars equals an okay book. While it didn't blow me away, it wasn't terrible either. The story seemed to get a little tired. It was basically just a rehash of Pretties with a new boy. I expected more and that's probably not fair. This is after all, a YA book and should not be judged on the same basis as a book written for adults. I'll still finish the trilogy with Specials on my hold list at the library, but I'm certainly not excited about this one.

View all my reviews

Book 27 of 2011 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

2011-06-02T08:11:00.001-07:00

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

just about finished with this one. I think I like it and will definitely have to read Pretties.Finished in the middle of the night when i couldn't sleep. It was interesting enough and will be putting the next on my hold list at the library

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

View all my reviews

Book 26 of 2011 -- Fallen by Lauren Kate

2011-05-29T14:45:00.001-07:00

Fallen by Lauren Kate
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this YA book about a fallen angel and the girl he has loved and lost over and over and over. It was interesting enough to make me want to read the next one in the series to find out what happens with this group of fallen angels.

Synopsis: There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

View all my reviews

A to Z Reading Challenge

2011-05-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

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

Book 25 of 2011 -- The Straw Men by Michael Marshall

2011-05-26T09:37:00.001-07:00

Straw Men by Michael Marshall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Synopsis: This book brings two different stories that seem to be totally unrelated, but we know that they are going to converge at some point.
Ward Hopkins returns home to Montana after his parents die in a car crash to find a note hidden in his dad's chair that reads "We're not dead". His buddy Bobby Nygard, a CIA agent helps him unravel his history and uncover a group called "The Straw Men".
John Zandt, a former police detective is looking for "The Upright Man" who has abducted 5 teenage girls (the 4th being his daughter). His former lover, FBI agent Nina Baynam thinks he may be onto something, and is working outside the agency with him.
As these two stories are told we also discover a tall blonde man who turns up at the sites of seemingly senseless massacres around the world. How do these all come together.
It was a little slow to get into this book, and I didn't envision how these stories could come together. There were hints and the way the author brought them together was exciting and made for a good thriller. I didn't realize that this was the first in a series, and will most definitely be putting the next one on my hold list at the library. If you like sick shit and serial killers, this book will be right up your alley!

View all my reviews

Book 24 of 2011 Duma Key by Stephen King

2011-05-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Duma Key by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Becky, Darci and Casey...I finally read this and wish I hadn't waited so long! I loved it. It is not the type of book I usually read, but that's why I think I liked it so much. That Stephen King surely has a fucked up imagination! This was one CRAZY book. I want more! I need to know about Jack! I didn't like what happened with Wireman and I want to know what happened with the storm!!! And y'all were so right, I'll forever more think of the house on our beach as Big Pink. Thanks for insisting again this year that I needed to read this one. It was so worth it.

View all my reviews

Book 23 of 2011 -- Beastly by Alex Flinn

2011-05-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

Beastly by Alex Flinn
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was Beauty and the Beast re-written for YA. I've gotten so used to absolutely wonderful YA books (after reading The Hunger Games trilogy) that this one was a slight disappointment. It wasn't as fully developed as I wanted it to be, but I'm not sorry that I read it. Don't rush out to buy it, but if you already have it laying around, go ahead and read it.

View all my reviews

Today is Wednesday

2011-05-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

And it's been one hell of a week so far. Returned home on Sunday from a wonderful weekend at the beach. Can I just say that Gulf Shores is beautiful. I love it in late April/early May before all the crowds descend.
On the way home I got a call from my son. (He and his girlfriend and their dog and cat moved home from college while I was away and that's a story for another day!). The bathroom was flooding. YUCK! Not the best thing to return to. The plumber arrived early Monday morning. $1600 and 8 hours later we were finally back to flushing. I guess I can't complain. The septic tank is 20 years old and has never been pumped and I've never had a problem. Hope it's good for another 20 years!
The rest of the week should be a breeze. Of course, Friday is field day at school, so I'll be hot and tired by days end. But it's all about the kiddos and they will have a BLAST!

Cousins Weekend

2011-05-08T17:51:00.000-07:00

Just got home from our 2nd annual cousins trip to Gulf Shores, AL. Shiloh House in Ft. Morgan is awesome. Only 9 of us made it this year, but it was so much fun. There was much talking, laughing, drinking and eating. A few tears when we were leaving, but promises to do it again next year. Hoping that our girls who were missing are able to make it next year.

A to Z Reading Challenge

2011-05-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

A The Art of Keeping Secrets by Patti Callahan Henry
B
C        The Cracker Queen by Lauretta Hannon
D        Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
E
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
Q
R   Room by Emma Donoghue
S
T       Total Recall   by Sara Paretsky
U
V
W Wild Fire  by Nelson DeMille
X
Y
Z

Book 22 of 2011 9th Judgement by James Patterson

2011-05-07T09:33:00.001-07:00

The 9th Judgment by James Patterson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

the best thing I can say about this book is that I enjoyed finishing it up while laying on the beach watching the waves and feeling the gulf breezes.
too many coincidences and not enough meat in this one. Hope #10 is better. If it isn't, I'll probably give up on this series.

View all my reviews

Book 21 of 2011 -- Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-05-02T13:45:00.001-07:00

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a YA book with a supernatural twist, that doesn't involve vampires or werewolves! This go round, we encounter Nephilim, Fallen Angels, and Guardian Angels. It took a good portion of the book to get me interested and excited. I thought the beginning and middle were a little slow and maybe could have used a little more background. But, more background may have made it even slower. Doesn't matter, I stuck with it and was glad I did. Looking forward to book 2 to see how Nora, Patch, and Vee carry on.

View all my reviews

A to Z Blogging Challenge

2011-04-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Author Elizabeth Mueller for the AWARD!!

Book 20 of 2011 -- Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

2011-04-30T21:10:00.001-07:00

Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was really looking forward to this book, but was a little disappointed. I figured out the killer way too soon for my liking. I'll still read book 3 in this series, but if it's not better I doubt I'll try again.

View all my reviews

Z is for Zest

2011-04-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Z is for Zest. One of the definitions of zest according to the Merriam - Webster online dictionary is 'an enjoyable exciting quality. I joined the A to Z Blogging Challenge with zest. I knew it would be a difficult task for me to write the posts each day (excluding Sundays) but I really wanted to try hard. I was right, it wasn't always easy, but it was mostly rewarding. My blog had been mostly a solitary thing with only a handful of followers. I wrote mostly book reviews with a very few posts about life in between the reviews. I've finished this challenge with 44 followers. Wow! That astounds me. What is most incredible to me is that these are people who have absolutely no connection to me except that they stumbled on my little blog through this challenge. It's amazing to know that some of them will continue to stop by periodically to see what I've written. My goal is to continue to write about all sorts of things. Oh, I'll still be posting my book reviews and I'll definitely be joining some other challenges. So, I started this challenge with zest , I feel like most of my posts have been written with zest , and I've finished it with zest. I look forward to the challenge next year and I look forward to my visits to some way cool blogs I found while surfing the challenge sites. Thanks!!!

Y is for Yellow

2011-04-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Y is for yellow. Yellow, the color of the sun, pretty daffodils, sunflowers, school buses and the Queens suit for the wedding of William and Kate! I've never been fond of yellow clothes. I love yellow flowers. Daffodils and sunflowers, daisies and chrysanthemums (not sure about that spelling), but yellow clothes just don't float my boat. Could be because I don't look good in yellow. I don't like yellow rooms either.

X is for Xenophobia

2011-04-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

X is for xenophobia.
I started worrying about my x,y,z posts a few days ago and went on a hunt for 'x' words in Wiktionary. I found
xenophobia and thought it was certainly a timely word to explore given the issue of illegal immigration. Are those who are in favor of a stricter adherence to current immigration laws xenophobic? Xenophobia is defined as deep-rooted antipathy towards foreigners (Oxford English Dictionary). The Dictionary of Psychiatry defines it as "a fear of strangers". I'm sure this label could be applied to some but certainly not all who call for illegals to be deported. X is for xenophobia, now I'm searching for those y and z words for Friday and Saturday posts!

W is for Words

2011-04-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

W is for words and I don't have very many left in me today. Words can be used for good or evil. Words can be used to praise or to condemn. Words can be positive or negative, big or little, soft or harsh, mean or nice, friend or foe. Words, how do you use them?

V is for the Voices I hear in my head!

2011-04-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

V is for the Voices that I hear in my head! Do you have these inner voices? Sometimes they are very helpful, but at other times the voices can hinder. I always listen to the voices in my head but I don't always do what they're telling me to do. I sometimes give the voices names and I talk back to them.(does that make me craaaazzzzy????) The voices don't always give the best advice. I think that knowing when to heed the voices is one major sign of being a grown up.

I'm already dreading day's x y and z!

U is for Update to the A to Z Reading Challenge

2011-04-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

U is for Update! Okay, so it's a cop out a little bit, but I'm just tired today and this is my U post!

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
C        The Cracker Queen by Lauretta Hannon
D        Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
E
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
O
P
Q
R   Room by Emma Donoghue
S
T       Total Recall   by Sara Paretsky
U
V
W Wild Fire  by Nelson DeMille
X
Y
Z

Book 19 of 2011 The Art of Keeping Secrets by Patti Callahan Henry

2011-04-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

The Art of Keeping Secrets by Patti Callahan Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book started out with a bang and ended with a little whimper. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 but was disappointed with the lat 1/3. A plane crash killed Annabelle Murphy's husband and 2 years later, the wreckage is found. His body is there along with the body of a female. Of course, this makes Annabelle and her children wonder if their entire life with husband and father was a big ole lie.

I wish the relationships with Annabelle's circle of friends had been a bigger part of the book. I felt like the author really lost out on some good stuff when she didn't flesh out Annabelle and Shawn's friendship. It wasn't a long book, so I feel like it could have been expanded.

Not the best I've read, but not the worst either. Just a meh.

View all my reviews

book 18 of 2011 -- Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

2011-04-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grave Peril is the 3rd book in The Dresden Files. I've come to this series a little late and I've thoroughly enjoyed the first 3 books in the series. According to a snippet on the front of this paperback, there is a series based on the books on SciFi channel. Wonder if it still airs? I'll have to check on that.

This book is exactly how I like my sci/fi/fantasy reads. Over the top! Harry Dresden faces some really bad-ass supernatural shit in this outing. Ghosts, spirits, vampires, and other un-nameable entities. this one is Evil with a capital E! I'm sad that Susan has been hurt and anxious to read the next installment to see how she fares. I'm glad to have met Thomas and Justine and am hopeful that they will make appearance in volumes yet to be read. Michael is awesome and I'd like to read more of Charity and the kiddos, especially Harry's little namesake. He should be one interesting kid based on his tortured birth. Book number four shall be placed on my library hold list so that I can get on with this series.

View all my reviews

T is for Talk

2011-04-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

T is for Talk. It's one of the things I do best. I can talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime. I love to talk. I think I've always been a pretty big talker, but as I get older, I get talkier (is that even a word? I don't think it is but I'm using it anyway). When I was in school I got in trouble all the time for talking when I should've been listening..Now at work I have to really watch myself or I'll get carried away talking and won't get my work done. I also have to try to remember when I'm on the phone with friends and family that they'd like to talk also. It's hard for me to shut up and let somebody else do the talking. I guess there could be worse things.

S is for Sand

2011-04-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

S is for Sand, and sand means the BEACH!! In two weeks I'm going to the Gulf Coast of Alabama to spend a most wonderful weekend with my cousins. We did this last year and had so much fun we decided to make it an annual event. Rented a wonderful house on the beach with lots of bedrooms and an absolutely breathtaking view of the Gulf and an enormous expanse of sand. I can't wait. Seeing all my cousins will be so much fun. They are coming from several different states. A few won't be able to make it this year and we will miss them big, but we're counting on them being back for next year...we won't be taking no for an answer! Can't wait to get my toes in the sand!

R is for Reading

2011-04-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

R is for Reading. It's what I do. It's the pleasure that I hope I never have to give up. I always like the book better than the movie. I try to watch movies based on books with an open mind, but the movie is never good enough. Maybe I should watch the movie before reading the book. Nope, don't think that'll work. It would ruin the book. I'll stick with reading.
I read lots of different genres. I love mystery, thrillers, paranormal, YA, horror, chick lit, popular literature. My favorite is what I call sick shit. Books about serial murderers are some of my favorites. What would I do if I couldn't read? I'm not sure, and I hope I never have to find out!

q is for quiet

2011-04-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Q is for Quiet. And boy do I need some today. Peace and quiet. I work part-time at an elementary school with learning disabled students. Most days I enjoy my job. Today, I was pulled from my regular students to sub in 5th grade. Do you have any idea how annoying and disrespectful 5th grade students are? I hope you never learn. So, after a stress filled day of 5th graders, I'm having a nice cold glass of Moscato and some well-deserved peace and quiet!

P is for Pizza!

2011-04-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

P is for Pizza, and it's best when my mama makes it. I love home made pizza. I can make the sauce and put the pizza together, but I can never get the crust as thin and crispy my mom's. Maybe I don't knead enough, or I knead too much, but the dough is never quite what I want it to be. The sauce that I make is so very tasty, a little sweet but not too much. My favorite has pork sausage, mushrooms and plenty of cheese! Nothing quite like a home made pizza to make me over eat!

O is for Organization

2011-04-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

O is for organization, and I wish I had me some! I've tried and tried over the years to get myself organized and I just have never quite gotten it done. I have these brief periods of great organization and then I just sort of let it go and become my old disorganized self. I've read books and websites. I've tried websites that offered tips and tricks. I've watched my family and friends who are organized and tried to learn from the. And I've come to the conclusion that it just ain't happening for me. I'll keep trying to get myself organized, but I surely am not counting on it!

Book 17 of 2011 -- I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman

2011-04-17T05:54:00.001-07:00

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This one was just okay for me. I've heard such good things about this author, but now I think I've read 2 of her stand alone novels and neither of them have really done it for me. Probably won't try it again.

As far as this book, the idea seemed a good one, but it just never developed for me. I didn't like Elizabeth/Eliza at all. She finally got some balls at the very end of the book, but it was too late for it to matter to me. So this was barely okay.

View all my reviews

N is for Nuts

2011-04-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

And that's what I've been lately. Nuts! There's alot going on in my crazy life right now and I'm feeling it. Can't go into it all, but I'm holding out and hoping that things get better soon.

M is for me...Michelle!!!

2011-04-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

I was babysitting on Friday and Saturday and didn't have internet access, so my 'm' and 'n' posts are late.

M is for Me, Michelle. I thought this would be a good time to tell some of my new friends a little bit about myself. What's the first thing you would notice about me if you met me? I think it's probably that I talk alot. But, I love to talk. About anything. I'll talk your ears off, so just be warned if we ever meet in person, I'm a talker.
I turned 50 this year. I've never been too worried about aging. I was very pregnant when I turned 30, so I was more concerned with getting a baby here than I was with being 30. My sister threw me an awesome surprise party for my 40th. She posted huge blown up embarrassing photos of me throughout my life. I still have those posters. My 50th I spent babysitting. I got a cute card from the kids I was sitting that they made for me.
I grew up in a very rural area in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It was the best childhood ever. All my mama's sisters lived on the same road as well as my Mom-maw and Pop-paw and we went from house to house running in and out. We're still close even though we live in different parts of the country. I'm a Southerner. I love the heat and humidity. Hate snow and cold. I spent 2 years in Cincinnati just after college and while I loved the city, the weather just wore me out.
I'm divorced. Been divorced for about 15 years I guess. I like being on my own. I have one son and I'm very proud of him most of the time. He's 20 so every once in awhile he does something I'm not so proud of, but he's a good kid and he loves his mama!
Are those the most important things about me? Maybe not, but there they are and now my new friends know me a little better!

L is for Laura Lippman

2011-04-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Laura Lippman is a fairly new author to me. My favorite author, Joshilyn Jackson, has recommended her books on her blog on occasion. Since I Love me some Joshilyn Jackson I decided to try Laura Lippman on her recommendation. I'm reading i'd know you anywhere now. I'm about halfway through it and I'm really liking it. It's about a woman who was kidnapped as a 15 year old. The kidnapper also raped and murdered some other girls. He's on death row and contacts her. The book switches between the present and the time of the kidnapping. So, if you want a new author to try, Laura Lippman might be a good one.

K is for Karma

2011-04-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia Karma usually refers to the concept of destiny (loosely speaking) in Indian religions.

I've often said, 'Karma's a bitch'. or told someone, 'that's gonna bite you in the ass'. Most often referring to the bad side of karma. What I often forget is that karma isn't always about the bad, but can also be about the good you put out there that is supposed to come back to you. That's the kind of karma that I need more of. Good Karma... we all need more!

Book 16 of 2011 -- House Rules by Jodi Picoult

2011-04-12T16:16:00.001-07:00

House Rules by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As usual for Jodi Picoult, this book is about a difficult subject. It follows a family whose son Jacob has Asperger's syndrome. Jacob is 18 and is charged with the murder of his social interaction tutor/coach. The majority of the book deals with the build up and the trial. It's told in alternating chapters from the viewpoints of Jacob, his mother Emma, his brother Theo, the detective Rich, and his attorney Oliver. This writing style is great for a book of this sort and I liked the different points of view. The ending was somewhat abrupt and had it been better the book would've gotten 5 stars from me.

If you like Picoult and her type of fiction, then this is a must read.

View all my reviews

J is for Job

2011-04-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

J is for Job! Right now I have a part time one and it's ending in May. I'm looking. I think I'm looking hard, but so far I haven't found anything. Am I being a Job Snob? Am I overlooking jobs that I think are 'beneath' me? Maybe so. Maybe I'm not desperate enough yet. Maybe I'll get there soon. Like when this part time job ends and I have to go back on unemployment. While unemployment is a blessing, it only pays the bills. And it really only barely pays the bills. Guess I'll be eating lots of beans and rice! That's okay because I love beans! and I'll learn to love rice.

What's up with Michelle

Book 9 of 2012

Book 8 of 2012

Book 7 of 2012

Free books and Kindle Fire contest

Book 6 of 2012

Book 5 of 2012

Book 4 of 2012

Worst books of 2011

Book 2 of 2012 Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Book 3 of 2012 The Dead Man by Joel Goldman

Top Reads of 2011

Book #1 of 2012 The Drop by Michael Connelly

Book 73 of 2011

Book 72 of 2011 Iron House by John Hart

Book 71 of 2011 Disturbed by Kevin O'Brien

Book 70 of 2011 Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny

Buffalo Chicken and Potato Casserole

Book 69 of 2011 Cross by James Patterson

Yummy

Book 68 of 2011 Bad Blood by John Sandford

Book 67 of 2011 Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta

Book 66 of 2011 10th Anniversary

Made from Pinterest

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

Book 64 of 2011 Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

book 63 of 2011 Blood Game by Iris Johansen

Book 62 of 2011 Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen

Book 61 of 2011 The Affair by Lee Child

Book 60 Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

Book 59 of 2011 Quicksand by Iris Johansen

book 58 of 2011 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Book 57 of 2011 Worth Dying For by Lee Child

book 56 of 2011 Conviction by Richard North Patterson

Book 55 of 2011 Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

Book 54 of 2011 Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

A to Z reading challenge

Book 53 of 2011 One Grave too Many by Beverly Connor

Book 52 of 2011 The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke

Top Ten DJ list??

Book 51 of 2011 Milk Glass Moon

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

Book 49 of 2011 Death Masks by Jim Butcher

Book 48 of 2011 The Year of Fog by Michelle Redmond

Book 47 of 2011 Killing Fear by Allison Brennan

A to Z Reading Challenge

book 46 of 2011 A Visit from the Good Squad

Book 45 Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Book 44 of 2011 Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Book 43 of 2011 Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

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

A to Z Reading Challenge

Book 41 of 2011 Torment by Lauren Kate

Book 40 of 2011 Envy the Night by Michael Koryta

Book 39 of 2011 The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen

Book 38 of 2011 Looking for Alaska by John Green

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

Book 36 Fallen by Karin Slaughter

Book 35 Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

Book 34 of 2011 Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Update...A to Z Reading Challenge

Book 33 of 2011 The Edge of Sleep by David Wiltse

Book 32 of 2011 Lisey's Story by Stephen King

Book 31 of 2011 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Book 30 of 2011 Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Book 29 of 2011 -- A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks

Book 28 of 2011 Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Book 27 of 2011 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Book 26 of 2011 -- Fallen by Lauren Kate

A to Z Reading Challenge

Book 25 of 2011 -- The Straw Men by Michael Marshall

Book 24 of 2011 Duma Key by Stephen King

Book 23 of 2011 -- Beastly by Alex Flinn

Today is Wednesday

Cousins Weekend

A to Z Reading Challenge

Book 22 of 2011 9th Judgement by James Patterson

Book 21 of 2011 -- Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

A to Z Blogging Challenge

Book 20 of 2011 -- Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris