Thursday, July 31, 2008

117. Killer View by Ridley Pearson

About the book

When a skier goes missing at Sun Valley's Galena Summit, Sheriff Walt Fleming quickly assembles his crack search-and-rescue team and heads out into the snowy night. Despite the treacherous conditions, Walt and his group, including deputy Tommy Brandon and Walt's best friend, Mark Aker, set off on skis, accompanied by highly trained search dogs. Within minutes, something goes horribly wrong: a shot rings out, and one of their team is dead. By morning, Mark Aker has disappeared.
Torn between professional responsibility and the desperate urge to find his friend, Walt is further challenged by an unexplained illness at a local water-bottling plant that sends workers to the hospital and sets off biohazard warnings. Following threads of questionable evidence through the glitter of Sun Valley leads Walt to an unlikely—and darker—source, and reveals a crime played out on a much larger scale than he originally envisioned. Waist-deep in snow and knee-deep in lies, the life of his friend in the balance, Walt begins to suspect that the whole operation is controlled by people of great wealth and power, which leaves him where he started: out in the cold.

Not my favorite book by him but it was very interesting.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

116. SNowfall At Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs

About the book

International lawyer Sophie Bellamy has dedicated her life to helping people in war-torn countries. But when she survives a hostage situation, she remembers what matters most—the children she loves back home. Haunted by regrets, she returns to the idyllic Catskills village of Avalon on the shores of Willow Lake, determined to repair the bonds with her family.
There Sophie discovers the surprising rewards of small-town life—including an unexpected passion for Noah Shepherd, the local veterinarian. Noah has a healing touch for anything with four legs, but he's never had any luck with women—until Sophie.
Snowfall at Willow Lake speaks from the heart about all the loves that fill a woman's life, and all the ways that love is tested and made to grow. It's the story of what comes after a woman survives an unspeakable horror and finds her way home, to healing and redemption and a new chance at happiness.

I love this series. So of course I loved this book. It might be predictable at times but I still thought it was a very good read.

Monday, July 28, 2008

115. Trace Evidence by Elizabeth Becka

About the book

In Unknown Means, Evelyn James is called to investigate two different murders of women in very high-security penthouse suites. When her best friend Marissa, the DNA analyst, is attacked by the same man, things get personal. She's distracted by pressure from her homicide detective boyfriend about their future together and also by a harrowing crime scene in the salt mine underneath Lake Erie. A third murder convinces her that the killer's choice of victim is anything but random.

Even though this is only the second book in the series, it had become a favorite of mine. I was so caught up in the story that is kept me guessing as to who the bad guy was. Can't wait for the next one.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

114. Sacred Cows by Karen E Olson

About the book

After a late night on the town, New Haven police reporter Annie Seymour is yanked from her bed by an early morning phone call from her editor. Soon she's shivering on a wet, dark city street, staring down at the once beautiful, now broken body of a Yale University coed." "Paid to observe and get just the facts before writing up her stories for the New Haven Herald, Annie finds herself drawn to the story of an Ivy League sophomore whose secret moonlighting led to her violent murder. But after Annie links the girl's death to a network of vice and fraud buried deep in the city's shadows, the cynical reporter is shocked to discover her own mother is involved." "With help from a sexy private investigator, Annie investigates but stumbles upon one obstacle after another. Her cop lover stonewalls her, her editor pulls her off the assignment to cover a surreal parade of fiberglass cows grazing throughout the city, and an overeager cub reporter nips at her heels to get the scoop for himself."

I loved this book. Annie is great. I love how she speaks her mind without thinking about the outcome. I have been doing that for years. I am sorry that there are only three more books in this series.
Sometimes I really think the publishers get it wrong.
Now I am off to track down the second book in the series. I ordered No 3 and pre-ordered No 4. None of my usual haunts to buy books has No 2, I will have to check with some used book sites.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

113. Hand of Evil by J.A.Jance

About the book

Ali, still recovering from the murder of her not-quite-ex-husband, is aided by her parents and her old high school chum, newly divorced detective and marine reservist Dave Holman. Meanwhile, wealthy, reclusive Arabella Ashcroft, whose family's college scholarship program supported Ali as an undergrad, has read Ali's grief-filled blog, cutlooseblog.com, and wants Ali's help in writing an incest memoir: elderly Arabella says that her childhood was despoiled by a late stepbrother, Bill, and that she's being threatened by his son should she go through with writing about it. Soon after, Dave's daughter Crystal disappears from the Las Vegas home of his ex- and her new husband; Dave seeks Ali's counsel before barreling out there. Jance crowds the book with subplots, and her characters air a lot of opinions about sexual abuse and health care. But sparks between Ali and Dave and an upbeat ending keep this latest Ali outing on track.

Still undecided about this series, I like them but I am not waiting for the next one to be released like I do with so many other series that I read. I will continue to read them. Ali finds more trouble.

It has been a busy morning the inlaws stopped by, the house is clean, the grass is cut. So it is time to take a shower and head out to the porch swing and start Sacred Cows by Karen E. Olson. More later...

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

112. Web OF Evil by J.A.Jance

About the book

Ali's husband, Paul Grayson, is killed on the eve of their divorce-by a train that hits the car where he's tied up in the trunk somewhere near Palm Springs, Calif. Ali, Paul's legal beneficiary, becomes the chief murder suspect. A popular blogger and former Los Angeles TV news anchor who's suing the station where she used to work for wrongful dismissal, Ali initiates her own investigation, enlisting the help of her mother, grown son Chris and high school friend Dave Holman, a homicide detective in Sedona, Ariz., where Ali now lives. In a series of clumsy plot developments involving Paul's fianc e, April Gaddis, and April's greedy mother, Monique Ragsdale, Ali learns that Paul was financing a performance variety of the sumo sudoku puzzle fad.

I am not a big fan of this series. I prefer her other 2 series. However, I am enjoying the books. I especially love the blog parts. Had I started this series before I started blogging I probably would not like them as much. I really thought there would be a lot more dark mystery to them. But they have grown on me. I already started Hand of Evil which is currently the last one in the series. I do believe another one comes out later this year.

Monday, July 21, 2008

111. Edge of Evil by J.A. Jance

About the book

The end of her high-profile broadcasting career came too soon for TV journalist Alison Reynolds, bounced off the air by executives who wanted a younger face. With a divorce from her cheating husband also pending, Ali is summoned back home to Sedona, Arizona, by the mysterious death of a childhood friend--and the killer may be hunting her next.

I thought this book would be a lot darker than it was. Overall a very enjoyable read. Next up is Web of Evil the next book in the series.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

110. Guilty by Karen Robards

About the book

Kate White, a single mother and Philadelphia ADA, is embarrassed in court when her cellphone goes off during a trial. Just then the defendantA pulls out a pistol and starts shooting, killing the judge. The terror-stricken Kate fears for her life and the future of her young son, Ben, should she die in the melee. After being taken hostage, Kate escapes, supposedly by killing her captor. Kate soon discovers that her past as a troubled foster child has caught up to her. Someone tries to break into her home, while someone else follows her, threatening her and Ben. Det. Tom Braga, who investigates the courtroom shooting, is firmly convinced that Kate didn't kill her captor. Kate's vulnerability appeals to Tom's protective nature, drawing the pair together in a heated affair. Robards once again shows her flair for coupling first-rate suspense with multidimensional characters.

I will admit I have a love/hate relationship with Karen Robards books. I very rarely buy them for this reason. For some unknown reason I did buy this one from of of the book clubs. I am happy to say that I really enjoyed this book. It kept me turning pages long into the night, when I should have been sleeping. I think at first I was looking for the "thing" that was going to annoy me but it did not happen and I was then caught up in the story. It is nice to feel good after reading one of her books.

109. Rogue by Danielle Steel

About the book

Meet Maxine Williams, a dedicated doctor with three great kids, a challenging career, and the perfect new man in her life. Her only problem? Her irresistibly charming, utterly infuriating ex-husband, aka the . . .

Being married to Blake had been an amazing adventure for Maxine. Brilliant, charismatic, and wholly unpredictable, Blake Williams made millions and grabbed headlines as a dot-com entrepreneur. His only shortcoming was as a husband—first his work and then his never-ending quest for fun kept him constantly on the move, far away from Maxine and his family. For five years Blake and Maxine have worked out an odd but amicable divorce, with friendly though infrequent visits, a yacht he lends her every summer, and three children they both adore. Blake enjoys his globe-trotting lifestyle—dating a succession of beautiful, famous, and very young women—while Maxine raises their kids in Manhattan and pursues her passion, working as a psychiatrist, a world-renowned expert on childhood trauma and adolescent suicide. Then everything changes….

For Maxine it starts when she falls in love with Dr. Charles West, a man who is everything Blake is not—mature, grounded, and present. For Blake it begins when a devastating earthquake strikes near one of his palatial foreign homes and he sees hundreds of orphaned children in need of shelter. Now Blake wants Maxine in his life again—as a partner in a humanitarian project that could change countless lives. For Maxine the choice is clear. But Blake’s sudden transformation—from carefree playboy to compassionate, responsible grown-up—raises questions she’s never managedto answer . . . and some she’s afraid to ask. After all, Maxine is on the cusp of a new life, about to marry Charles, and almost certain that Blake Williams, aka the Rogue, is a man capable of doing anything—except change….

Some friends from an online group, read this book and were talking about it without giving anything away. They made me curious and I had to read it. Why did I give in. LOL It is a very quick read. I also found it to be very predictable. I kindof figured from the beginning how this book would end. Sometimes Danielle Steel surprises me, not this time

Friday, July 18, 2008

108. Lye In Wait by Cricket McRae

About the book

Cocoa butter soap, check. Lemon lip balm, check. A dead body?
That's just what Sophie Mae Reynolds finds in her workroom: the corpse of Walter Hanover, the neighborhood handyman. He died from drinking lye, something she has in good supply. But the police don't suspect Sophie Mae, a thirty—something widow who makes and sells beauty products. Instead they call it a suicide. But why would a man with lottery cash and a loving fiancĂ©e kill himself?
No one can stop the impulsive Sophie Mae from answering this riddle, not her sensible best friend Meghan or Detective Ambrose, who incites annoyance as well as stomach flutters. Sophie Mae's big mouth and sharp nose lead her to a peppermint—scented trail of arson, bigamy, and a shocking family secret that reveals a personal connection to Walter . . . and his killer.
This crafty new series features real recipes and a blundering, yet lovable, amateur sleuth who brings a fresh face to cozy mysteries.

Something seemed off but it was probably me. I did enjoy it. I will try the next one. Lately I am leary of new series.. Especially if I fall in love with the series and the author only writes a few books and disappears into the sunset which has been happening alot lately.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

107. Whispering Rocks by Robyn Carr

About the book

The tightly knit community of Virgin River has been a safe haven for more than a few lost souls over the years—and there's always room for more . . .

A decorated U.S. Marine reservist, LAPD officer Mike Valenzuela was badly wounded in the line of duty, but has found hope and healing in Virgin River. When he agrees to become the town's first cop, he does so knowing it's time he settled down. Twice divorced and the lover of too many women, he secretly longs for the kind of commitment and happiness his marine buddies have found—a woman who can tie up his heart forever. He finds that woman in Brie Sheridan, a Sacramento prosecutor who understands his drive to protect and serve. Virgin River becomes a safe haven for Brie after nearly losing her life at the hands of a crazed criminal. Though tough and courageous, she's got some fears she can't escape—but now she has someone who will show her just what it means to trust again.
Mike will do anything to help Brie free herself from painful memories. Passionate, strong and gentle, he vows to give back to her what she's so selflessly given him—her heart, and with it, a new beginning.

I can't wait for the next installment in this series to come out.

106. Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr

About the book

John "Preacher" Middleton is about to close the bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of the wet October night. A marine who has seen his share of pain, Preacher knows a crisis when he sees one—the woman is covered in bruises. He wants to protect them, and he wants to punish whoever did this to her, but he knows immediately that this inclination to protect is something much more. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man—emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.
But when Paige's ex-husband turns up in Virgin River, Preacher knows his own future hangs in the balance. And if there's one thing the marines' motto of Semper Fidelis—always faithful—has taught him, it's that some things are worth fighting for.

I really love this series. Even though you can figure out in advance what is going to happen

Saturday, July 12, 2008

105. Virgin River by Robyn Carr

About the book

Wanted: Midwife/Nurse Practitioner in Virgin River, Population Six Hundred. Make a Difference Against a Backdrop of Towering California Redwoods and Crystal-Clear Rivers. Rent-Free Cabin Included.
When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place for her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving: the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she's made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.
But a tiny baby, abandoned on a front porch, changes her plans . . . and a former marine cements them into place.

What a great start to the series.I really loved this book and have the next 2 sitting here. I have a feeling I will be reading them back to back. I want to find out what happens. I will admit that parts are very predictable, but it was still a great story.

Friday, July 11, 2008

104. Don't Tell A Soul by David Rosenfelt

About the book

Tim Wallace’s wife died in a boating accident several months ago. Tim was the only eye witness, and one New Jersey cop is sure he killed her. He didn’t, but even if the police eventually clear his name, he’ll never get over this terrible tragedy.
On New Year’s Eve, his two best friends and business partners finally convince him to go out for the first time since Maggie’s death, and at their neighborhood pub just a few minutes before midnight, things in Tim Wallace’s life go from bad to worse. “Can you keep a secret? A really big one?” a drunken stranger asks him. Before Tim can say anything or turn away, the man confesses to a months-old murder, even offering as proof the location of the woman’s body. “Now it’s your problem,” he says and walks away.
When the man turns out to have been telling the truth, Tim’s life and work are put under the microscope again by the cops, and this time they’re not giving up. But neither is Tim, even when things keep getting worse for him, and eventually he realizes he’s the only person who can figure out what’s really going on---even if it kills him.

David Rosenfelt is an automatic read for me. When I picked this one up I thought it was part of his series, which I enjoy,I quickly got over my disappointment. This is a wonderful stand alone book. He kept me guessing for a long time about what was really going on.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

103. Phantom Prey by John Sandford

about the book
A widow comes home to her large house in a wealthy, exclusive suburb to find blood everywhere, no body—and her college-aged daughter missing. She's always known that her daughter ran with a bad bunch. What did she call them—Goths? Freaks is more like it, running around with all that makeup and black clothing, listening to that awful music, so attracted to death. And now this.
But the police can't find the girl, alive or dead, and when a second Goth is found slashed to death in Minneapolis, the widow truly panics. There's someone she knows, a surgeon named Weather Davenport, whose husband is a big deal with the police, and she implores Weather to get him directly involved. Lucas begins to investigate only reluctantly—but then when a third Goth is slashed in what is now looking like a 'Jack the Ripper' series of killings, he starts working it hard. The clues don't seem to add up, though. And then there's the young Goth who keeps appearing and disappearing: Who is she? Where does she come from and, more important, where does she vanish to? And why does Lucas keep getting the sneaking suspicion that there is something else going onhere . . . something very, very bad indeed?

Not my favorite Lucas book. This one had a lot going on. Some of it was a bit out there in my opinion. However, I will read the next one.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

102. Obedience by Will Lavender

About the book

When the students in Winchester University’s Logic and Reasoning 204 arrive for their first day of class, they are greeted not with a syllabus or texts, but with a startling assignment from Professor Williams: Find a hypothetical missing girl named Polly. If after being given a series of clues and details the class has not found her before the end of the term in six weeks, she will be murdered.
At first the students are as intrigued by the premise of their puzzle as they are wary of the strange and slightly creepy Professor Williams. But as they delve deeper into the mystery, they begin to wonder: Is the Polly story simply a logic exercise, designed to teach them rational thinking skills, or could it be something more sinister and dangerous?
The mystery soon takes over the lives of three students as they find disturbing connections between Polly and themselves. Characters that were supposedly fictitious begin to emerge in reality. Soon, the boundary between the classroom assignment and the real world becomes blurred—and the students wonder if it is their own lives they are being asked to save.

When I first finished this I want to wall bang it because of the ending. However, I could not do that since it was a very good book that sucked me in from the beginning and kept me reading until the end. I can usually spot the twists and turns that are coming but he got me with this one. I never saw anything. I will have to keep an eye out for his next book

101. Inferno by Karen Harper

About the book

Evil spreads like wildfire

Bush pilot Lauren Taylor knows better than most the devastation fire can leave in its wake: two years ago she lost her husband to a raging wildfire. But when she flies a stranger into her isolated hometown of Vermillion, Montana, her actions may be the spark that starts an inferno. Because the mysterious passenger bears an undeniable resemblance to a serial arsonist wanted by the FBI—and he's disappeared into the tinder-dry woods . . .
FBI agent Brad Hale doesn't have time to fly into picturesque towns based on one woman's vague suspicions, but Lauren Taylor seems desperate. And when her young son goes missing, he realizes the little boy may hold the key to his investigation. Hot on the stranger's tail, Lauren and Brad will do anything to stop a man bent on destruction . . . even if that means rushing headlong into the flames.

Not my favorite boook by her, but overall I did enjoy it. However, I never want to be caught in a fire.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

100. Feint of Art by Hailey Lind

About the book

The first in a new mystery series starring art-forger-Gone-good Annie Kincaid
Annie breaks the news to her curator ex-boyfriend Ernst: his museum's new $15 million Caravaggio is a fake. Then the janitor is killed, Ernst disappears, and a dealer makes off with several Old Master drawings. If she breaks the case using her old connections, Annie can finally pay the rent. But doing so could also draw her back into the underworld of forgers she swore she'd left behind.

I truly enjoyed this book. Lots of quirky characters and laughs. So far I see that there are 3 books in the series. The last one came out in July of 2007. I really hope that there are more and that this is not one of those series where the authors just disappear into the sunset. That has been happening a lot lately

Thursday, July 3, 2008

99. A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand

About the book

Hearts break and emotions are pushed to the limit, in this riveting story of one woman's attempt to deal with loves past and present, family, business, and high-powered social pressures

I have loved all of her previous books. I was not real crazy about this one.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

98. Woman In Red by Eileen Goudge

About the book

Alice Kessler, the married mother of two sons, is living on the fictional Grays Island, in the Pacific Northwest, when her eight-year-old son is run over while riding his bike. Alice is convinced the driver, Owen White, was drunk-though her husband, Randy, is not. Neither is the court system. So, on the day Alice loses her wrongful death lawsuit, she runs Owen down in the courthouse parking lot, crippling but not killing him. Alice serves nine years and returns to the island near-broke and hoping to reunite with her surviving son, Jeremy, now 16. (Her husband, Randy, has divorced her.) At the same time, Colin McGinty, an ex-Manhattan prosecutor, has returned to his dead artist grandfather's island house after losing his wife in 9/11. Alice and Colin's fates become bound with a little help from Colin's inherited border collie and, more concretely, a portrait of Alice's grandmother. Cutting between WWII-era depictions of the lives of Colin's and Alice's grandparents

I truly enjoyed this book. I think it is one of her better ones. Not sure why it took me so long to read it.