Wednesday, October 29, 2008

163. Death Swatch By Laura Childs

About the book

Jekyl Hardy is hosting a Mardi Gras party in his French Quarter apartment, amid Zydeco rhythms and popping champagne corks. On a wild night like this, anything can happen. The guests—including scrapbook-store owner Carmela Bertrand—never imagine it will be murder. But as the evening progresses, Jekyl's neighbor, float designer Archie Baudier, is found on the balcony choked to death with a barbed wire garrote. Buried up to her neck in strange clues, Carmela is sure of only one thing: whoever killed Archie is now following her— straight into the madness of Mardi Gras.

I am so happy to be up to date on this series. A nice installment. Some interesting twists and turns along the way

Sunday, October 26, 2008

162. Sister's Choice by Emilie Richards

About the book

With nine years and a turbulent childhood between them, Kendra and Jamie have never been storybook sisters. After a long estrangement, they've finally begun to heal their hurts and forge a new bond.

Now Jamie is offering a gift Kendra has long since given up hoping for, the fondest wish of her heart—a baby. Already raising two young girls on her own, Jamie wants to become a gestational surrogate for Kendra and her husband, Isaac, giving birth to a child the husband and wife have created together. Despite some lingering misgivings about her once-wayward younger sister's commitment, Kendra agrees, and soon Jamie is pregnant.
In addition to this amazing gift of life, Jamie has designed a new house for Kendra and Isaac and is overseeing its construction on Isaac's ancestral property along the Shenandoah River, with the help of Cash Rosslyn, one of the most attractive men Jamie has known. By giving her sister both a home and a family, Jamie hopes to prove to Kendra that she deserves absolution for her past mistakes. But when a medical crisis threatens her health and her promising new relationship with Cash, Jamie learns that the most difficult choice in her life is yet to come—and its cost may be beyond calculation.

I loved this book and this series. A great installement. I hope there is another one.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

161. 8 Sandpiper Way by Debbie Macomber

about the book

Dear Reader,
I have something to confide in you. I think my husband, Dave, might be having an affair. I found an earring in his pocket, and it's not mine. I'm also worried because some jewelry was recently stolen from an old woman—and Dave used to visit her a lot.
You see, he's a pastor. And a good man. I can't believe he's guilty of anything, but why won't he tell me where he's been when he comes home so late?
Reader, I'd love to hear what you think. I also want to tell you what's going on with your other friends in Cedar Cove. Like Sheriff Troy Davis, to mention one. His long-ago love, Faith Beckwith, just moved here!
So come on in and join me for a cup of tea.
Emily Flemming

I love this series. I look forward to each book it is like catching up with old friends.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

160. A Jolly Good Fellow by Stephen Masse

A few weeks before Christmas, Duncan Wagner has a plan that he is going to kidnap the son of his enemy,Win Booker.Duncan is driving down the road in Gabriel's neighborhood when he sees him hitchhiking and he picks him up and kidnaps him. Duncan is not the typical kidnapper you get a sense early on that he has not thought every thing thru. Gabriel does not act like someone who has been kidnapped. It is safe to say that they both have issues.

When I was asked to review this book, I was told it was suspenseful fiction. I love suspense so I had to give this book a try. I figured out pretty quick that the kidnapping was just not about the money. This is more a book of feelings and discovery and filling a void.

I thought the book was ok. I had issues with a few parts, but they are my issues that probably would not bother anyone else. I also think that I would have liked it better if I would have read it during the holiday season. I had a hard time getting into the right frame of mind. But again this is my issue. I enjoyed Stephen Masse's writing and would like to read something else by him.

159. High Noon by Nora Roberts

About the book

Lt. Phoebe MacNamara, the chief hostage negotiator for the Savannah, Ga., PD, meets Duncan Swift, a sports bar owner, as they both try to prevent a suicidal bartender Duncan fired from jumping off a roof on St. Patrick's Day. In the aftermath, a romance develops between Phoebe and Duncan, After Phoebe survives a vicious attack within her own precinct house by an unknown assailant, it becomes clear that someone is intent on harming Phoebe and those close to her.

I usually love her books. Her books usually suck me in from page one and I can't stop reading until I finish. Not the case with this one. This book has been sitting here for awhile, this was my second attempt at reading it all the way through, so I am glad that I was able to stick with it and finish it. It had a few redeeming parts but not enough of them.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

158. It Only Takes A Moment by Mary Jane Clark

about the book

Eliza Blake, host of the top-rated KEY News morning show, has witnessed tragedy and danger in her career. But nothing the accomplished professional has experienced has prepared her for when her seven-year-old daughter, Janie, is snatched from summer camp. The country's viewers are glued to their television sets, anxiously awaiting the news that their favorite morning-television personality's little girl has been found.
With each passing day, the FBI and local authorities track down every lead: A profile of the kidnapper's most likely characteristics is developed, every fan letter written to Eliza over the last six months is scrutinized, every sex offender registered within a fifty-mile radius is interviewed, and psychics from around the country appear on Eliza's doorstep offering their help.
But Eliza isn't going to sit around and wait for answers. She and the rest of the Sunrise Suspense Society—brilliant producer Annabelle Murphy, cameraman extraordinaire B.J. D'Elia, and psychiatrist Dr. Margo Gonzalez—will band together

I love catching up with this series. Kept me reading for once I could not figure out who the bad people were.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

157. Hot Mahogany by Stuart Woods

about the book

One night at Elaine's, Stone Barrington—back in Manhattan after chasing down the bad guys in the Caribbean—meets Barton Cabot, older brother of his sometime ally, CIA boss Lance Cabot. Barton's career in army intelligence is even more top secret than his brother's, but he's suffering from amnesia following a random act of violence. Amnesia is a dangerous thing in a man whose memory is chockfull of state secrets, so Lance hires Stone to watch Barton's back. As Stone discovers, Barton is a spy with a rather unusual hobby: building and restoring antique furniture. The genteel world of antiques and coin dealers at first seems a far cry from Stone's usual underworld of mobsters, murderers, and spies. But Barton also is a man with a past, and one event in particular— in the jungles of Vietnam more than thirty years earlier— is coming back to haunt his present in ways he'd never expected. Stone soon finds out that Barton, and some shady characters of his acquaintance, may be hiding a lot more than just a few forged antiques.

Why do I keep reading these. The premise of the book is good. I just wish Stone was not such a sleaze.

156. Exposed by Alex Kava

about the book

Agent Maggie O'Dell and Assistant Director Cunningham believe they're responding to a threat made at Quantico. Instead they walk into a trap. Before they realize it, they've both been exposed to a killer who can strike at anyone, at any time, and no one can predict who might be next…until it's too late.
The killer's tactics suggest he's an aficionado of criminal minds. He uses bits and pieces from those he admires: a phrase from the Beltway Snipers, a clue from the Unabomber, a delivery method similar to the Anthrax Killer. His weapon is a deadly virus, virtually invisible and totally unexpected. His victims appear to be random but, in fact, they are chosen with a revengeful precision. The vaccine is limited and untested.
Maggie knows dangerous minds—from hauntingly perverse child predators to cunningly twisted serial killers. Now she faces a new opponent from inside an isolation ward at a biosafety containment hospital. Maggie must help Agent R. J. Tully find clues to catch the killer—while waiting to see if the deadly strain is already multiplying in her body. With every new exposure there's the potential for an epidemic. And Maggie knows she and Cunningham may not live long enough to discover who is the deadliest, most intelligent killer they've ever profiled.

I love this series. I really enjoyed this book. But it really makes you think about what could happen....

Sunday, October 12, 2008

155. Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown

About the book

When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up in bed with the handsome and hard-partying Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.

Five years earlier, Jay was a hero of a disastrous fire at Charleston's police headquarters, which would have been even deadlier if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who led others to safety. Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, had been assigned to investigate the fire, but the investigation ended in a scandal that shattered Raley's world, and forced him to surrender the woman he loved and the work to which he'd dedicated his life. For five years his resentment has festered, but he was helpless to set things right. That changes when he learns of Jay's shocking death.
As suspicion against Britt Shelley mounts, Raley realizes that the newswoman might be his only chance to get personal vindication -- and justice for the seven victims of the police station fire. But there are powerful men who don't want to address unanswered questions about the fire, and will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. As Raley and Britt discover more about what happened that fateful day, they realize that they're not only chasing after the truth but running for their lives.

An enjoyable read. I had some of it figured out but there were a few surprizes along the way.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

154. Last Breath by George D Shuman

About the book

A ruthless serial killer with an unthinkable MO has left a trail of tortured, murdered women in western Maryland and seems to have gone to ground in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. With no leads or any sign of a suspect, investigators must call on the now-famous blind psychic Sherry Moore, a woman whose talent inspires skepticism, but whose results are unparalleled. When she is put in contact with the hand of any dead body, she relives the memory of the departed's final experience. While investigating this case, she is privy to the most savage and terrifying scenes imaginable. However, because the killer is aware of her methods, he keeps his identity just beyond her reach until she resolves to put herself directly in harm's way. When the fiend sets his sights on Sherry, this seemingly helpless woman must demonstrate an almost inhuman strength of will and of body as she attempts to capture the deranged killer without having to pay the ultimate price in exchange.

I loved this book. Looking forward to reading the next book. He is quickly becoming a favorite author.

153. Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman

About the book

Billionaire genius Genoa Greeves never got over the shocking death of her favorite teacher, Bennett "Dr. Ben" Alston Little, murdered execution-style and stuffed into the trunk of his Mercedes-Benz. No arrests were ever made, no killer charged for the brutal crime. Fifteen years later, the high-tech CEO reads about another execution-style murder; this time the victim is a Hollywood music producer named Primo Ekerling. There is no obvious connection, but the case is eerily similar to Little's and Genoa feels the time is right to close Dr. Ben's case once and for all—offering the L.A.P.D. a substantial financial "incentive" if justice is finally served for Little.
Lieutenant Peter Decker resents having to commit valuable manpower to a fifteen-year-old open case simply because a rich woman says "Jump!" Still, the recent murder of Primo Ekerling does bear a disturbing resemblance to Little's case, even though two thug suspects are currently behind bars for the Ekerling murder. Decker can't help but wonder about a connection. His first phone calls are to the two primary investigators in the Little case, retired detectives Calvin Vitton and Arnie Lamar. Lamar is cooperative, but Vitton is not only reluctant to talk, he winds up dead of a suspicious suicide twelve hours later. Plunging into this long-buried murder, Decker discovers that even though the two slayings are separated by a decade and a half, there is still plenty of greed, lust, and evil to connect the dots.
Decker's team of top investigators not only includes his favorite homicide detectives, Scott Oliver and Marge Dunn, but also his newly minted Hollywood detective daughter, Cindy Kutiel, whose helpproves to be invaluable. His wife, Rina Lazarus, continues to be his backbone of support, offering a cool, rational outlook despite her growing concern for her husband's welfare and safety. Rina's worries and fears begin to build at a fevered pitch as past and present collide with a vengeance, catapulting an unsuspecting Peter Decker closer and closer to the edge of an infinite dark abyss.

Once I had the time to keep all the characters sorted out I enjoyed this book. It was nice catching up with the Decker's however, I think some of her previous books were better

Saturday, October 4, 2008

152. Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson

About the book

Kristi Bentz wants to write true crime. All she needs is that one case that will take her to the top. She finds it when she enrolls at All Saints College after learning that three troubled girls have disappeared in one term. When the bodies are found, all blood drained from their bodies, rumors abound that vampires are on the loose. Are they? Or is there a new serial killer in New Orleans - one more cunning than any that her father, Detective Rick Bentz, and his partner, Detective Reuben Montoya, have gone up against before?
Now, as Kristi gets deeper into her investigation, she crosses paths with a killer who has selected her for membership in a cult of death from which there is no escape . . .

I really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns and things happening that I did not see coming.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Cozy Mystery Challenge

I planned on reading 20 books for the challenge. I read 17 of them. I probably would have finished another one. But I received a non cozy book from the library that I had to read and return. I also ran into a couple of cozy's that took me forever to read them. Not sure if it was me, the book or if I was burnt out from reading cozy's. I think for the one in April that I will not choose as many so that I can also read some regular mysterys.

I enjoyed this challenge and cleared out some books. I will have to do some book shopping and fill in the holes.

I have had my fill of cozies for awhile. Now it is back to thrillers and mysteries.

A Tisket, A tasket, A fancy stolen Casket by Fran Rizer
Wreath of Deception by Mary Ellen Hughes
Shoots to Kill by Kate Collins
Murder by the Slice by Livia Washburn
Tacked to Death by Michelle Scott
Double Dog Dare by Lindo O Johnston
Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews
Tutu Deadly by Natalie M. Roberts
Decorated to Death by Peg Marberg
The Remains of the Dead by Wendy Roberts
Dying to Sell by Maggie Sefton
Consigned to Death by Jane K Cleland
The Cracked Pot by Melissa Glazer
Murder Can Crash Your Party by Selma Eichler
Weeding out Trouble by Heather Webber
A vintage Murder by Michele Scott
Murder of a Chocolate Covered Cherry by Denise Swanson
Shooting Gallery by Hailey Lind
Brush With Death by Hailey Lind
Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett

151. Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews

About the book

Three Weddings...And a MurderSo far Meg Langslow's summer is not going swimmingly. Down in her small Virginia hometown, she's maid of honor at the nuptuals of three loved ones--each of whom has dumped the planning in her capable hands. One bride is set on including a Native American herbal purification ceremony, while another wants live peacocks on the lawn. Only help from the town's drop-dead gorgeous hunk, disappointingly rumored to be gay, keeps Meg afloat in a sea of dotty relatives and outrageous neighbors.And, in whirl of summer parties and picnics, Southern hospitality is strained to the limit by an offenseive newcomer who hints at skeletons in the guests' closets. But it seems this lady has offended one too many when she's found dead in suspicious circumstances, followed by a string of accidents--some fatal. Soon, level-headed Meg's to-do list extends from flower arragements and bridal registries to catching a killer--before the next catered event is her own funeral...

I was not impressed with this book. It dragged on and on and then finally the author started wrapping things up. If I don't like the first book in a series I usually don't read the second one. However, at some point I will read the second just to see if it was me or the book. I read this book as part of a cozy mystery challenge and since it was the last one I read. I might have been cozied out...