The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly

Penelope Thornton-McClure finally felt like she was getting somewhere in her life. She had moved back to live with her aunt and help her run the mystery bookstore. She has also lined up an author who would hopefully bring in profit. Penelope had no idea that he would drop dead in the same spot as a P.I. had done years before. How did she know this? The ghost of the P.I resides in the bookshop. He is unable to leave the place. Pen wonders if she is imagining it all or is he really there?

Alice Kimberly is a fantabulous writer! I was pulled into the story immediately. The characters were not out of the ordinary but yet I felt like I was among friends. The setting was real and I truly felt for the characters. It was not an easy thing to do but Penelope was really trying! I applauded her so much. The scenes were real and I could not get over the fact at how it all played out. I had an idea of who was behind the whole scheme but when revealed it all seemed to fit really well. There was nothing that didn’t seem plausible to me.

Penelope really thinks she has lost her mind. She has never talked to ghosts before but this is certainly a new experience. She has to figure out how she is going to deal with this and if she will accept this into her life. The ghost is a wonderful man. He wants to help her and only hopes she will see that the advice he can give her can truly help her. I loved her aunt Sadie. She was a great woman. Sadie had her head on straight and could tell Pen things that no one else could.

A haunted bookstore was a concept to me that didn’t seem so far-fetched. I love bookstores since I have worked in one. I could not put this book down. It pulled me in from the beginning and I cannot wait to read more in this series!!! I am on pins and needles to see what will happen next!

261 pages/New Author/ Alice Kimberly/ Cozy Mystery/ 5 out of 5

This was a wonderful quick read that I lost myself in! I hope to read the next one soon!

Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote

The friendship that man and dog share has always been wondered about. We only know so much. Mr. Kerasote explores this in his book, Merle’s Door. He not only talks about what he gets from his dog but the evidence that backs it up. It is really interesting since I have always thought about having a dog. This book has confirmed it for me. It is truly an emotional book but one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is amazing how they were even able to find each other in the first place. I loved reading about the journeys that they took together. They had a full life of good and bad experiences.

Mr. Kerasote really gets to the heart of the matter and shows how the relationship is different than most. They learn how to talk to one another and communicate. It takes some time but they also learn how to just be with each other. Their time line for their day is not always the same but they seem to figure out how to deal with things. Mr. Kerasote always lets Merle know that he will come back. It is like working with a child almost but at the same time they truly respect each other. All the research that was presented in this book made me think about my views of dogs. They really do become part of the family.

There were places that were not easy to read when it came to thinking about Merle’s life before he met Mr. Kerasote as well as a few other things but do not want to give anything away. This was a true heart felt book that I really enjoyed! I highly recommend it for all you animal lovers. It is a great book that shows you a different way of looking at things. Merle was quite the dog and I enjoyed reading about his experiences with bison, coyotes, and other animals he met along the way!
416 pages/ Ted Kerasote/New Author/ Chunkster/Non-fiction/ 5 out of 5

This was a great book! I am definitely interested in reading more by this author. Off to read The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly.

Dead Men Don't Lye by Tim Myers

Benjamin Perkins has no idea what is going to happen to his crazy life until he finds the dead body of the man who was dating his sister Louisa. She is considered the prime suspect. Benjamin’s on and off again girlfriend Molly cannot seem to get it out of her head that someone else committed the awful crime. His family is asking him to figure out who really did it but he is not sure how that will happen. He has soap making classes to teach as well as consoling his sister. He better do it soon before he gets himself into some hot water.

Tim Myers was the author of the month for my group for September. I was immediately pulled into the world of the Perkins family. He really let you into the life of this town and all its eccentricities. He had me laughing through most of the story. He was able to create each individual character so that they each stood out on their own. It was wonderful to see! The family was close but at the same time the siblings found it annoying. Yet when they needed it, they found it rather comforting as well. It was very realistic to a lot of families today.

Benjamin really did not want to poke his nose around at first. But once he started, it was not easy for him to slow himself down. His siblings are so much fun. I really liked Cindy. She was the youngest and doing her best to find her place in the family. The soap shop and factory that they ran was so cool to see. Family run businesses are not as common as they used to be. Most kids want to do their own thing and make their own way in the world. That was not true of the Perkins family. They truly loved wherever they were involved. They all took turns on the shop floor, which was fun to see. I also enjoyed meeting Kate and I would love to see her more often to see where things go with her.

I ended up picking this series cause it is the shortest of the bunch. Reading about the soap making class that Benjamin taught was really cool. It was many years ago but I have been to a shop like this but it was in the South of France when I was 18. It brought back a lot of memories as well as the wonderful tour they took us on. I wish I still had the soap I bought back then but I lost it one of the times I moved. I would definitely be interested in reading more of this series. I highly recommend it. A good family cozy mystery that is nice and full of surprises!

Tim Myers/New Author/ Cozy Mystery/ 240 pages/ 5 out of 5

Right now I am reading Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog by Ted Kerasote. I hope to finish it soon. :)

Candy Apple Red by Nancy Bush

Jane Kelly is no longer interesting in having a serious relationship with a man. The last time she did, it led her to Lake Chinook, Oregon. He left her and she has settled into her life. It all comes back again when the body of Bobby Reynolds still has never been found. His mother Tessa needs information and hires her through their mutual friend Marta. Jane has to go to the Historical Society’s party where she runs into the last man she dated. To top it all off, she gets a call from her mom saying she has inherited a dog. Her best friend Dwayne is trying to stop her from helping Tessa. He thinks she will not get paid.

Nancy Bush is a good writer. You really get a good glimpse into this small town. I could not get enough and I even grew up in a small town. Jane was so funny. Nancy did an incredible job with twists and turns. This is one writer who knows how to pull you into a story and not let you go till it is done.

I truly enjoyed Jane Kelly. She was the type of person I would love to have as a friend. Dwayne was something else and rather hot too. I could tell he really was looking out for Jane’s best interest. The Binkster, the pug dog, was so cute and her expressions she gave Jane had me in stitches. Jane was stubborn though and it got her into some interesting situations. Ones that had me laughing out loud and leaving her with pictures she would rather not have stuck in her head.

I can’t wait to read more in this series to see what happens next. This is a book I highly recommend. It was clean and full of surprises. The ending was a complete shock for me and I want to see how it all plays out.
Nancy Bush/Cozy Mystery/310 pages/5 out of 5

Now mind you I may be completley out of line by considereing it a cozy mystery. But jane is not a investigator yet nor was the death described in detail. :) I read this one awhile ago but have been reading so many review books and working so many hours that I am just finally caught up now. Right now I am reading Dead Men Don't Lye by Tim Myers. I am extremely impressed with this this cozy! Well off to bed!

Shoot from the Lip by Leann Sweeney

Abby Rose has another case on her hands. This time though she has to work with the TV show called Reality Check. Emma needs help and they want to help her. But when she is told about a missing sibling and she never told them about that. She wants to back out on the whole thing. Abby is her ally and by her side to help her as much as she can. But she has problems to deal with on her own. Her sister Kate is hanging out with a man who Abby does not approve of. Yet Kate seems oblivious to it.

I was thoroughly impressed with Leann Sweeney’s writing. It has been awhile since I read the last book in the Yellow Rose series but it did not matter. I felt like no time had passed and was very comfortable with how it was all portrayed. The emotions experienced are amazing and the trials that the characters are up against seem odd but real. But life is not always normal and the odd does happen quite often.

Abby was quite the character. I could see why she wanted to help and I thought it was great she made sure everyone knew what was going on. She didn’t want there to be any surprises that could hurt. Abby is very protective of her sister which I found very refreshing. Kate just wanted to experience something different for once. I could understand that too. But there was more under the surface than either once could imagine.

I love this series and I cannot wait for the next one to come out. These characters are fun to read and it will be interesting to see what will happen in the next one. This is definitely one mystery series that gives you some good laughs as well as makes you think.
280 pages/Leann Sweeney/Cozy Mystery

I read this book awhile ago but with more hours I have not had a lot of time to post my blogs or reviews. :) So there you go!

September Reads and Stats

For starting a new job, I believe Idid rather well. :) Here they are :

Books:
198. The Quickie by James Patterson 8-31-07 through 09/01/07 A
199. Little Pink Slips by Sally Koslow 09-01-07 through 09-02-07 A
200. Shoel by Patricia Robins 09-02-07 through 09-03-07 A
201. Life with Apache by Linda Lattimer 09-03-07 A
202. Vivaldi’s Virgins by Barbara Quick 09-03-07 through 09/05/07 A
203. Midnight Legacy by Dee Tenorio 09-05-07 through 09/06/07 B
204. The Friday House by D.K. Gaston 09-06-07 through 09-09/07 B
205. The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax 09-09-07 through 9-14-07 B
206. 36 exposures by Linda Mooney 9-14-07 A
207. Shoot from the Lip by Leann Sweeney (Cozy) 9-14-07 through 9-15-07 A+
208. Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot 9-15-07 through 9-16-07 A+
209. Come Whatever May by Sandee McCain 9-16-07 through 9-17-07 A
210. Object of Romance Anthology 9-18-07 A
211. Not the Marrying Kind by Hailey North 9-19-07 through 9-20-07 A
212. Candy Apple Red by Nancy Bush (Cozy)09-20-07 through 9-22-07 A+
213. The Down Home Zombie Blues by Linnea Sinclair 9-22-07 through 9-27-07 B
214. The Sin Club by Rachelle Chase 9-27-07 A
215. Wednesday Night Witches by Lee Nichols 9-27-07 through 9-28-07 A

Stats:
Total Books Read: 18
New Authors: 14
Fiction: 17
Non-Fiction:
Chunksters: 1TBR:
Cozy Mystery: 2
Books Reviewed: 11
From the Stacks:
Books I Bought:Total Pages Read: 5,297

A Little Slow

Okay I have seriously neglected my blog. I am now working 30-32 hours a week. I hope to post some tomorrow. If not today. I just thought I would let you know. :)

The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax

Feliu Aníbal Delargo Domenech was named wrong. He should have been named Feliz. So from then on he works on being who he is named. The gift of a Spanish bow from his dead father sets things in motion. He is able to learn to play the cello with the help of getting lessons. But it means he will have to leave the small town of Campo Seco to get the help he really needs. Yet it seems like one thing or another always gets in his way. He gets a break under the tutelage of Alberto Mendizábal. It is hard work but he is finally getting somewhere. He joins a school under Don José and that is where his life begins. He goes many places and has many experiences. But the man who changed his life Justo Al-Cerraz is in and out. Feliu goes through many things as he looks back on his life. Yet he seems to be able to survive the all. He has a completely different outlook on it but one that is worth telling.

Ms. Romano-Lax creates a world from history that captivates you. There are a lot of details and it takes time to get through them all. I was impressed with her story telling and to see things through Feliu’s eyes. It is quite the journey.

I really felt for Feliu. He never seemed to understand what was going on but he worked through it. It took a lot of soul searching and figuring out what he truly wanted. But it did seem like he got there. Aviva was quite the love interest and I really enjoyed her as a character. She had some hard times she had gone though. But once she met up with Al-Cerraz and Feliu, things seemed to go better for her.

There is a lot I don’t want to give away but it is a wonderfully told story. I cannot say enough at how much I was impressed. You get to see history through the eyes of a man who does not want to go home. It is quite the long book but well worth it if you love historical novels with some romance and drama thrown in for good measure. This is a book I do recommend and hope that someone else enjoys it as much as I did.

Andromeda Romano-Lax/Historical/ 4 out of 5/ 554 pages

Working as many hours as I do now. My book reading will come to a little bit of a halt. But I will post as often as I can but will not be able to go look at other's blogs as much as I would like. I hope all will understand.

The Mongoose Deception by Robert Greer

I read this book awhile back and waited closer to publication date to put the review up. SO here you go!

CJ Floyd is at it again. This time though he is trying to solve a 50-year-old case of the assassination of JFK. But the thing is that it is more complicated than he could ever imagine. Cornelius McPherson is confused when he finds the well-preserved arm of a fellow worker in the wall of a tunnel. He remembers that this man whispered that he might know who assassinated Kennedy. CJ feels like he needs to figure out what is going on because a dead body and part of a dead body that are linked is too much of a coincidence. But it is not until he realizes that there are two prior attempts on Kennedy’s life. Now it is not only a race for time to be able to find out what really happened.

Mr. Greer truly knows his stuff. I was impressed with the intricate details he put in this story. I am not a fan of the mafia or such things but I could see how it could be true how they could still have power because of past influences in our society. The characters often have to make split second decisions and that was very realistic. Mr. Greer truly lets you see the whole picture even though it is only in pieces. But he does a very good job of wrapping it up all in the end.

CJ was a complex character. I did not always understand his motives but he seemed to look for the good in things. He was one to help out his friends. He also will do anything he can to get to the bottom of things. He seeks the help of Mario Santini who used to be involved in the mob to help get him names of key people. It could not hurt anything that is his thinking. He also has the help of his partner Flora Jean. Even though he is told to keep out of it.

The comings and goings in this book were numerous. Mr. Greer keeps you busy but everything is easy to follow. There is a chain of command and it is very present in this book. But also the consequences of not keeping quiet were very prevalent. I found the book interesting and the theories in this story about the assassination of JFK were something to think about. I enjoyed this book a lot and would be interested to read the rest of this series eventually.

Robert Greer/ Mystery/ JFK/ 432 pages/ Chunkster/ 3 out of 5

The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwedge

Lauren Stillwell’s heart stopped when she saw her husband Paul kissing another woman. She decided to even up the score with a man who has been eyeing her for a long time. But nothing turns out the way she wants. She ends up looking out the window only to see her one time lover get killed in front of her. That secret threatens to not only pull apart her marriage but her career as well.

Mr. Patterson and Mr. Ledwedge have written another great book. There were surprises in this book that I never have seen coming. It was a very suspenseful book that had me guessing some things till the very end. They both are able to create an amazing world.

Lauren had a lot of things to process. She knew that her and her husband Paul had problems but could never imagine to what degree. I felt awful that they were not able to have children. Yet that was just the tip of their problems and only where it began. Careers were important but it seemed to be their focus because of the other underlying problems. I wanted them to work out their issues. But it certainly would not be an easy time of things. Mike is Lauren’s partner at the police force. He is a good guy and helps look out for her. He is something she can look for to talk to about anything and he will make sure it stays between just the two of them. He truly is a good friend.

This is one book that I found difficult to put down. I kept wondering if Lauren would be able to keep things worked out or not. She was in some surprises that would change her life forever. When they were finally revealed, I then wonder how she would handle things. It was a good suspense book and I can’t wait to read more by both authors together and separately.

James Patterson and Michael Ledwedge/Suspense/ 357 pages/ 4 out of 5 stars

I finished this book last night and got busy doing other things. :)

August Reads and Stats

Books I read:
U-43A by Bernadette Gardner 08-01-07 B
Dancer’s Delight by Anny Cook 08-01-07 through 08-02-07 B
Mademoiselle Victorine by Debra Finerman 08-02-07 through 08-03-07 A
Runner’s Moon: Jebaral by Linda Mooney 08-03-07 through 08-04-07 B
Too Big to Miss by Sue Ann Jaffarian 08-04-07 A
The Debutante’s Second Chance by Liz Flaherty 08-04-07 through 08-05-07 A
The Curse of the Holy Pail by Sue Ann jaffarian 08-05-07 through 08-06-07 A
High Noon by Nora Roberts 08-06-07 through 08-08-07 A+
The Dead Room by Heather Graham 08-08-07 through 08-09-07 A+
Canyon Wolf Bride by Alisha Page 08-09-07 A
Beyond the Night by Sharon Long 08-09-07 through 08-10-07 A
Forgive Me By Amanda Eyre Ward 08-10-07 through 8-11-07 A+
Hooked by Jane May 08-11-07 through 08-12-07 A
Thistle and Twigg by Mary Saums 08-12-07 through 8-14-07 A+
Samson and Delilah by Megan Rose 08-14-07 A
Second Sight by Debbie Mumford 08-14-07 through 8-15-07 A
Embraced by Darkness by Keri Arthur 8-15-07 through 8-16-07 A
The Mongoose Deception by Robert Greer 8-16-07 through 8-21-07 C
Too Much Hennessy by T.T. Henderson 8-21-07 through 8-22-07 B+
Too Good To Be True by Marie-Nicole Ryan 8-22-07 through 8-23-07 A
Judgement by Fire by Lydia 8-23-07 A
XIII by D.K. Gaston 8-23-07 through 8-28-07 B
The Devil’s Labyrinth by John Saul 8-27-07 through 8-29-07 A
Forbidden Passion by Dee Dawning 8-29-07 A
Don’t Close Your Eyes by Mary Eason 8-29-07 through 8-30-07 A
Lady Irina by Josh Lockwood 8-30-07 through 8-31-07 A+

My stats:
Total Books Read: 26
New Authors: 22
Fiction: 25
Non-Fiction:1
Chunksters:1
TBR:0
Books Reviewed: 19
From the Stacks: 0
Books I Bought: 0
Total Pages Read: 7.055 pages

There you go!

The Devil's Labyrinth by John Saul

Ryan McIntyre had a hard time as it was with losing his dad in Iraq. Now his mom had met a new guy and he was not too happy about it. Things only seemed to get more unusual when Ryan goes to St. Isaac’s. Father Sebastian has just joined the school and it seems two boys have come to tragic ends. And there seems to be a lot of disturbing thigns going on and so Ryan wonders what is really happening. Then Ryan gets to find out firsthand by spending a lot of time with Father Sebastian. He witnesses the transformation a couple of his fellow students go through and tries to fight it. Supposedly Evil is being cast out but slowly Ryan comes to see that it is being called forth. That ritual has not happened since the Inquisition and starts to draw the eye of the Vatican. It may finally bring Hell on Earth.

Ryan keeps thinking about his dad and the crucifix that was given to him. He hopes things will go well for him. He knows his mom is just looking out for him but he is afraid to leave her because he thinks her boyfriend will move in then. Even though Ryan just lost his dad, he is just not ready for a whole lot of change. Once he gets to know some kids it seems to go better. Though there are a lot of weird things going on and he just hopes to study and do well. He has no idea how wrapped up in it all that he will become.

Of the ones I have read so far by John Saul this one creeped me out the most. Not just it became close to home but that the whole controlling of others part was too believable. I could see something that happening in real life. I was pleased with how well in depth Mr. Saul put things together. It was scary but I knew going into this book that it would most likely be high on the creepy scale for me. Yet his writing style keeps me coming back for more. That is why I give this a 5 out of 5. I can’t wait to read more of his books.

368 pages/ John Saul/Thriller/ 5 out of 5

Okay so I have not posted in awhile but things have been crazy! I hope to read some more soon. Having a three year old and the terrible threes is stressful! lol Well off to read books for review. :)

Thistle and Twigg by Mary Saums

Jane Thistle is a widow who has come to Tullulah, Alabama looking for a home. She has no idea what she will find. Her new best friend Phoebe Twigg is also a widow, who has lived in Tullulah all her life. Both ladies stumble across a dead body on a walk in the woods behind Jane’s house. It seems that someone is threatening Jane’s neighbor who is a recluse. He cares more about the land than the inhabitants. Then things get worse when a firebomb goes off in Phoebe’s kitchen. Jane and Phoebe are determined to figure out what is going on and so partner together to work on it.

Mary Saums has written wonderful characters in this book. Now even though the town of Tullulah does not exist, it is a wonderful place to be and live in. There is a lot of history and you get to see it through the lives of the people in the town. It is rather remarkable how Ms. Saums can weave the story and pull you into it. It is fun to learn about other cultures and just the way she presents them on the page.

Jane and Phoebe are two wonderful women. They are at times complete opposites from each other. Jane, who is the most recent widow of the two, is working on getting out there and building a new life. She sees Cal Prewitt and accepts him while getting to know him. Phoebe, since she has lived all her life there, is unable to see how Cal could be innocent of any crimes. She just is too close to the situation to see otherwise. Cal Prewitt is quite the character. He is set in his ways but wants to preserve his land and not see it taken apart by developers.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was full of laughter, small town life, and a good mystery to boot. I was not sure I would enjoy the book because I could not really relate to the main characters. But those ladies were very interesting and I had to find out if they could clear the name of the accused. I hope there are more to come because I would love to see what Jane and Phoebe try to solve next.
279 pages/Mary Saums/Mystery/New Author/ 5 out of 5

Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward

Nadine Morgan travels all the time as a journalist. Tragedy and regret was all she found in Cape Town. So she has decided to never go back. Yet the death of an American, John Irving, pulls at her heart and she decides to go back to South Africa. As she goes on the journey, she is overcome with memories of when the pull to adventure and intrigue left her with a broken heart. She hopes to lose herself in the case but starts to goes close to John’s mom as well as the mother of one of the killers. Yet there will be consequences. Nadine finally has to face long buried demons and come to terms with the pieces of her own past. Learning to love and forgive is something she has to do.

Ms. Ward puts new themes to the page that just come alive. Her way with words can truly touch your heart. It is very clear how passionate she became for forgiveness. I also admired the way she showed that it is not always easy to ask for it either. But when it is done that you’ll be better for it.

Nadine truly felt that the further she ran, the better it would be for her or so she thought. Her life had changed and she was not the type to just sit still. Yet I kept wondering if she could settle down if only for the right reasons. Her best friend Lily was one to tell her that she was making mistakes and to get her head on straight. Nadine just couldn’t picture any different life than the fast pace one she loved to live. It was going to take a lot to change her mind.

Forgive me is a poignant story that will leave you knowing both sides. I really liked the fact that she never picked a side that was right. She let us see the whole picture of what is still going on even today. I was swept up in the emotions and truly felt I was listening to a story of a friend. So I give it a 5 out of 5 because it makes you look at the reasoning of others. It is a book that I will not soon forget.

Amanda Eyre Ward/Fiction/South Africa/236 pages/ 5 out of 5

I would have got this online sooner but we had a power failure this past weekend so I am slowly catching up. :)

The Dead Room by Heather Graham

Leslie MacIntyre is still getting over the loss of her fiancé one year later. She loves her job as an archeologist. But she still is learning to come to terms with the fact that she now sees the dead. Now she has come back to Hastings House, where her fiancé Matt died. She is looking at uncovering the past at an old burial ground. The ghosts in the house can tell her secrets about the past as well as the present where women are disappearing at an alarming rate and never being seen again. Matt comes to her in dreams only but his cousin Joe can help her now and hopefully keep her safe. But she knows that she has to face the evil around her and not even the men she loves can help her then.

This one pulled at me more than most of Heather Graham’s books ever have. The idea of a lost love and secrets are something that keeps me turning pages. I had to find out who was behind the disappearance of all the women as well as who had it out for Leslie. I also liked the fact that she brought back some characters from a previous book. The setting for the story was so perfect because there truly is a city under the city. It really gave it a depth of believability that I find lacking sometimes in other authors. But not with this author’s stories!

I really loved Leslie as a character because she had to know the truth even if it was not a good. She just had to know and lay the past to rest. Joe, Matt’s cousin, was there for her every step of the way once they met. Joe seemed to be falling for her and was not sure that was such a good idea. He was going to be protective of her no matter what cause he could tell there was something going on that was pure evil. I also really liked Greta the woman who kept watch over the Historical society in New York. She became very helpful and I truly enjoyed her. She was a sweet woman who wanted to protect the historical buildings.

This book was so good. I enjoyed it as well as the past characters coming back. It was quite the page-turner. This paranormal story was a good one and full of secrets and history. I can’t say that enough. I give this story a 5 out of 5 because it truly held my interest and kept it for the entire run. I do have to say I didn’t like the ending. But well you never truly get satisfied sometimes. Endings are never the same for books and that is what makes each one unique. I cannot wait to read more of her works.

379 pages/Heather Graham/Suspense/Ghosts/ 5 out of 5
The books I recommend to read are not in a series but do have recurring characters. The books should be read in this order Haunted, Ghost Walk, The Dead Room. Well no off to read two books to read and review.

High Noon by Nora Roberts

Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara found her job in life when her mom was dating a man who became violently unstable. Now she is a top negotiator for Savannah, but someone has a beef for her. She has her hunches who it could be but she really has no clue. She protects her family as best she can. With Duncan Swift by her side, she has a lot of help. He watched her talk one of his employees off the roof and completely fell head over heels in love with her. She wants to keep him at a distance but Duncan won’t let her do that for long. Phoebe has no idea how to deal with an opponent who won’t look her in the eyes.

Nora Roberts keeps bringing out these books faster than I can read them. But they are always very good. These characters pull you in and don’t let you out till the book is done.
She brings situations that people read about in the news to real life in a book that makes is captivating.

Phoebe had been though so much. I could understand why she wanted to shelter her daughter. They both had been though so much so didn’t want her daughter to get her hopes up. Duncan was a total sweetheart but would not back down easily. He wanted to talk things through and make sure he was heard. He didn’t go after something that he wanted without true intentions. That is what I loved about him the most. He was honest, he knew what he wanted, and went after it slow and steady if that is what it would take to convince Phoebe.

This book had me from the beginning and even from the very first sentence. I was very impressed with it. I give it a 5 out of 5! I hope to read more by her soon! I loved the characters and was cheering for Phoebe and Duncan the whole way through the entire book!

Nora Roberts/Romance and Suspense/ 5 out of 5/ 467 pages

Now off to The Dead Room by Heather Graham. Then 2 books to review.

Mademoiselle Victorine by Debra Finerman

Victorine Laurent comes to Paris to join the Opera Ballet. She expects to be the mistress of a wealthy man. That is the only way she can survive in the city. When the artist Degas introduces her to Manet, her live changes forever. She agrees to pose for him and the result is a painting that shocks Paris. Eventually she becomes the favorite of the Duke de Lyon. But he wants her undivided attention and so bans her from seeing Manet. And things go from bad to worse when she finds out a secret about her past that could bring her world crashing around her.

Ms. Finerman is a fabulous writer. She really takes a society and brings its decadence to light. She also is able to take great creative license with the people of that time and present it like it is true. I found the story enchanting cause a lot of it I could see really happening. Her take on the little bits of history were captivating. A deeper look at society was weaved wonderfully in this book.

Victorine was not a woman just out for fortune but she wanted to find security as well. The truth she came to believe would shatter around her and it would be interesting to see how she would deal with all of it. I loved her friend André Montpelier. He was beside her side throughout all her conquests and relationships. He was a true friend to her. The other characters famous like Georges Bizet. Edouard Manet, Monet, Louis Pasteur, and Empress Eugénie just to name a few were fun to read about and see how she painted them. They often did not have much of a roll in the book except for Manet and the Empress but just the mention made me smile.

This book was full of history and life. I was enthralled with the characters from the very beginning. Though at times Victorine did irritate me, she did seem to get her head out of the clouds eventually. It was not an easy time to live in for some aspects but the frivolous spending upset me. I forget how the royalty and other celebrities spend their money. But it was very true to things are even now. If you love history and love seeing how art could have been created than I highly recommend this book.

4/5/ New Author/ France/ Historical/Debra Finerman/304 pages


I really liked this book. Now off to go to a park! later gators!

By The Sword by Richard Cohen

This comprehensive history of Fencing was amazingly done. I knew nothing about fencing at all before I read this book. I learned about dueling and what fencing means to people. It is interesting how there used to be crafters who would make the sabers and other types of swords. Now they are pretty much manufactured all in one place. Which is a bummer but that is how things progress. It also surprised me like any other sport there is scandals in the world of fencing. But that is life.

Richard Cohen told about his personal experiences as well as how the world of fencing started. That was so interesting and how it spread throughout the world. He told things very well and I found myself laughing a few times at certain instances in the book.

There is a lot of information in the book so it is one you need to savor. I had only a short amount of time to read it so I hope to pick it up again. It was a wonderfully written book and I recommend it for not only the history aspect but also how fencing has affected almost everything today.
Richard Cohen/519 pages/Fencing/ Non-fiction/ 4out of 5

Unfortunately the copy I had obtained from my library was missing pages. I made sure they knew when I took it back. All in all it was pretty good.

My July Stats and Reads

145. The Mars Imperative by Mark Terence Chapman 07-01-07 A
146. The Distant Shore by Debora M. Coty 07-01-07 A+
147. Tides of Time by Sonya Kate Childers 07-02-07 through 07-03-07 A+
148. The Diary by Adriana Kraft 07-03-07 A
149. I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark 07-03-07 through 07-05-07 A
150. Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber 07-06-07 A+
151. Dead Connection by Alafair Burke 07-06-07 through 07-08-07 A+
152. The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag 07-08-07 through 07-09-07 A
153. Yours Truly, Goldilocks by Alma Flor Ada 07-09-07 A+
154. A Nail Through The Heart by Timothy Hallinan 07-09-07 through 07-11-07 A
155. Bungalow 2 by Danielle Steele 07-11-07 through 07-12-07 A
156. Journey to Forever by Carol Steward 07-12-07 through 07-13-07 A+
157. A Promise of Grace by Bonnie K. Winn 07-13-07 through 07-14-07 A+
158. Cross My Heart by Carly Phillips 07-14-07 through07-15-07 A
159. The Suicide Club by Gayle Wilson 07-15-07 through 07-16-07 A+
160. Brides and Bouquets by Laura Hamby, Deb Kinnard and Lynne Kingdell 07-16-07 A
161. Evening by Susan Minot 07-17-07 through 07-18-07 A+
162. Whoever Fights Monsters by Iryna Bennett 07-18-07 A
163. The Manny by Holly Peterson 07-18-07 through 07-20-07 A
164. Ladies of Class by Marjorie Owens 07-21-07 through 07-22-07 A
165. Eliza’s Hope by Vicki Gaia –7-22-07 A+
166. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr 07-22-07 through 07-25-07 A+
167. Settling by Joan L. Cannon 07-26-07 B
168. Scandalous Profession by Elaine Lowe 7-26-07 through 7-27-07 A
169. On Writing by Stephen King 7-27-07 through
170. The good guy by Dean Koontz 07-28-07 through 07-30-07 A+

Total Books Read: 25
New Authors: 19
Fiction: 25
Non-fiction:
Chunksters:
TBR:
Books Reviewed: 14
From the Stacks:
Books I bought:
Books Sent To Me:
Books I won:
Total Pages Read: 7012

I didn't get By The Sword finisned in time. Oh, well. I would have posted these yesterday but I was glued to the TV due to the collapse of the bridge of 35W in Minneapolis. We are okay.

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz

Tim Carrier is at his favorite bar when a man comes up to him and gives him an envelope. Not only that it is full of cash, a payment for someone to be killed. Tim is most definitely mistaken for someone else. He tries to get the real guy to back off and not kill this woman but the guy just won’t go for it. So now Tim is on a mission to save this woman’s life. A woman he does not know and he must keep the killer at bay. But he must find the willingness to do this as well as find the courage within. So he can be the good guy.

Dean Koontz does it again! I was pulled into this from the beginning. His books only get better and better. He keeps you in suspense by only giving little information at a time. So you keep on reading. He gives just the amount of details that you enjoy them all and still feel like you are there. He doesn’t overload you with them.

I really liked Tim and Linda. Tim wants to save Linda’s life. He is willing to do anything that he can in his power. Some things I was not sure he could do but they worked out.The main killer character that went by the name of Krait, I was never sure of his name. Boy, I don’t ever want to cross paths with someone like him. I also appreciated Tim’s friend Peter. He was a nice guy and really put himself on a limb.

This was a great book so I give it a 5 out of 5. I have truly come to appreciate this author’s writing. While not always scary, it sure keeps you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to read more by him. This has become one of my favorite authors.
386 pages/Dean Koontz/Fiction