Bogeyman by Gayle Wilson

Blythe Wyndham decides to go home to Crenshaw to start over. Her husband John has been dead for a year and Blythe really feels that going home is the best idea. But things change when she hears knocking on the windows. Things get progressively worse and Blythe decides to do some research on the house that they live in now. She finds out that the girl Sarah Comstock’s grandmother lived in there and that starts her wondering if the house still standing has a connection to the murder 25 years ago. With the help of Sheriff Cade Jackson, she does her best to try to separate events past and present so that they can get to the bottom of a murder before the killer could strike again.

This is the first book that I have read by Gayle Wilson and found myself captivated by the book. It was creepy but well written. I was impressed with the way all the events unfolded as well as how Maddie, Blythe’s daughter, knew what was going on but could not tell things except through the eyes of a little one.

The characters in this book were fantastic. I really felt for Blythe since I am a mom as well. I could understand her need to protect her daughter because I have the same instincts towards my son. Cade came across as very sincere and he truly wanted to see it all end. He was looking out for the community besides trying to help Blythe stay around to find out the truth. He was a sweetheart and I honestly felt compassion for him since he was in a situation that didn’t give much information either time.

Thrilling would not quite describe this book because it was more than that. It was suspenseful, full of twists and turns, and the outcome had me completely shocked. I never would have guessed in a million years who the bogeyman was. I was almost appalled by it but then you’ll have to read the book. I give it a 4/5 because at times it seemed almost over the top but reality hit home too. I highly recommend this one and can’t wait to read more by this author.

I am off to bed, still not feeling the best and shouldn't have pushed it today but I wanted to go to a book signing for Jodi Picoult. She was a sweetie as usual. :)

Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland

Josie Prescott is doing well in her new life. But someone doesn’t want her around. She goes to meet a client at his house but no one answers the door. Josie doesn’t think much of it until Chief of Police Alverez shows up asking her questions. Being name the chief suspect only makes her want to work harder to clear her name. But can she before more tragedies occur?

Ms. Cleland is a writer who really impressed me. Since this is her first novel, I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the development of both. Having a love of antiques helped too, but I really appreciated the balance between Josie’s life and her work. I was left with very few questions and that made the book even better in my opinion.

Josie is a wonderful character. She’s honest, trustworthy, and has a gentle spirit. Her assistant Sasha is a great woman who compliments her very well. She truly helps her with the business and keeps things on track. Then there’s Chief Alverez. I’m not quite sure what to think of him. He still has a little mystery around him. Yet I look forward to hearing more of his story possibly in the next book.

Anyone who loves antiques, this is the book for you. Also if you enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews’ series in Savannah, you’ll like this one as well. I give this book a 4/5. It truly kept me guessing till almost the end. Josie’s sleuthing gives a little away but then she is trying to clear her name. I loved reading this book and can’t wait till the next one comes out.


This was a wonderful book and I really enjoyed it! I can't wait for Deadly Appraisals to come out to see what happens next. :) Now off to continue reading Bogeyman By Gayle Wilson. :)

Slightly Psychic by Sandra Steffen

I just finished this book and here is my review. :)

Lila Delaney has never claimed to be a psychic but she has been known to have a few times where she has known things that no one else has. Well after having a dream about Hailey Baxter who has been missing, she decides to contact the police. Well when they find Hailey, she is tied up to a bed, like in her dream, but her fiancé is there as well. She falls apart and moves to Murray, Virginia to a house that she inherited. But an unsolved case there grabs her attention. But can she be of help or is she only slightly psychic?


Sandra Steffan is a wonderful romance writer. I found her story to be uplifting as well as enjoyable. I couldn't believe how clean it was but the tension was there and so was the passion. I loved the characters and found them to be very real. This was the first book I have read by her and her style is so refreshing.

Lila was my favorite not just because she was the main character. She got thrust into the spotlight and had to learn to deal with it. I was impressed with how well she handled things. Her best friend Penelope was something else though. She was a high society person but could stand on her own two feet. The antics of those two had me laughing throughout the book. I also really liked Joe McCaffrey. He happened to be the love interest of Lila but he had a hand in the unsolved case. He stood on the sidelines for a while assessing the situation and how Lila coming to Murray would affect the town. He was a sweetheart just was a very cautious one.

Ms. Steffan can write a good romance and I hope to read more by her soon. I give this book a 4/5. I am happy that a friend of mine had read it because that is how I found out about it. I love paranormal type books with a little romance too. I am a hopeless romantic since this book suited me very well. It was a very sweet and touching book that I highly recommend.

I am so glad Nancy read it. I don't remember what she thought of it but I enjoyed it a lot! Now off to another romance. :)

Beguiled by Shannon Drake

Allison Grayson is a woman who loves to write. But after meeting the highwayman, she isn’t sure what she wants in life. Then once she finds out she is betrothed to another, she does not know what to do about it. She likes the highwayman but has never met her fiancé. She has no reason to go through an arranged marriage, because she finds them confining. But once she finds out her fiancé and the highway man are the same, she has to figure out if she wants to marry a liar or go out into the world without someone to protect her.

Heather Graham is fantastic and I think she did a great job with this book as Shannon Drake. I found the writing style a little different than in the other books I have read but I enjoyed it so much. I can see now why some authors have other pen names. I think it would have sold well under her real name but oh well. It is a fantastic book with wonderful characters.

The characters in this book are so much fun. I love the Victorian era as well as anything to do with books. Since the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made quite a few appearances that made the book even more enjoyable. You can learn so much through fiction about that time period. Of all the characters, I enjoyed Ally. Not only because she is the main character but also for the fact that she is a sweetheart. She held to her beliefs and didn’t let much get in her way. She would listen to reason when she needed to but that seemed to be very seldom since she loved her independence. I don’t blame her, I love having my freedom but I can understand that when a murder is being solved, things have to done a little differently. I adored Sir Mark Farrow. Not only did he have pride and be able to help more than most people. He was one of the most charming male leads I have read in quite some time.
I highly recommend this book and give it a 5/5. I can’t wait to read more by Heather Graham/Shannon Drake. She keeps my interest from the very first sentence. I hope to read more by her soon! I still can’t believe I read the whole book in one day. It is 424 pages so not a small book. It was a wonderful read and one I got hooked into! This is a great author and I am impressed by everything she writes.

I guess I needed a little distraction from stuff going on in my life right now. Books always relax me and this one sure helped. :)

Trouble by Jesse Kellerman

Jonah Stem is a man who wants to help the world. He is working on becoming a doctor and one morning bright and early he hears a call for help. Jonah is able to rescue the woman but in the process gets himself hurt and kills the attacker. He is thrust into the limelight, which is not the greatest because he gets slapped with a lawsuit from the attacker’s family and then the victim Eve Gones becomes part of his life. At first, all seems to go well, but he begins to question himself as he gets to know her better. She won’t seem to leave him alone and he wonders what he really did on that night when he rescued her. Will he ever find out what truly happened and did he get himself into trouble?

Jesse Kellerman is a good writer. I just found the book at times slow and a little weird. Maybe that is what Mr. Kellerman was trying to do and so he did a great job. I didn’t have any problems following the story what so ever but it just seemed to drag occasionally. I found it well written just didn’t always grab me.

Jonah just found himself in an awful situation that only seemed to get worse. He was a good man who loved to help people. Yet Eve didn’t seem to care and took advantage of him. It was horrible. It was interesting to see what Jonah had to go through as a student but he was able to blow most of his superiors’ comments off. He really buckled down and focused. I really liked that about him.
As good as this book was at times, I can only give it a 3.5 out of 5. Partially because of how the book reeked of smoke, and it is a library book too! It made it very difficult to concentrate on the words but I was able to get past that. The book still wasn’t all that great. If you like thrillers, I would tell you to give it a shot. I had heard from others that it was not so great but I had to give it a try. Maybe someone else will like it more than I did.

I was hoping for something better because the book front seemed to intrigue me. Oh, well! On to the next book, another romance. :) lol

Lying with Strangers by James Grippando

Peyton Shields’ world gets turned upside down literally when her car gets run off the road. Someone rescues her but things seem to go from bad to worse. She thinks she is being stalked but her husband Kevin thinks she is just paranoid. Thought soon form in her mind that it could be her husband all along. So who is really after Peyton and why would they have something against her?

James Grippando weaves a masterful tale of suspense, doubt, and secrets. I found myself hooked into the book at the very first line. What he put his characters through at times was heart wrenching but life is not always easy. I found it to be very realistic and that was one of the things I enjoyed the most. Another thing I enjoyed was that there was not much foul language at all. I was able to focus on the lives of the characters and be pulled in even more.

I really felt for Peyton. Not only was her fidelity to her husband on the line but also she had to prove her innocence as well towards the case. Kevin was in a bad situation because he wanted to further his life in other ways but it all came back to bite him in the butt. The poor guy is trying to figure out whom his wife is and if she was really involved in the unfortunate circumstances that happen in the book. There are so many things that are going against these two. I was not sure if they come out all right after the whole ordeal is over.

Mr. Grippando is an amazing writer and I am sorry that it took me 3 months to get to this book. Library systems can stink sometimes but I am glad it finally made it my direction. It is worth a 5/5. It was a well-written story with twists and turns as well as an ending that will shock the daylights out of you. It sure did me and that was the best ending because I didn’t have it figured out. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more by this author.

I loved this book and it was really enjoyable since it is so different than some of the other ones I have read that are similar in style anyways. Now off to a mystery/romance type book to review. :) Yay!

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber

This was a great book!

We return to Blossom Street in this book and boy are there surprises. Lydia is still working on her shop and decides to teach a sock knitting class. Three new women enter her life. There is Elise who has moved in with her daughter while figuring out legal issues but her ex-husband decides to re-enter the picture as well. Next is Bethanne Hamlin who is trying to start her life over after a divorce but not sure what to do. Finally there is Courtney Pulanski, she is 16 and lives with her grandmother while going through the grieving process of losing her mother. These women may not have anything in common to start but they need to learn to be friends to help each other through.

Debbie Macomber is a fantastic author. She has such a refreshing style to her writing that blows me away. I loved being back with some of my favorite characters. The other thing I really like about her writing is that it is real. The people in her books have real problems that they have to work through and are able to though it is not immediate. Well normally they have the basis of them figured out by the end of the book.

I am really growing to like Lydia. She is a sweet woman who has a passion and shares it with other people. My other favorite character was Courtney. I may not have lost my mother but I can relate to the whole not feeling like you fit in. I had that problem in high school but I was not ever able to overcome it completely. Yes, I had friends but never did seem to get along with most of the popular kids. Maybe that wasn’t so horrible but I would have liked to have been acknowledged a little bit from time to time.

This book warmed my heart and I felt like I was coming home again. I can’t wait for the next one and have already put myself on the waiting list for it. I highly recommend it and give it a 4.5 out of 5. At times it felt a little predictable but other than I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to see what happens next for all the wonderful people.

I am ready to pick up Lying with Strangers by James Grippando but first some cleaning to do. :)

The Castle in the Forest by Norman Mailer

A narrator is telling the story of Adolf Hitler. It starts out before Adolf was born through the death of his father. It shows the struggles he possibly had to overcome and gives you a glimpse into what his childhood was like in more depth that what was written in Mien Kampf.

Norman Mailer is a different writer than what I am used to. It could be the subject and that I couldn’t believe that Adolf was ever a sweet baby. But I guess we all start somewhere. I enjoyed all the little antidotes along the way as well as the idea that we aren’t in control of things. It really gave a different perspective than anything I have read on Hitler.

I didn’t have any favorite characters nor did I feel sorry for anyone. It was a well-written story with a lot of interesting characters. I didn’t know of much of it was true obviously since it was fiction. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 because it was good but there was one part of the story that made no sense what so ever. It kept me turning pages but not sure I would pick it up again.

I am off to read another romance. LOL

Most Likely To Die by Lisa Jackson, Beverly Barton and Wendy Corsi Staub

High School Reunions are supposed to be something you either dread or look forward to except for the 1986 graduates of St. Elizabeth’s High School. It has been 20 years since the death of sweetheart Jake Marcott. His death was never solved but all of a sudden the Reunion Committee are getting threatening phone calls, pictures with a blood slash over their faces and then two of the girls die. Slowly the women start to wonder if Jake’s killer is back cause it has gone past the boundaries of a prank.

All three female authors are so talented and to have them write a story line together was a lot of fun. It is a suspense, thriller with a little bit of romance and I was glued to the book from the very first sentence. They all write similar which helped for the book and keeping the pace going. I was impressed with how well it all flowed together and I am sure they had to do some serious collaborating on it. But it was a good thing they did.

I really felt the most for Lindsay. Her biological son called and wanted to meet her but first she had to tell the father. I was surprised by it but it made the story so much better. Kristen was on her way to a divorce when her hubby shows back up to help her. I really thought that was sweet. I was bummed with one of the two women who were killed off cause I really liked them. But that is how it usually goes with characters; my favorites always get killed off.

I give this book a 4/5. It kept me turning the pages and I had to find out how the reunion was going to go. With all the people coming to it, I just had to know whom the killer was though I figured it out about halfway through. It completely surprised me that I did figure it out. It was sad why the killer was who it was and I did feel sorry. The tragedy of Jake Marcott’s death as well as another instance made the person very bitter. But once it was all revealed at the end, I was surprised to have it figured it out. That is what made the book the best for me because it is one of the rare few where I do figure out the killer.

I finished this one on Friday but never posted it. Opps!

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

John Tyree comes home on leave from the army and ends up meeting Savannah Lynn Curtis. It changes his life and he works on becoming a better man. But life and war seem to get in their way. But can he chose whether to serve his country or settle down with the woman he loves?

This was another sad and depressing book by Nicholas Sparks. I didn’t want to believe it and had to read it for myself. It was well written but I wonder if this guy can write any happy stories.

I felt for John and Savannah. They had some really tough decisions to make and then had to stick to them. I couldn’t believe what ended up happening but maybe it was for the best.

I give this book a 3/5. I liked it enough to keep reading but once I knew the outcome it just dragged along. I was unhappy with the ending but maybe it showed how life can really be and to not take granted the things you have in your life. I don’t recommend it but maybe someone else will like it.

Probably won't read anymore tonight. I am wiped out today.

Feb Reads and Stats

Total books read: 21
New Authors this month: 17
Non-Fiction this month:1
Fiction:
Chunksters:4
From the stacks:2
Fresh New Books I bought: 2
Fresh New Books sent to me: 2
Pages Read: 8516


Breakpoint by Richard A. Clarke 1-31-07 through 2-01-07 C
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 2-01-07 through 2-05-07 A+
Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman 2-05-07 through 2-06-07 A+
If We listened by Jenna Bayley-Burke 2-06-07 A
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer 2-06-07 through 2-08-07 A+
Right Here Waiting by Danelle Wingard 2-08-07 A+
Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black 2-08-07 through 2-09-07 A+
Exile by Richard North Patterson 2-09-07 through 2-12-07 A
Terror by Dan Simmons 2-12-07 through 2-16-07 C
Here to stay by Jenyfer Matthews 2-16-07 A
The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry 2-16-07 through 2-19-07 A+
Cursed with Love by Cher Gorman 2-19-07 A
Treasure at Trail’s End by Dorothy Bodoin (139) 2-19-07 through 2-20-07 A
Love for Sale by Shelli Stevens 2-21-07 A
The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber 2-22-07 A+
Herself by Leslie Carroll 2-22-07 through 2-23-07 A+
Coroner’s Journal by Louis Cataldie 2-23-07 through 2-24-07 A+
Gryphon’s Quest by Candace Sams 2-24-07 through 2-5-07 A+
Flesh and Bone: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass 2-26-07 – 2-27-07 A+
Vows of Deception by Phyllis Campbell 2-27-07 AThe Beast Within by Rebecca Goings 2-27-07 through 2-28-07 A

Now I am working on Most Likely To Die by Lisa Jackson, Beverly Barton, and Wendy Corsi Staub.

Flesh and Bone: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass

I loved Flesh and Bone! It was so good. Just wish there was a way to email them. :)

Dr. Bill Brockton is on the case again but this time it gets personal. He is recreating the death of a man who was killed in a forest who was a child pedophile as well as starting a new relationship. It all goes down hill when he is suspected of a killing and every one around him knows that he would never do that. He asks for help to prove his innocence so that he won’t end up in jail with all the other people he has helped put in there.

This is the second Body Farm novel and I was just as impressed as with the first. Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass make a great team! I do not know how much writing Bill Bass does but he puts enough other information in there to make each case plausible that alone makes the story enthralling to me.

I was put through the wringer along with Dr. Brockton because I was able to connect with him immediately. I was not so long ago that I had read Carved in Bone where all the characters were first introduced. I was really rooting for Dr. Brockton to have a relationship in this one! The guy is a total sweetheart and to have gone through what he did was horrible. It was nice to see his assistant Melissa again.

Someone else I know that read this book was upset with how Creationism was bashed in this book. It was a one-time thing and Dr. Brockton had been upset by outside things and he let it get to him in class. Even he knew his actions were wrong and he never intended to browbeat his convictions to other students. Yes, it is okay to have an open mind to learn about other things but we need to be understanding of other people and learn what issues can or can not be discussed. I know people like that one student’s parents who in mind took things way too far and made a whole mess of everything. Just because someone gets up in your face and disagrees with what you believe in your heart is NOT a reason to take someone to court. If you are going to be in an anthropology class of any type the debate between Intelligent Design and Evolution is going to come up. It’s not worth getting upset over. I give this book a 5/5 because I really thoroughly enjoyed it and it is a little gruesome at times but so are most television shows out there.


I did want to mention that I am a Christian and do believe in Intelligent Design but found all the things presented in that one class room scene against it to be very interesting. It probably won't change my mind but well that's my choice. :)

Herself by Leslie Carroll

I finished this one last week and was not sure if I could post it since it is a First Look book and not available till tomorrow. I talked to another friend of mine who reviews for Harper Collins and she told me that she had asked the very same question. I found out that I could so here you go!

Tessa Craig is a woman of the world who loves her job and her boyfriend. Even though their relationship is a secret since she is his speechwriter. David Weyburn has a scandal hitting him regarding his sexual orientation and decides that their relationship is over because he needs to focus on his campaign. Hurt and distraught, Tessa turns to her friend Venus and cousin Imogen for help in what to do now with her life in shambles. They suggest a trip to figure out her life and to go to Ireland. In Ireland, all things seem wonderful and she even gets a tour guide along the way. Her tour with Jamie helps her to finally find the greatest treasure of all. Herself.

Leslie Carroll is an amazing writer and I enjoyed how she put this story together. Ireland is one of my favorite spots in the entire world and going on another journey there was an amazing experience. She puts feelings in her characters that radiates off the pages. The images she creates in this story were so real to me.

I truly felt for Tessa because that kind of situation must be horrible to go through. She was able to stay true to who she is and learn from the experience. I admired her for that quality. I also loved Jamie Doyle but I have always had a weakness for Irishmen. I thought that their love story was really good! I enjoyed it a lot.

I would recommend this book because not only do you get to learn about a great country but also you get to see it from a local’s point of view, which is even better! I am sure Ms. Carroll did a lot of research but she presented it in a very welcoming manner. I was impressed! 5/5 296 pages

Right now I am working on Flesh and Bone by Jefferson Bass, the second novel in the Body Farm series. :)

Coroner'sJournal: Stalking Death in Louisiana by Louis Cataldie M.D.

A look into a life of mysteries is what I found this book to be. Mr. Cataldie is an expressive writer who really gets to the heart of the matter. He tells about his life as a coroner in Louisiana and all the different cases he has dealt with whether it was a suicide or a serial killer. I really felt a part of his life and this book touched the very depths of my soul.

It is not an easy book to read because there are some gruesome details. But there are no pictures at all in the book so you can only imagine what he came across. CSI and other shows only give you a glimpse where as this book smacks of reality and I truly appreciated that. At times, I felt he went a little overboard but it was needed to get the big picture of what his life was like during that time. Being a coroner, he stared death in the face on a daily basis, which often interrupted his family time. Yet they understood that this is what he had to do and it was his job.

This book was amazingly well done and I was completely fascinated with it. I give it a 5/5 because so often most people want to sugar coat the truth. Mr. Cataldie did not subscribe to that way of thinking. He made sure everything was known that he could share about each and every case. He was blunt honest and I really got a good grasp on what life like that is. It’s not pretty, easy, or enjoyable. But someone has to give these people some rest and help their families get closure. So that is what Mr. Cataldie attempts to do each day. I highly recommend it because he is so honest about everything. It was a breath of fresh air and I truly enjoyed it even though I had to put it down to eat.

Now onto another review book. :) I hope to post a review about Herself once it is published. :) Night!

The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

I finished this one in about 5 hours. Opps!

Lydia Hoffman decides to take her inheritance and open a yarn shop. The first class will be to make a baby blanket. Her first three customers come in after the next couple of days and sign up for the class. They are all from different walks of life and it should prove to be interesting. There is Jacqueline Donovan whose marriage is falling apart but finds out she is to be a grandma and is determined to be the best one ever. Carol Girard is not able to have children so far and wants to make the blanket hoping this next time around will be successful. Lastly there is Alix Townsend, she is a woman who has seen it all and wants to count this project towards community service. These women are all learning how to live their lives and to make some friends along the way.

Debbie Macomber is a fabulous writer and this book makes me want to go out to learn how to knit. I am again thoroughly impressed with how clean the book is and that is what made me enjoy it the most! I also enjoyed watching the four different lives of each woman unfold before me so I could get to know each one of them a little better. The writing is not only descriptive but I truly felt like I was a part of the lives of all the women. They had struggles but I felt each story was wrapped up neatly and now I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

Picking a favorite between the four women is not possible. They all had qualities I liked in each one of them. Lydia was scared and unsure of her life but eventually learned how to persevere. Jacqueline has to accept the woman her son married which is not an easy task for her. It is not easy to accept the things that happen in life but we can accept them or get bitter, grow old, and die. Carol is desperate to have a child and while I can’t relate to that, I really admired her willingness to do everything she could to make sure it was possible. Alix would be the candidate for being my favorite because she had to learn to overcome her ideas of how things are in the world and embrace the joys of life. She was the most bitter and had to learn to let go all of it in order to live.

As I said before, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and I believe there is even a third. This is a series I could really enjoy quite easily! I may not knit but I can appreciate what these women do because it is what they have a passion for.

4/5
344 pages


I started a new book to review called Herself by Leslie Carroll. It comes out next month. But right now I have dishes and laundry to take care of. Later!

The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry

I finished this one this morning and it was so good! Here's my review:

Cotton Malone is at it again. This time everything seems to be at risk. Not only is his shop burned down but also someone has his son. Now he has to rescue his son and find out where the lost Alexandria Library is or life won’t be worth living for him. He will go all across the world to get the answers to the puzzle. Solving it will be his greatest triumph but he has not much help so he needs to rely on what he knows and the help of his ex-wife to put everything together. Will he succeed?

Steve Berry did it again! I loved his previous novel The Templar Legacy where he first introduced Cotton Malone. Steve Berry’s writing just keeps getting better and better. I had the most difficult time putting this book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved watching the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The idea of finding this once great library from so many centuries ago would be a wonderful thing to find. But since that is a very rare possibility his book was even more amazing to me because of the works that was supposed to be found there. He weaves a story like very few I have seen that picks you up at page one and keeps you turning pages till you close the book.

Cotton Malone is a complex character. On one hand, he wants to find the truth and find his friend George Haddad. On the other hand, he just wants to save his son and blow the kidnappers away with his gun. I can understand the feeling he has for his son because having a child and almost losing them is not something I ever want to deal with. He is a man full of emotions and that he has his ex-wife help him astonished me since they were never really on the best of terms. Pam Malone is often gullible between her watch that had a tracker in it till she had to let go of her dislike for Cotton. She really struggled with everything that was going on but had to really try to understand what Cotton went through while they were married. It was all new territory for her and she had to be open minded about the goings on of this story. The other character I was happy to see back was Stephanie Nelle. She is one tough woman and not one to be crossed. She has to figure out whom she can trust so that she can help Cotton in his search. It’s not an easy thing for her to do but she really does try.

I have been pleased with Steve Berry’s books though I think this one is my favorite for now. He travels and does so much research that it really makes me appreciate what is put down on every page. I give this book a 5/5 because not only does this book just come alive but also I really want to see what is going to happen next. It is one thrill ride and I cannot wait to see what his next book is going to be about!

Now off to reading a Cher Gorman book entitled Cursed with Love. :) I have to review it for Coffee Time Romance. I am so excited!

The Terror By Dan Simmons

Idislike writing bad reviews. It is not something I like to do at all. But this book even though it was based on true events and part of history just drove me bonkers. I hope someone else likes it better than I did. lol


The HMS Terror and Erebus are trying to find the Northwest Passage. But they are doomed from the beginning not only by not enough food supplies but the men aboard really do not understand the courage it takes to complete such a mission. There is something out there, and men are dying from it. It seems that they are being killed yet no one is really sure about that. Will they be able to complete their mission and get back home?

Dan Simmons may be a great writer but this book bored me to death. It had some moments of enthralling action but for the most part it fell flat. Some of the details got a little bit too gruesome for me and I felt were not needed. The writing was well done yet the stops and starts of the story in the beginning really confused me. I was determined to press on and finish the book.

I felt pity for the characters because not they had to leave their ship did they realize the enormity of the task that was set before them. Two captains for one expedition was not wise because there was fighting and mutiny around every corner. The sailors and officers must have had no clue what they were signing up for and were completely gullible in wanting the prize. Also they never double-checked their supplies to see if things were handled correctly with food. Back then you had to be sure that food was cooked properly and they never did that. I was unimpressed with how they ran into things without making sure that they would have enough if something would happen to them.

I do not recommend this book because it got really slow and there were a lot of loose ends that were never tied up in the end. Mind you they cannot all be taken care of but I was left with more questions than answers. This book gets a 2.5/5 because it did have moments where I couldn’t put the book down but as the book progressed it just fell flat. It was not a complete waste of time but 768 pages was too many for this book. I am not sure I will read anything more by this author since this book did not impress me all that much but who knows. My mind could change.

Now off to read another book for my review group and a much needed book right now too. :)

Exile by Richard North Patterson

Here is my review of this wonderfully written and intense book!

David Wolfe’s life gets turned upside down when he gets a call from Hana Arif whom he knew at Harvard. He hasn’t talked to her in13 years but also suddenly not only does she need his help but also he has to figure out the secrets of Palestine. It all but tears apart his life at the seams and he has to figure out if it is worth it to risk it all just to help a friend. Yet will he be able to find out the truth of what really happened when Prime Minister Ben-Aron was assassinated?

This is my first book by Richard North Patterson and it had me on the edge of my seat. He not only had to do a ton of research but he had to make you feel for all the characters involved and he did an amazing job at it. He kept the facts simple and made sure to keep his beliefs out of the book. He presented both sides Palestine and Jewish very well.

I really felt for David and Hana. They have feelings for each other they never realized and could never really experience since they are from two different sides. Traditions and beliefs kept them apart. Watching David evolve and change in how he handles things was amazing. It was not an easy journey for him and he had quite a few difficult decisions to make. Once he decided them, he stuck to them no matter the cost to him or anyone around him. He did what he thought was best but at the same time didn’t want to hurt anyone. Hana was trying to get a life for her daughter Munira that she never had as a child. Hana is a wonderful woman who truly wants to best for Munira. She sought it out and almost lost everything in the process. Decisions we make as parents are never easy but it is most often times the best in the long run. I could really relate to Hana as a mother and wanting her child to experience life in all cultures.

This story is amazing and I give it a rating of 4/5. At times it got too intense for me to handle but I had to keep reading to find out what the outcome was going to be for all involved. I did not care to hear Mr. Patterson’s beliefs on the subject but I did appreciate the fact that he put them at the very end because it would have tainted my outlook on the book. It is not an easy subject to write about which I agree with him. He did a wonderful job and I was impressed with how well he was able to cover all the ideas as well as outlooks of the people. This is not a book you want to hurry through but take your time and soak it up. I am a fast reader so that didn’t help me at times but I took my time every time I picked up this book so I could really get an idea of what the characters were trying to do and what their beliefs were. I truly feel I got the best grasp on it that I possibly could and I am interested in seeing what else Mr. Richard North Patterson has written.

Not onto The Terror by Dan Simmons, hopefully not as intense. :)

My Reviews are Posted!

Yay I am so excited. I get to annouce my reviews for four different books are posted online. :)
Go to:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Reviewers/Krista.html

Enjoy! I have our reviews posted! I just finished one more and I am almost ready to read another one for this site!

Off to reading!

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black

Here is my humble review of the book:

Kaye is a 16 year old just learning to be. Her mother leaves her band and they have to move back to New Jersey with her grandmother. She keeps looking for her faerie friends but doesn’t seem them. She is coming home from a rave when she runs into Roibin who is a faerie. Not long after that, her faerie friends not only find her but tell her they need her help. She is not sure what she is getting herself into but agrees. Yet lurking in the back of the mind, Kaye wonders if she has made the right decision and if this choice will not only take her life but also show her who she really is.

Holly Black has a wonderful way with words. I was thoroughly impressed since I love Faerie stories and have read a lot of them. She shows how faeries, in my opinion, really are like. They can be both cruel and kind as well as manipulative or a servant to others. It just all depends on which side they are on and they often reveal they cater to both sides. I also appreciated how much more in detail she went with the Seelie and Unseelie courts. I got so much more of an understanding of it. I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions that she was able to give me. It completely blew my mind away.

Kaye was a young girl who just needed to be able to survive. She was living a life that pleased her and she was only barely making it. She did the best she could in supporting her mom but she always seemed to attract attention wherever she went. The problem with that was most people found her freaky. If they only knew what she truly was and I am going to leave that up to you. My favorite faerie was Roibin. He is the one you get to see the most of even more so then Kaye’s other faerie friends. He takes you on the journey and tries to protect Kaye as well. That is not always an easy thing to accomplish. Kaye is finding out how tough the world is and she keeps on going. She is scared often which things she is able to do without trying.

The use of the word Tithe is not what you think of and the story can explain it better than I can. The Fair Folk have a world of their own where they seek all kind of pleasures and that is show in this book. I enjoyed it immensely and not only recommend this book but others as well. I found out there is a sequel to the book titled Ironside, which I plan on reading hopefully soon. I found myself pulled into the world of the Faeries and didn’t quite want to leave. This book gets a rating of 5/5 because it is so overwhelming. I didn’t care for much of what the teens or the faeries did in the book but that is true enough to life. I recommend this book very highly!


Other books I liked about faeries or the fair folk are:
The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer
A Midsummer's Nightmare by Gary Kilworth (good luck finding a copy in the US and no I'm not sharing mine.)

Those are the only ones I can think of at this moment but I am sure there are others. :)