Water Witch by Deborah LeBlanc

Dunny always felt left out. She had a secret that she wanted secret. When it became public, it only brought unwanted attention. So she kept her powers a secret until her sister calls and there are children missing. She wants to help but there is something out there that scares her to no end. Yet finding the children keeps her going.

Ms. LeBlanc has a tremendous way with words. Being on the edge of my seat was only one thing I dealt with. It was gruesome at times in detail but reminded myself it was a thriller horror after all. Nothing ever felt like over the top or too much, it all seemed to fit well in the story line. She creates characters that you not only feel but see in a way. The villains are real people not just looking for an end to their means. It didn't make it any easier to read and I didn't empathize but felt more human and not perfect.

Dunny truly wants to help. It is in her entire being yet she doesn't want to be used. She wants to be appreciated for who she is all of her not just the part that has powers. Angelle is scared of what is going on but knows that her sister Dunny can be helpful to the children's disappearance or at least she hopes that will be the case. Angelle is young and wants the best for all. Poochie is a sweet woman who lives with Angelle and her husband Trevor. She is a wise woman that I grew to love throughout the story. She believed and accepted Dunny as she is. That was a huge part of the story.

This book was difficult to read at times but I had to find out if the children were going to be found. The villain in the story was determined to get his mission completed. The power described in this book is one not to touch ever! It always reminds me to be careful of what I do and say in this world. Without warning you can unleash things beyond our comprehension. Ms. LeBlanc does a fantastic job and I may read more of her work eventually.

Deborah LeBlanc/New Author/ Thriller/ Horror/ Family/ Acceptance/ 290 pages/ 4 out of 5

FTC: I got this book for a review over a year ago and I have tried to be as honest as possible.

Hurricane by Karen Harper

Julie Minton is trying to get her girls that she watches over to safety while a hurricane comes their way. But all she can think about is her daughter Randi who has ridden off on a jet ski with Thad. She hopes they are safe. Yet in her heart, she begins to wonder if something is wrong since they are not back yet. With the help of Thad's father Zach, she hopes to find them before the storm hits. Law enforcement is no help due to the storm so they are on their own. They must work together to get through the storm that has hit and escape an enemy that is lurking in the shadows.

Ms. Harper writes a fantastic suspense story. I was on the edge of my seat. There was tension of all kinds and yet nothing seemed out of place. I loved how clean it was and not bloody, gory, or full of sex. It was a nice change of pace and the characters were well detailed. I felt like I was in the midst of the book. I love reading the credits to see how much help they had and it showed how important she felt it was to seek out help to write an accurate story line.

Julie is a woman I can relate to with being a mom. She truly cared for her daughter even though it didn't always show. Running a resort for cutters kept her busy. She had help in her friend Kaylin to run the resort. Kaylin is tested by the emotions of Randi gone as well as helping the girls and not returning to her old ways of cutting to deal with the stress. Zach is a tough guy but even he is stressing out. He doubts finding the kids alive but won't stop looking. With his SEAL training, it may just be the one thing that would save the kids.

This book was very good! I was impressed with how well paced it was and with the diversity of characters. I would definitely read more of this author's work. I'm not sure what problems people might have with this writing style, but give it a try. I hope the rest of her work is just as good if not better. I am definitely happy with how it all played out.

Karen Harper/ Thriller/ 400 pages/ New Author/ Weather/ Family/ 4 out of 5

I finished this one yesterday but was not able to post the review. I'll post my monthly stats and reads tomorrow! Oh and I bought three books today The Cat, The Professor and The Poison by Leann Sweeny, A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams and Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett. I can't wait to read them!! :)

Lords of Corruption by Kyle Mills

Josh Hagarty gets a chance at a job in Africa helping a charity. He's not sure it's a good idea but it sounds like it pays well and they're willing to help send his sister to college. Once he arrives, he finds out the true reason for the last guy's death and things aren't as they appear. Yet he wonders if there is anything he can do. The organization threatens the life of his sister and the only help comes from a woman who works in Africa as well as a journalist. Josh isn't sure who he can trust. All he knows is that he has to try or he won't survive.

Mr. Mills has a fantastic thriller on his hands. He kept things moving at a good pace and didn't get too gory. Things that happened in the book weren't always pleasant but it was never in detail which helped me get through it. The bad guys in this book were truly horrible. They had ulterior motives and things were presented so that it could be followed. I was never confused with what was happening.

I felt awful for Josh. All he wanted to do was provide for his sister and give her the life he never had. Yet at every corner, there were obstacles in his way. He had to figure out what was more important and deal with some very moral issues. No one is perfect but Josh did try his best to stick with what he believed. Annika was a wonderful woman who had spent many years in Africa in a small village. She was a huge help knowing the language and got them out of some tricky situations. Yet it was never sure if their lives were safe.

To think that there are corrupt charities out there breaks my heart, yet I know not everyone has the right reasons when starting one. This book presented a very real picture and kept my heart pumping. There were times I wanted to put the book down but I kept picking it back up to find out what would happen next. Mr. Mills knows how to keep you glued to the book to the very end. The coarse language got annoying after all but I know authors must stay true to how the characters talk. I am definitely thinking about reading more of his works.


Kyle Mills/New Author/Charities/Thriller/ 320 pages/ 4 out of 5

Well off to start The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas and then hopefully onto something a little on the lighter side of things.

A World I Never Made by James LePore

Patrick Nolan gets a call from Paris, France about his daughter who committed suicide. He shows up to identify the body only to see that it isn't his daughter. Not sure what is going on, he goes along with her story. She must be in trouble and Patrick must find her. Then maybe things will make sense. Megan Nolan has always been carefree about her relationships since being a freelance writer gave her so much freedom. Now she is involved with a man who could threaten her entire world. But he could also give her the big break she needs. But is it worth it?

Mr. LePore has a fantastic thriller on his hands. There is more to this story than I could see just by reading the back of the book. The depth of the feelings of the characters definitely pulls you in and makes you want to read more. The headings with the time frame really moved the story along and helped keep a good handle on which story was being told whether it was Megan's or Patrick's. The minor characters had their place too because without them; the plot would have been very dull.

Patrick sees how he's messed up over the years and wants to help his daughter. But the situation will be more than he can handle. It will test him and put him in way over his head. Yet the main thing he focuses on is his daughter. Megan has always been rather non-chalant about her relationships. The man she meets on the train will show her how much she has to learn.

This was a book that grabbed a hold of me from the beginning. The twists and turns plotted will keep you turning pages. Mr. LePore took a world that is ever present in our minds and showed what it's effects could be on a young woman who is vulnerable but refuses to show it. It sweeps her up and shows her all that she has to learn still. The rules are broken and Patrick Nolan can only hope that it'll be enough.


James LePore/ New Author/ Thriller/272 pages/ Book for Review/ 5 out of 5

This was a great book and I love reading new authors. I don't remember what is next on the pile but I'll sure the review should be up soon! :)

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

A kid's suicide sets two families on edge. But no one knows it better than the kid's best friend Adam. His parents start noticing a change in him but are at a loss at how to help. They do the only thing that they can think of ... spy on him. Yet what they find leaves more questions than answers.

Mr. Coben spins a tale with twists and turns that will leave you guessing till the end. Or at least that is how it is with me. The connections in the story will leave you scratching your head. How he comes up with this stuff surprises me every time. Being a parent, on the other hand, this book truly made me think. It raised a lot of questions in my mind and I hope that I can do the best possible with my son.

The experiences both Tia and Mike as well as Betsy and Ron went through were heart breaking. They had done their best to raise their sons but one was gone. The struggle they dealt with was one a lot of parents struggle with. Are you raising your kids right?

I really did enjoy this book as much as it scared me at times. It all was affected by how I am a mom too. This book makes you think and Mr. Coben did a fantastic job since he is a parent as well. I definitely cannot wait to see what he comes up with next and I still have to get through the rest of his Myron series.

Harlan Coben/ Fiction/ Thriller/ Families/ 416 pages/ 5 out of 5

Off to another fiction book. :)Its called Anna and the King of Siam. :)

The Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury

An army team on a routine mission finds a lab that has horrible experiments taking place. Yet never finding the man who set it up leads to present day. Evelyn is contacted by her old friend that he may have something in his possession that'd she like a lot. But before it's all over, things could get interesting. Lives are at stake!

Mr. Khoury kept the level of suspense up very high. His characters are in depth and I love every minute I have with them. There are surprises around every corner. His writing may be fast paced but still very easy to follow. The jumps back and forth in this book between present and past were so much fun since a lot of things were explained. The idea of a long life has been touched on by other people. But yet it seems to have bad situations since you cannot tell everyone about it.

Evelyn wasn't sure what she was hearing. She wanted to find out what was going on since her dig in Iraq. Mia, her daughter, just wants life to go back to normal but the secrets she will find out will change her opinion. Possibly even the way she looks at life.

This is one book that will pull you in from the beginning. Though on a little bit different level than his last book, Mr. Khoury writes fantastic fiction that is griping. The idea of someone trying the experiments that they did during the time frame given didn't surprise me. It was just the lengths that they went to in order to try. Things weren't too graphic so the squeamish at heart should be okay reading this one.

Raymond Khoury, Thriller, Long Life, 432 pages, 4 out of 5

A lot has been going, and I'll do my best to update my blog as often as I can.

The Messenger by Daniel Silva

Gabriel Allon is asked for help once more. This time though, lives are truly at stake. His boss Ari Shamron gets into his car only to be attacked by bomb. Gabriel is furious at the events and is determined to figure out who is behind it. The Vatican is under attack as well. There are plots inside that even Gabriel cannot even fathom. There just may be enough time to get people saved this time.

Mr. Silva is an amazing author and his books just keep getting better. The conflict that Gabriel deals with each time he gets asked for help. The research that must be done is incredible. Mr. Silva keeps the plot moving along at a reasonable pace.

Gabriel may finally be getting somewhere. Yet the past still keeps him back at some point. He must finally reconcile the things inside himself so that he can move on. Ari is there to help him but the majority of the healing must be Gabriel's own doing. Julian is also waiting in the wings to help Gabriel any way he can when it comes to art. Sarah is the new girl on the block. With her background, she'll be essential to solving the case.

This is one book that kept me on the edge of my seat. It seemed like every time you turned around someone was getting shot at or there was a plot that was being foiled. Mr. Silva knows how to entertain yet at the same time you learn so much. I was so impressed with the ability of the whole team to work together and salvage things if that is what is called for. I am sad to see this series end in a few books but love how it is progressing along.


Daniel Silva/ Mystery/Thriller/ Spy story/ 400 pages/ 4 out of 5

This was a really good book! I'm excited to start a new book tomorrow. :)

The Confessor by Daniel Silva

Gabriel is responsible for cleaning up an important painting. Yet when he finds that an old friend of his is killed. He feels he must solve the murder. There are a lot of twists and turns to get through and a lot of shocking things that Gabriel must prove in order to find out the truth. Problem is, that there is someone that wants this all kept quiet and will do anything needed.

Mr. Silva does good work in this book. Not to mention all the research he had to have done to make it accurate. I appreciate all his work. It made the book come across real knowing that he had done his work.

Gabriel is always meeting someone but it never works out. He has gotten to the point where his art restoring is his passion even more so. Yet when Shamron calls, he at least answers to find out what is going on. Friendships mean the most to Gabriel and that is one quality I find endearing. He won’t rest till he has some answers and will do whatever it takes to get them.


This book really impressed me. I liked the depth and the mystery that Gabriel had to solve. He was putting a lot on the line in this book and it was more than just his life. Mr. Silva has truly impressed me.


Daniel Silva/ Thriller/ 480 pages/ Spy/ Chunkster/ 4 out of 5

I enjoyed this book and am now working on reading The House At Riverton by Kate Morton.

Fractured by Karin Slaughter

Detective Will Trent is working hard to solve this weird crime scene. A mother comes home to find her daughter brutally murdered and then a man comes chasing after her. Thinking he is the murderer, she does her best to overpower him. He is also teamed up with a female detective with her own issues. He swears there is another girl missing and the killer is still on the loose. But with little facts to go on, there is going to a lot of grunt work and things are going to hit way too close to home.

Ms. Slaughter is a fantastic writer. I love the twists and turns she puts on every page. I was shocked as the story was unfolding about things that were not as they appeared. She writes real characters that you not only feel for but also want to see them succeed. Not that they don’t have issues, and these characters were chock full of them.

Will Trent had a horrible life growing up and now he seems to see that everywhere in this case. Ms. Mitchell is not about to put up with Trent’s crap. She wants to be seen as vital to this case and hopefully get somewhere. Being a female cop is not easy for her but darned if she isn’t going to work just as hard if not more than the rest of them.

I truly felt for this family and what they went through. I was pissed along with the mother for instances not even relating to the case. This book will have you on a whirlwind ride that will puzzle even those who seem to know what happened from page one. Ms. Slaughter never ceases to amaze me with what she creates. Definitely becoming one of my favorite authors.


Karin Slaughter/ Thriller/Mystery/ Murder/ Family/ 338 pages/ 5 out of 5

Off to another one of my stack. :) I do have a review book I want to read but it looks good. :)

The Woods by Harlan Coben

Twenty years ago, four teenagers were murdered and one other teenager feels guilty most of all. But now, Paul Copeland is a successful as a district attorney but the case he is working on may have the parents of the boys involved wanting his past to come back. He knows the boys did commit rape but their parents will do anything to protect him. What makes things even more difficult, it seems that one of the teenagers thought to have died that night so long ago never did. He begins to question what happened that night and needs help. But will he get the answers he needs or his family come to ruin instead?

Mr. Coben does it again. He creates such characters that thrive on needing answers that keep you questioning with them that you never quite catch on. Or least that is how it is with me. I love the descriptions he gives not only of the characters but of their past which helps give me a better sense of what is going on.

Paul Copeland is a man who is still grieving for his dead wife. He loves his daughter and makes sure to spend as much time as he can. With the cases he takes on, that is not as much as he would like but she seems to understand. Lucy Gold has moved on with most of her life though she still goes and sees her father who is in a convalescent home. The tie that is between the two of them will blow their worlds apart and make them question what really did happen that night long ago.

Having had this book for a while on my tbr pile, I was happy to finally read it. This author creates twists and turns that leave me guessing till the end. Secrets are prevalent in this book in more ways than I thought possible. Paul’s past with growing up in Russia and the KGB swarming around his family just makes things more interesting. I am curious to see what the tie in is to Hold Tight. This is one author who never ceases to disappoint. Definitely a must read!

Harlan Coben/Thriller/416 pages/ Chunkster/5 out of 5

I am working on review books and then I hope to read another one of my own soon. My little boy's birthday is tomorrow so yeah may not be online much. I need to get some cleaning done. lol

The Likeness by Tana French

Cassie Maddox is at it again. This time the case is going to mean another undercover assignment. When she is called to a crime scene, she is not sure what to think until she sees the dead woman could be her double. Now she will have to convince the dead woman’s friends that she is Lexie. And to top it all off, Cassie used the dead woman’s name when she went undercover the last time. Things could get crazy and Cassie only hopes things don’t backfire.

Ms. French improves on her writing and I was so happy to see quite a few characters come back from the last book. This one was a lot different in fact there were a lot more thoughts in Cassie’s head this time. Last one mainly was about Rob. I got to see a side of things that I had not before and I appreciated that. There was a lot riding on this undercover assignment to go well and Ms. French truly showed that in not only the way the characters acted but also in the whole situation that had to be created.

Cassie Maddox is tough woman. She can give with the best and I was truly impressed with what she had to do in such a short amount of time. Frank her old boss comes to play in this story and it was fun to see their whole back-story including how she became part of the undercover team. And when it comes to working the case O’Kelly even makes an appearance.

There was a lot more thought process in this book. Cassie had to be sure of what she was doing and put her whole heart into it. She has got to be on her toes at all times and remember what she had to memorize to get to this point. I really enjoyed this book. It was well done and I cannot wait to see if there is another one with Cassie or maybe a different character this time. I am curious to see what is next for this author.

Tana French/ Chunkster/ 448 pages/ Ireland/ Thriller/ 4 out of 5

In the Woods by Tana French

Rob Ryan feels like he is getting somewhere in his life. His past is completely behind him but when a girl is found in the small Dublin town of Knocknaree everything falls apart. He was the only survivor of an incident in the forest twenty years before. He begins to question everything around him including his partner Cassie Maddox. They have to go door to door to find out what happened to the little girl. Rob might finally get the closure he needs as well as helping solve a case where every time they think they have something, it goes up in smoke.

Ms. French has a fantastic story on her hands. It is full of twists and turns that were great! The characters were very brilliant and enjoyable. They came from every angle and motive. I was not sure who was behind any of it and the ending surprised me.

Adam Rob Ryan has such a difficult time with this case. He knows it could have something to do with the disappearance of his friends but he just does not know where to turn. Cassie is a woman in a male dominated field. But she is up for the challenge and willing to prove herself. I really liked her and how she fought so hard to get somewhere. The minor character I liked the most was their boss O’Kelly. He could be one difficult man but he had their best interests at heart. He didn’t want any issues of any kind to pop up in an investigation. The thing that I found the most odd was the Devlin family who Katy, the murdered girl, was a part of. They were so eccentric that it surprised me how they were able to even be a family. It really gave the story a great spin!

This was a great thriller! Ms. French definitely was worthy of winning the Edgar Award. A book like this was just scary enough not to be too scary yet the twist at the end had me shaking my head. I cannot wait to read her next book to see what she writes about next!

Tana French/Chunkster/ 464 pages/ Ireland/ Thriller/ New Author/ 4 out of 5

Definitely a great book. :) I would have posted it sooner but got busy and now working on more review books.

Charley's Webb by Joy Fielding

Charlotte Webb has had an interesting life. Her family is on the odds again and she is stuck picking up the pieces or so it seems. Her career as a journalist is not so glamorous but still warrants an occasional threatening email. She likes writing about things that are controversial. Her children keep her busy and she loves them dearly. She always makes sure that she is there for them even though she never married the fathers. Getting a letter from a woman in jail who wants her story told makes Charley curious. So she decides to meet Jill Rohmer to at least find out the details. The woman had killed three small children and oddly enough Charley had wrote a column about it. She has no idea that it will lead to some nasty things down the line and it might even put her children’s lives on the line.

Ms. Fielding is a fantastic writer who gives the best goose bumps. I have only read one other book of hers but I am so intrigued to pick up the one I have in my ever-growing book pile. She writes characters that question beliefs so much that I even started wondering about mine. Yet the thrill ride you are taken on will leave you almost breathless. She plots things out very well that I was shocked to find out a few things that were talked about in the book.

Charlotte just wanted her family to get along. But since her mom left them when all four children were very young, they are not so forgiving including her father. Now she tries to settle into a life well done except threatening emails shock her. She does her best to keep her children safe. She loves them too much to want anything to happen to them like any mother really. I just felt compelled to follow along with her journey to see what happens.

This is a book full of tough issues and tests the boundaries of truth. I would definitely thing this would make a good book club read. I thought the book was well written and the characters very realistic. People just want to find their place in life and they also want to make money. There is nothing wrong with that it is just how you acquire the money that is often wrong. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is not squeamish. It is not for the faint of heart and the details did get quite gruesome. It is the only way to retell things that happened to truly understand what was going on in the mind of a killer. This is one author that I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next as well as I am planning on reading the other book on my shelf very soon.

Joy Fielding/ Women/ Journalists/ Thriller/ 448 pages/ 4 out of 5

I am working on a review book but hope to get another one of my own in soon!

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz

Amy Redwing is dedicated to rescuing and taking care of Golden Retrievers. She even went so far as to found an organization to do just that. She is seen as rather reckless at times when it comes to getting the dogs out of homes. Especially her boyfriend Brian McCarthy, he really does not understand why she does it and honestly wishes she would stop. It won’t be until they meet a beautiful golden retriever named Nickie that things will begin to make sense for him. Though at the same time, Amy starts to feel like she is being followed and watched. Someone wants her to become fearful and hunted just like the animals she is always saving. But will anyone be able to save her this time?

Dean Koontz has done it again! This man just boggles my mind how he creates the stories that captivate you. I was enthralled from page one and then as Amy’s back-story is revealed and as I slowly put the picture together I was in awe! His characters run the gamut of cruelty and nice. Yet that is what makes them so real. This is one author who is completely become my favorite!

Amy has told no one of her past. She thinks it is safer that way. I can understand that sometimes it is just better to let the past be in the past. Yet when Brian experiences things of his own, Amy realizes she needs to tell him everything. He might be the one who can help her get through this mess. The dogs in this story were amazing what they had been through and how well they were healing. I also appreciated how realistic Mr. Koontz could be at times with some of the dogs in the story not making it.

I appreciated the fact at how discreet Mr. Koontz kept the details of the horrible lives of some of the dogs. This was one compelling story not only because of the dogs but also of Amy and Brian. The twists and turns in this book had me going for a loop. Not to mention the unexpected thing that kept happening from time to time. Nickie was a sweet dog and I can only imagine how sweet Trixie, Mr. Koontz’s dog was. This is one book I highly recommend!

Dean Koontz/Thriller/354 pages/4 out of 5/Dogs

Even though the copy I had from the library was rather smokey, I could not put this book down!

Third Degree by Greg Iles

Laurel is having one of the worst days ever. She came home early from school to find her husband Warren tearing apart their house looking for something. She initially thought it had something to do with the audit that was going to happen at his doctor’s office but when he blindsided her with the fact that he had found a love letter to her. Her world crashed around her not to mention the fact that she had found out she was pregnant this morning but didn’t know who the father was. Now she has to try to calm her hubby down before the kids come home and hope she can keep her secret.

Greg Iles is a fantastic writer. He devises scenes that are not easy to wrap your mind around. The situations are similar to other books but the thing I like the most is how Mr. Iles makes his characters react to it. That is what sets his books apart. Yet I had a difficult time getting past how some of the characters were not wanting to pay for their crimes.

Laurel did what a lot of women do today by looking for love in other places than their husband. That is her first mistake not to mention the fact that she won’t get caught. Warren seems obsessed with finding out who wrote the letter to his wife. It overtakes him as part as his OCD. It just became surprising how important that was to him. Nothing else mattered not even his kids; Warren needed to know the truth. The man became very creepy and reminded me again why adultery is so horrible.

This book was quite the thriller not only for the fact that Laurel was trying to figure out how to keep her kids safe. But also she wanted her lover to remain unknown. This one was not one of my favorites by him but still he is one of my favorite authors. Mr. Iles really knows how to make you think and I appreciate that. I will read his next one and I have a few of his older ones that I have not read yet.

Greg Iles/385 pages/ Thriller/ Family/3 out of 5

I finished this one and The Darkeste Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz this wekeend. both very well written and authors I have really come to like their writing style. :)

Blaze by Richard Bachman

Blaze has had a hard life but things chance once he meets George Rackley. He feels like he is accepted again even if that means a life of crime. But the two of them come up with a scheme so that they don’t have to do any other crimes ever again. They plan on kidnapping a baby. But not just any baby, an heir to a fortune. Things go bad when George is killed and now Blaze is all on his own. Can he go through with it after all or will he chicken out now that he is alone?

Richard Bachman is a good writer. He knows how you to get interesting from page one till the end. I was pulled into this story and had to find out what was going to happen to not only Blaze but the baby that they had picked. It had slow moments for back story but all in all it made sense and was important. It really helped get a feel for the characters and their motivations in life.

I truly felt sorry for Blaze. If his father had been a better father, he probably would have had a completely different life. But being thrown down the stairs twice would truly mess up your life. He just wanted something better for himself and he got chances at it. Thought it never seemed to pan out, which bummed me out a lot. George was your typical guy who wanted to find someone to work with as well as make a plan and stick to it.

This was a good book and one that was a good read. The flashbacks were good to read because as I said before you got a better feel for the characters. That helped me actually feel for them. I definitely want to read more by this author.

At the end of the book is a short story by Stephen King called Memory. It was well written and sounds like that one is being turned into a story. So it will be interesting to see what is done with it.

Richard Bachman/285 pages/ Thriller/ 4 out of 5

Right now I am working on Play Dirty by Sandra Brown.

Creepers by David Morrell

Frank Belanger is wanting to do a report on people who like to go through abandoned buildings. They are referred to as creepers since they come in at night and risk their own lives for the adventure. The five people are suspicious of him but figured since that the guy leading up this expedition seems to be okay with everything. There is a mystery surrounding the Paragon Hotel. A reclusive millionaire built it; the structure is magnificent. It is marked for demolition so to get in there before it is gone is the key. But what will they find?

Mr. Morrell certainly has a morbid mind. And in this case, it made the book pretty scary. Yet that helped the essence of the man who built the hotel and other quirky characteristics come alive. The idea that time can be frozen into place was really evident in this novel. People often leave things behind them and so things are remembered as they once were. Also the millionaire who owned the hotel kept buying the same furniture.

I really weren’t too sure about any of these characters at first. Yet the prize for them was seeing old things as they once were. Frank seemed to just be along for the ride. Yet as it went along his motives really became clear. The three people that followed the professor were interesting in that they all knew each other from college. Yet they had been able to stay friends and two of them were married. There was a lot of back-story to the novel but it played up so much of what ended up happening.

I would recommend this book pretty highly. It’s creepy but fairly fast paced which I like. It was a quick read for me and I hope to read more by this author. I really like the group I am involved in because then I try new authors. Ones that I may have heard of or like in this instance I didn’t know anything about Mr. Morrell and I definitely want to try another one of his books.

Next up is christmas with anne by L.M. Montegormery. Then I have 2 books I need to review.

You've Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Kristin Burns loves taking care of Dakota and Sean. Her job as a nanny is very fulfilling. She is just waiting for her life as a photographer to start. She is in love with a man and he is almost hers. She can only hope it will happen soon. But fear starts to enter her life and she sees things that no one else seems to see or know.

Normally I really like a James Patterson, but this one feel flat. I read it quickly but it just seemed odd to me. There was not much substance but it was not exactly fluff either. It was just a weird book that I just cannot recommend.

Kristin whines all the time and lives a lot of that behind her camera lense. Now having said that, she seems like a nice person but carrying on with the man she does is not so smart. She is deluding herself I think in a lot of ways. Yet she cannot seem to get herself to understand that. Her dreams become more vivid and real and then she starts to think she is living them.

It is not a badly written novel. It is well written but was odd and strange. I only hope his novels get better cause this was a serious disappointment.
James Patterson/ Howard Roughan/ Thriller/ 376 pages/ Fiction/ 3 out of 5

Now I am reading Away by Amy Bloom though I just started it. So I hope this one better.

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. :)

Dead Connection by Alafair Burke

Ellie Hatcher’s father was a cop while he got killed even though the Wichita police never confirmed it. That led her to become a cop herself and onto a high profile case. The two women killed lead by to FirstDate.com, a very successful dating website. What really gets her is when the killer mimics the man who killed her father. She has to work hard to catch him before he kills his next victim. But at the same time puts her in harms way to take the fall.

Alafair Burke is a wonderful composed author. I found her characters to be determined and her story full of twists and turns. There are so many ways people can get your information and it is sad to see them put in this book. The reality of it is that it could happen to anyone at anytime for any grudge that is held.

Ellie had some tough stuff to work through but I could see a real progression. She was a sweet woman who had her heart broken as a child. Her brother Jess was trying to find his way in life and not getting too far.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no clue who the killer was and was rather shocked at that. Ellie truly had a lot to go through and I was rooting for her to find someone. I can’t say enough about how much this book was so good. Once they started to put the pieces together, I was able to follow along but it took me awhile. I just don’t figure out thrillers or whodunit type books very well. But that is why I keep coming back to see if I can figure it out. Now I want to go back and her other series.

336 pages/New Author/Thriller/5 out of 5


I am now reading The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag. My review would have been longer but I poked the under the nail of my left thumb with a fork prong and it is still sore. lol