My Reading List - July 2012

FINISHED - 

1. "MOTION TO SUPPRESS" by Perri O'Shaughnessy (Nina Reilly #1) (unabridged Audio CD) (A) Leaving her ex-husband and old job in San Francisco, attorney Nina Reilly opens a practice in Lake Tahoe hoping to start life over. As she waits for a big case, Nina decides to help Misty Patterson divorce her abusive husband. When said husband is found murdered, Nina agrees to defend Misty against murder charges. But Misty's defense isn't easy - there are big blank spots in Misty's memory, she has a tendency toward promiscuity and there is some very damning circumstantial evidence. Where does the truth lie? Is Misty a clever liar, a victim of some early trauma, or is she simply manipulated by others? Does someone else control the strings of Misty's life? Misty just wants to know the truth. And Nina wants justice.
2. "LEGACY" by Danielle Steel (A+++) A writer working in the heart of modern academia and a daring young Sioux Indian on an incredible journey in the eighteenth century. The result is an unforgettable story of courage in the face of the unknown. At the age of thirty-eight, Brigitte Nicholson has a job she likes, a man she loves and a book on the women's suffrage movement that she will finish - someday. Someday is Brigitte's watchword. Someday she and Ted, a rising star in the field of archaeology, will clarify their relationship. Someday she will have children. Someday she will stop playing it so safe. Then, on a snowy day in Boston, Brigitte's life is jolted. Suddenly everything she counted on has changed and she finds herself questioning every choice she has made along the way. As she struggles to regain her balance and plot a new course, Brigitte agrees to help her mother on a family genealogy project. In Salt Lake City at the Family History Library she makes a stunning discovery - reaching back to the French aristocracy. How did Brigitte's mysterious ancestor Wachiwi, A Dakota Sioux, travel from the Great Plains to the French court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette - and into the arms of a French Marquis? How did she come to marry into Brigitte's family? What is the truth behind the tantalizing clues in the fragmented, centuries-old records? Following the threads of Wachiwi's life, Brigitte travels to South Dakota, then on to Paris, irresistibly drawn to this brave young woman who lived so long ago. And as she comes closer to solving the puzzle of Wachiwi's journey, her previously safe, quiet life becomes an adventure of its own. A chance meeting with a writer of historical fiction, a new opportunity and a difficult choice put Brigitte at last in the forefront of her own story. With a complex and powerful family legacy coming to life around her, someday is no longer in the future. Instead, someday is now.
3. "FREEFALL" by JoAnn Ross (High Risk #1) A(++) Seeking refuge, determined to pull her life back together, Sabrina Swann returns to the sleepy Southern island of her childhood summers. The last person she expects to encounter there is Zach Tremayne, the boy who stole her heart when she was a girl. There's a haunted look in his eyes that makes her wonder what kind of a man he's become. Zach can't forget the horror he saw in his last battle in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL. Now home on Swann Island, he's surprised to realize he can feel anything again, never mind the sudden surge of desire for this woman from his past. And when together they discover danger waiting in the island's shadows, the woman who is desperate for peace and the man who has sworn off war will find that they are willing to do anything, risk everything, to protect a love neither saw coming.
4. "LUCKY IN LOVE" by Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor #4) (A++++) Sometimes it's good to be bad. Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his learn, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone. For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't - including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.
5. "SUMMER NIGHTS" by Susan Mallery (Fool's Gold #8) (A+++) Horse Whisperer Shane Stryker is done with passion. This time around, he's determined to meet someone who will be content with the quiet life of a rancher's wife. And the fiery, pint-size redhead who dazzles him at the local bar definitely does not fit the bill. Small-town librarian Annabelle Weiss has always seen herself as more of a sweetheart than a siren, so she can't understand why Shane keeps pushing her away. Shane has formed the totally wrong impression of her but only he can help her with a special event for the next Fool's Gold festival. And maybe while he's at it, she can convince him to teach her a few things about kissing on hot summer nights, too - some lessons, a girl shouldn't learn from reading a book!
6. "SUMMER RENTAL" by Mary Kay Andrews (A+++) Ellis, Julia and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's made over the past decade of her life. Julia - whose austic wit covers up her wounds - has a man who loves her and is offering her the world, but she can't hide how deeply insecure she feels about her looks, her brains and her life. And Dorie has just been shockingly betrayed by the man she loved and trusted the most in the world...thought this is just the tip of the iceberg of her problems and secrets. A month in North Carolina's Outer Banks is just what each of them needs. Ty Brazemore is their landlord, though he's hanging on to the rambling old beach house by a thin thread. After an inauspicious first meeting with Ellis, the two find themselves disturbingly attracted to each other, even as Ty is about to lose everything he's ever cared about. Maryn Shackleford is a stranger and a woman on the run. Maryn needs just a few things in life: no questions, a good hiding place and a new identity. Ellis, Julia and Dorie can provide what Maryn wants, but can they also provide what she needs? Five people questioning everything they ever thought they knew about life. Five people on a journey that will uncover their secrets and point them on the path to forgiveness. Five people who need a sea change and one month in a summer rental that might just give it to them.
7. "HIDDEN AWAY" by Maya Banks (KGI #3) (A+++) A man who shoots first and ask questions later...most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who's in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half brother - and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it. But Garrett hadn't counted on falling for Sarah. He'd considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah's dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe - even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn't know exactly who, or what, Sarah's running from, but whatever it is, she's running for her life.
8. "DESPERATE DEEDS" by Dee Davis (A-TAC #3) (A++) As the demolitions expert for A-Tac, a black-ops CIA unit masquerading as Ivy League faculty, Tyler Hanson has two great loves: literature and explosives. She lives by the motto "Duty First" and doesn't have time for personal attachments...until a steamy one-night stand turns into a professional partnership. When Tyler meets Owen WAkefield, a handsome British operative, she seduces him with no intention of ever seeing him again. But then the sexy Brit is brought into A-Tac and despite Tyler's efforts to keep her distance, she finds herself falling for him. Trusting him. Owen seems too good to be true - and he is. He's hiding his true motives and identity and no matter how he feels about Tyler, he can't keep her secrets. One of A-Tac's members has turned traitor and helped terrorists to hijack a shipment of nuclear weapons. As witnesses start dying and evidence starts disappearing, Owen and Tyler must race to find the mole - and prevent a final, cataclysmic act of destruction.
9. "MIDNIGHT PROMISES" by Sherryl Woods (Sweet Magnolias #8) (A++) When Elliot Cruz first courted struggling mom Karen Ames, it was a romance worthy of any Sweet Magnolia fantasy. The sexy personal trainer made it his mission to restore Karen's strength - physical and emotional - and to charm her children. Now, a few years into the marriage, colliding dreams threaten to tear them apart. Elliott's desire to finance the business opportunity of a lifetime with their hard-earned "baby money" stirs Karen's deep-rooted financial insecurities. It's the discovery that their brother-in-law is cheating on Elliott's sister - and thinks it's justified - that puts their irreconcilable differences into perspective. Will their own loving fidelity be a bond so strong they can triumph against all odds?
10. "A CREED IN STONE CREEK" by Linda Lael Miller (Montana Creeds #5) (A++) When single attorney Steven Creed becomes guardian of an orphaned five-year-old boy, he trades his big-city law firm for a ranch near his McKettrick kin in the close-knit community of Stone Creek, Arizona. Taking care of little Matt and fixing up h is run-down ranch house with its old barn loosens something tightly wound inside him. But when Steven takes on the pro bono defense of a local teen, he meets his match in the opposing counsel - beautiful, by-the-book county prosecutor Melissa O'Ballivan. It'll take one grieving little boy, a sweet adopted dog and a woman who never expected to win any man's heart to make this Creed in Stone Creek know he's truly found home.
11. "HEAVEN, TEXAS" by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Chicago Bears #2) (A+++) Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to drag the legendary ex-jock Boby Tom Denton back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being a movie star - and no plans to cooperate with a prim and bossy Ohio wallflower whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hell-raising playboy decides to make her over from plain Jane to Texas wildcat. But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town to small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion - and a match that can only be made in Heaven.
12. "AT LAST" by Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor #5) (A+++) Her love has come along. Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob. A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction - or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.
13. "STILL WATERS" by Tami Hoag (abridged audio CD) (A) The deepest waters hide the darkest secrets. When the body of a murdered man literally falls at Elizabeth Stuart's feet, she's able to wash away the blood - but not the terror. Unwelcome newcomers to Still Creek, Minnesota, she and her troubled teenage son are treated with suspicion by the locals, including the sheriff. Yet nothing will stop her from digging beneath the town's placid surface for the truth - except the killer. Running from a messy divorce, Elizabeth believed buying a small-town newspaper offered a fresh start for herself and her son. But idyllic Still Creek, nestled in the heart of lush Amish farmlands, hides secrets dangerous enough to push someone to commit murder. Now Elizabeth must risk everything to save herself and her son and to unmask a killer. Before the current of evil flowing through Still Creek drags her under.
14. "THE ONLY WAY OUT" by Susan Mallery (A++) Andie Cochran thought she had at last escaped the clutches of her ruthless, power-mad ex-husband - but then he abducted the child she loved more than life itself. And now, alone in a foreign country, she had no one to turn to but another very dangerous man - a man who awakened passions she had thought long dead. Jeff Markum had come to this place in search of revenge, not caring that death could easily be the price he had to pay. But now, against his will, a woman was making him care about something more than vengeance - a woman who had once belonged to the very man he meant to destroy.
15. "THREE PART HARMONY" by Angel Payne (A+++) Dasha Moore commands the world's stages as one of pop's reigning stars, but finds her ultimate joy at the feet of David Pennington as his willing new submissive. In one night, her charismatic career manager becomes the Dominant of her body as well - and the owner of her heart. David is blown away, in all the good ways, by discovering D's submissive streak. He can't wait to brand her deeper with his domination, but a lunatic fan has other, deadly plans for Dasha. Consumed with keeping Dasha safe, David gives the FBI a full-access for their investigation, headed by Special Agent Kress Moridian, a guy with an unnerving protective streak. David's initial instincts about Kress are accurate: the agent is another Dom and his definition of "full-access" includes Dasha herself. Being shared with Kress is a new tune for Dasha, but she finds herself loving its rougher strains - and she begs David for their three-part harmony again. But while her Doms make her body sing, Dasha's heart and soul are torn. And what will happen to their song when they finally find the madman who wants her dead? Worse: what happens if they don't find him?
16. "BIG SKY COUNTRY" by Linda Lael Miller (Parable, Montana #1) (A+++) The illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher, Sheriff Slade Barlow grew up in a trailer hitched to the Curly-Burly hair salon his mother runs. He was never acknowledged by his father...until now. Suddenly, Slade has inherited half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana. That doesn't sit well with his half brother, Hutch, who grew up with all the rights of a Carmody - including the affections of Joslyn Kirk, homecoming queen, rodeo queen, beauty queen, whom Slade has never forgotten. But Joslyn is barely holding her head up these days as she works to pay back everyone her crooked stepfather cheated. With a town to protect, plus a rebellious teenage stepdaughter, Slade has his hands full. But someone has to convince Joslyn that she's responsible only for her own actions - such as her effect on this lawman's guarded heart.
17. "HEAD OVER HEELS" by Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor #3) (A++++) Breaking rules and breaking hearts. Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But her love of trouble - and trouble with love - quickly draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways. Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts...and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?
18. "JACOB'S LADDER" by Z.A. Maxfield (St. Nacho's #3) (A++++) (Kindle) Jacob "Yasha" Livingston is having a bad day. First there is the head cold. Then the orgy, the fight and the hospital. Between that and the bus driver who ejects him - after accusing him of transmitting the Swine Flu - the rest of his day seems fairly vague. Now he's stuck in a small town called Santo Ignacio and he has a whole lot of thinking to do. One thing is, when fate speaks in the form of an EMT, maybe it's time to listen. One man in particular, EMT Jason "JT" Lents, with his shy smile and jade green eyes, seems more like an angel than a paramedic. But Jason has a date with a newer, prettier girl every night, despite the fact that he seems to return Yash's interest. What will make JT happy? If JT is afraid of his feelings it might be Yasha's chance to heal the healer. For this couple to find their way, it's up to Jacob, his new friends and the magic of St. Nacho's.
19. "THE SWEETEST THING" by Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor #2) (A++++) Two men are one too many. Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coasztal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a plan for her life. But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered...and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control - especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's luck, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.
20. "THE BOOK OF DANIEL" by Z.A. Maxfield (St. Nacho's #4) (A+++) (Kindle) Daniel Livingston is finally free. He's come clean about his passionless marriage and moved to St. Nacho's where he can spend time with his brother. Now he's ready to explore the endless sexual buffet being hot and rich and single has to offer. The problem is a firefighter named Cameron Rooney who haunts his every waking thought and half his dreams. No doubt about it. Cam is going to require a level of honesty Dan has never before considered and in order to achieve that, he will have to turn his life inside out. Coming clean to his ex-wife will cost him money, doing right by St. Nacho's will anger his business partner and exploring a painful family secret will hurt the one person Dan has sworn to protect. Cam's faith in Dan is tested and Dan's belief in himself is nearly non-existent. In the end, forging a new path could cost him everything or net him the most important score of his life.
21. "CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR" by Lisa Kleypas (Friday Harbor #1) (A++) One young girl needs a family. One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never spoken a word. One single man needs a wife. The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister's will gives him the instructions: There's no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow. Sometimes, it takes a little magic...Maggic Conroy doesn't believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic. To make dreams come true - Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible and when wishes have a way of finding the path home.
22. "ZACK - ARMED AND DANGEROUS" by Cheyenne McCray (Armed & Dangerous #1) (A+) Ever since bad boy Zack Hunter left her ten years ago, breaking her heart, Sky MacKenna hasn't been able to find a man who sets her on fire the way he did. Then he comes striding back into her life - bigger, badder and sexier than ever. Zack Hunter never thought his job as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent would lead him back to his small hometown and he never thought he's set eyes on Sky again. Leaving her behind had been the stupidest thing he had ever done, but this time he isn't going to let her go. And as soon as Zack lays eyes on Sky, he makes it clear that he intends tomake her his all over again. When Sky becomes entangled in the case he's investigating, Zack can't help but take the threat personally. As the danger mounts, their passion burns even hotter.
23. "SNOWBOUND" by Janice Kay Johnson (free PDF book from Harlequin) (A+++) When a blizzard strands Fiona MacPherson and her students in Oregon's Cascade Mountains, their only hope of survival is to seek shelter at Thunder Mountain Lodge. Their host is John Fallon, a handsome. enigmatic war veteran, haunted by secrets and scars that may never heal. John never imagined he'd be playing host to this captivating teacher and her eight teenage charges. But when his solitude is shattered by their arrival, his world shifts on its axis. He needs Fiona - but does she need him? There's only one way to find out. The ex-soldier must find the courage to reach out to the remarkable woman who has transformed his life.
24. "LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN" by Hope Ramsay (Last Chance #3) (A+++) Dear Reader, Gracious me, my beautiful daughter Rocky sure could use my help. I always knew she wasn't much interested in the local boys - but who'd have thought she'd come home with English royalty? Trouble is, Hugh wants to buy some of our folks' land. We don't want to sell, but Rocky's job depends on her closing the deal. And though Hugh's obviously smitten, I'm not sure he's right for my Rocky. Oh, he's classy and handsome - and you should've seen the way he judged pies and fixed stock cars at our Watermelon Festival! - but what do we know about him, really? I know I sound like a nervous mother hen, but after forty happy years with my Elbert, all I want is to see my little girl find the same. Well, time for me to quit chattering and get back to Miss Bray's wet set. Always nice talking to you, and remember: the Cut 'n Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee and the best gossip in town. See you real soon, Ruby Rhodes
25. " SHADOW'S STAND" by Sarah McCarthy (Hell's Eight #5) (A++++) Husband of convenience. Lover by choice. Shadow Ochoa is lying low in the western Kansas Territory, waiting for his fellow Texas Rangers - the Hell's Eight brotherhood - to clear his name. That is, until he's unjustly strung up for horse theiving...and pretty Fei Yen intervenes. Invoking a seldom-used law, the exotic lady prospetor claims Shadow as her husband and rides off with the bridegroom shackled to her buckboard. Savvy, fearless Fei is single-mindedly devoted to her hidden claim and all it promises: wealth, security and freedom. A husband is just a necessary inconvenience and a name on apaper to hold the claim she cannot. Shadow isn't a man to take orders from anyyone, especially from lovely Fei - except that the daily friction between them ignites into nightly blazes of all-consuming passion., Soon Shadow is dreaming a little himself: of the life they could have if only Fei could see past the lure of independence. If only bounty hunters weren't closing in on him. If only he's left standing when the impending showdown has ended.
26. "BACK ROADS" by Susan Crandall (Road #1) (A++++) Sensible, capable and always in control, Leigh Mitchell is the local sheriff of her sleepy Indiana home town. But Leigh is turning thirty and feeling restless. Something needs to change. She needs to change. So when a sexy stranger asks her to ride the Ferris wheel one moonlit night, she takes a leap of faith - and falls for Will Scott, dangerous serets and all. By turns passionate and tender, Will reveals little about his past and less about his future, even when the town suspects him of committing a terrible crime. Now on the uncertain back roads of life, take-charge Leigh must learn to let go...and trust not only the cold dictates of the law but the hot-blooded demands of her heart.
27. "LOST SOULS" by Lisa Jackson (Rick Bentz - New Orleans #6) (A+++) Twenty-seven-year-old Kristi Bentz is lucky to be alive. Not many people her age have nearly died twice at the hands of a serial killer and lived to tell about it. Her dad, New Orleans detective Rick Bentz, wants Kristi to stay in New Orleans and out of danger. But Kristi hasn't given up her dream of being a true-crime writer and now she just may get her chance. Four girls have disappeared at All Saints College in less than two years. All four were "lost souls" - troubled, vulnerable girls with no one to care about them, no one to come looking if they disappeared. Kristi decides to enroll, following their same steps. There are whispers of a dark cult on campus whose members wear vials of blood around their necks and meet in secret chambers. To find the truth, Kristi will need to become part of the cult's inner circle, to learn their secrets and play the part of lost soul without losing herself in the process. When the bodies finally begin to surface Kristi realizes with chilling clarity that she has underestimated her foe. She is playing a game with a killer more cunning and bloodthirsty than anyone can imagine, one who has personally selected her for membership in a cult of death from which there will be no escape.
28. "SOUTHERN DEVIL" by Diane Whiteside (Devil #3) (A++) Once an orphaned, starving, Confederate war veteran, Morgan Evans is now a wealthy man respected for his business acumen and his Southern manners. The perfect catch for any woman, only Jessamyn Tyler Evans holds his constant attention - ever since she derailed one of his spy missions by holding him hostage in her bed for days. But once Jessamyn spurned Morgan for his cousin, Morgan vowed that someday he would get his revenge Now Jessamyn has returned and payback has begun. Jessamyn is on the hunt for a legendary family treasure in the hills of Colorado. To get what she wants, the spirited widow needs a husband and Morgan Evans is only too happy to join her masquerade...for a price: she must submit to him, body and sul, surrendering herself to whatever he demands. It's a devil's bargain to be sure.
29. "DANGEROUS DESIRES" by Dee Davis (A-TAC #2) (A+++) A race for survival. Stranded in the Colombian jungle after a mission goes bad, Drake has only objective: evade the mercenaries hot on his trail and deliver "the package" to U.S. officials. But "the package" has a mind of her own and she has no intention of trading one set of captors for another. Madeline Reynard is beautiful, headstrong and hell-bent on escape after years as a crime lord's pawn. She'll risk everything for freedom, even if it means deceiving the dark, handsome operative who now holds her life in his hands. Drake has been burned too many times to let a woman manipulate him, especially a secretive one like Madeline. Even so, they cannot deny the attraction between them. Now as enemy forces close in, Drake and Madeline must trust each other with their lives - or face certain death.
30. "SUDDENLY SEXY" by Linda Francis Lee (Sexy #1) (A+++) When a legendary bad boy returns to town, Kate must summon her inner temptress. Kate Bloom's ordered world is turned upside down when notorious bad boy and superstar athlete Jesse Chapman comes home. Seeing him again reminds Kate of all the reasons she harbored a Texas-sized crush on him back when they were kids. But she isn't a little girl anymore...and she's ready to show this hell-raising playboy just how sexy she can be. After a reporter starts digging into his past, Jesse Chapman returns home looking for space. The last thing he needs is a distraction, but that's just what he gets when he sees his little Katie. Suddenly the girl next door is hot and sexy - and more than even this legendary ladies' man can handle.
31. "THE SUMMER GARDEN" by Sherryl Woods (Chesapeake Shores #9) (A++) Falling for "Maddening Moira" O'Malley was the unexpected highlight of Luke O'Brien's Dublin holiday. So when she pays a surprise visit to Chesapeake Shores, Luke is thrilled...at first. A fling with this wild Irish rose is one thing, but forever? Maybe someday, but not when he's totally focused on establishing a business that will prove his mettle to his overachieving family. Given Luke's reaction, Moira has some soul-searching of her own to do. Scarred by her father's abandonment, she wonders if Luke, with his playboy past, is truly the family man she longs for. Adding to her dilemma, she's offered a chance at a dream career of her own. Deep down, though, Moira knows home is the real prize and that love can be every bit as enchanted as a summer garden.
32. "HOME AT LAST" by Jerri Corigat (Love Finds a Home #3) (A+++)  (Kindle) The youngest daughter of the O'Malley clan, Marigold (Mari, returns to Cordelia, Missouri after her big city career took a lurch in the wrong direction, propelled by an affair with a married man. At home, she is enlisted by her sisters to take care of their mother, recovering from a heart attack and subsequent surgery. Mari's heart needs mending, too, though, and the tonic she finds is strong medicine - a relationship with a "bad boy" childhood friend. This book tells the story of many journeys home - not just Mari's, but that of the troubled children of Lilac and Jon.
33. "ALMOST SUMMER" by Susan Mallery (Fools Gold #6.2) (A+++) (Kindle) Ever since she was young, Paige McLean has longed to see the world. Still, she never imagined the world would land on her doorstep in the form of a charming British surgeon who needs a place to stay when his plans fall through. After a devastating loss, Alistair Woodbury has bowed to live his life alone. But in all his travels, he hasn't encountered a town as welcoming as Fool's Gold, nor a woman as caring - or as beautiful - as Paige. Her compassion warms him almost as much as their stolen kisses. When it's Alistair's time to leave, will his brief visit turn into a lifetime stay?

Currently Reading -

1. "Eight Days to Live" by Iris Johansen (Eve Duncan #9)
2. "Eden Burning" by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #5)

Currently Listening to -

1. "Celebrity in Death" by J.D. Robb (abridged audio CD) (In Death #34)

Currently Reading

The Lost Ones by Ace Atkins (Quinn Colson # 2)

Currently Listening to

Finished

1. 11th Hour by James Patterson (Women's Murder Club # 11)
2. Homeport by Nora Roberts
3. The American by Andew Britton (Ryan Kealey # 1)
4. Dance of Death by Preston and Child (Pendergast # 6)
5. The Renegades by T Jefferson Parker ( Charlie Hood # 2)
6. Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille (John Corey # 4)
7. The Lion by Nelson DeMille ( John Corey # 5)
8. Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson ( Alex Cross # 18)
9. The Book of The Dead by Preston & Child ( Pendergast # 7)

I've decided to read a few series in order. Some I've already started so the sequels will be next in line to read.  I just read Eve by I. Johansen and will be starting Quinn followed by  Bonnie.

Finished:    Eve by Iris Johansen --  If you've ever wondered how Eve Duncan's journey began, this is the book to read.  I didn't really like the first 100 pages, but know it had to be told that way for background.  Once I got past that part it is a real page-turner.  That's why I decided to read Quinn and Bonnie next. I have to find out...the rest of the story, then I can get back to the Eve Duncan series. 

Heart of the Sea by Nora Roberts  --- Continuing to finish series I'd started. This is the final book of Roberts' Irish trilogy. Interesting characters in the Gallaghers, 2 brothers and a sister, each book of the series highlights one of them...their lives, their loves. A fun read.

Quinn by Iris Johansen  --- 2nd in the series. I have to read Bonnie because this one left the reader hanging... I don't like when a book does that.  I'd planned on reading Bonnie next anyway, now there's no choice.  Quinn seemed a little contrived, not as well written as the other Iris Johansen/Eve Duncan books. A friend read Eve and thought the same thing. Interesting books, but not up to Johansen's normal writing.  Maybe other readers will feel differently.

Rosemary Remembered by Susan Wittig Albert  --- the 4th in the China Bayles series. A fun "cozy" with China solving another murder.

Bonnie by Iris Johansen, --- The 3rd in the series. This one was very involved, several twists in the plot, almost as if Johansen was afraid the reader would get tired of reading the book, so she had to keep adding a different dimension, a different plot twist, a different "bad guy".  Again, as in Quinn, the writing seemed stilted, hurried....not as well written as the Eve Duncan series.  If I hadn't wanted so badly to find out what really happened to Bonnie, I don't think I would have kept reading. And as with Eve & Quinn, other readers may really like this series.

Murdered, She Meowed by Rita Mae Brown  --- 5th in the Mrs. Murphy series.  Always a fun read with the cats and dog helping to solve the murders. 

The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson  --- 7th is the Goldy Shulz, caterer series. In this one Goldy's ex-husband, The Jerk, is accused of murder and as much as Goldy would love to see him sent to prison for the rest of his miserable life, she's trying to find proof that he didn't do it, because their son, Arch, doesn't want to see his dad in prison.  Always a fun series, lots of delicious recipes for those who like to cook.

The 5th Horseman by James Patterson  & Maxine Paetro -- One of the Women's Murder Club series and it's a real fast-paced, can't turn-the-pages-fast-enough thriller.  I read this book in one afternoon  A quick read, one of the best!

Cat & Mouse by James Patterson  --- One of the best in the Alex Cross series!  2 really evil men being pursued by Alex Cross and John Sampson, one is unexpected.

Reading now:     

Up next: 

Finished:

Checkout Girl Anna Sam

Clouds without rain PL Gaus

Remember Me? Sophie Kinsella

Blessed are the Cheesemakers Sarah-Kate Lynch

A Farmhouse in Provence Mary Henry

The Man who Quit Money Mark Sunden

Cleo Helen Brown

Booked to Die John Dunning

Emily & Einstein Linda Lee

Lowell The true story of an existential pig Gay Balliet

A Cold Day for Murder Dana Stabenow

Finished

• The Pursuit of Other Interests by Jim Kokoris
• The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Alder-Olsen
• Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray
• Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje

Currently Reading

• They Eat Puppies Don't They by Christopher Buckley
• My Old True Love by Sheila Adams

Listening To

• Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

I just started "A Medieval Home Campanion, Housekeeping in the 14th Century", I picked it up yesterday on a whim, it is facinating.  Should be quick read.  I just got Fall of Giants in the mail last night, so I may start that next.

Currently Reading

• Relic by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Finished

1. Mount Dragon by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child  (started this 6/29/2012 but finished 7/1/2012
2. The Associate by John Grisham
3. Neanderthal by John Darnton
4. Through Violet Eyes by Stephen Woodworth

Finished

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain - Another memoir, lots of inside information about well known chefs and restaurants, lots of rants and raves. You either love Anthony or hate him, he's very intense and doesn't sugarcoat anything. One of the chapters is called 'Alan Richman is a douchbag', and in it he tells us in complete details why this man is a douchbag. He has some pretty firm opinions about a lot of other people too, and he's usually right. 

To Storm Heaven by Esther Friesner - A Star Trek TNG novel. I liked this one, it was a compelling story and interested me from the very beginning. There was only one misstep, Guinan makes a brief appearance at the end of the book and it sounds nothing like her. The rest of it was fine though, the characters are pretty true although they are mostly secondary in the story. It is a story about one world keeping another world in the dark as unevolved religion ruled ruled people who know nothing of the rest of the universe. They are stopping them from progressing by covertly kidnapping anyone who is overly intelligent and has a head for invention. Now you know Star Fleet cannot let that happen, Prime Directives are made to be bent. 

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman- Finished my first Kindle book! I'm not a big fantasy reader anymore but this was a compelling adventure story. I enjoyed it.

Mrs Fry's Diary by Mrs Stephen Fry - It started on Twitter, one of Stephen's followers called themselves Mrs Stephen Fry and they turned out to be quite witty themselves. It was very entertaining, they are very funny. I know Stephen enjoyed the hell out of it, it's just his kind of humor. In Mts Fry's world Stephen is a window washer who disappears for days on end down to the pub and ends up with mysterious stamps in his passport. Like he leads his celebrity life completely secret from his family. All her friends are the "wives' of other gay celebrities. It was very enjoyable. 

Sticks and Scones by Diane Mott Davidson - A cozy mystery. It was again a little too nice for me. There was one part near the beginning where someone was hurt and there was a bunch of praying and religious stuff, I almost had to set it aside but it didn't keep up. I'm used to Scandinavian crime drama, which is dark and damaged and brutal. This seemed like the kind of thing your grandma would read. Too much explaining and not enough revealed in the events too, most stuff that was detailed was banal and the clues were mostly just told rather than discovered. It was my first foray into a cozy and probably my last. It wasn't terrible just not for me. I did like how the recipes were scattered throughout it, I made one of them already and plan to try another. 

Broken by Karin Fossum - The last book of hers I read was brilliant, this one not so much. It was boring and redundant and I had a hard time making myself finish it. Up until about 80% (I read it on the kindle) it sucked. The ending picked up and was alright but man the rest of it was terrible. Nothing happened, except a bunch of whining. It was really a shame too because the idea was so clever. The chapters alternate between the author being bothered by the lead character come to life, trying to find out what happens to him and trying to steer his own story, and the actual story. It should have been really good but all they do is whine and complain about how pathetic they are. 

Down Among The Dead Men by Michelle Williams - A memoir of a 30 year old woman's first year working in a Gloucestershire, England mortuary. I got this book on my kindle knowing nothing but the title so I didn't realize it was a British book which is not a bad thing but it did mean the book wasn't quite about what I thought it would be. Apparently what they call a mortuary in England we call a morgue, so this is set in a hospital morgue not a funeral home. I learned there are quite a few differences in the ways we handle our dead. What they call the coroner is a judge who determines the cause of death in a courtroom from the reports and if needed testimony of the people who were involved in handling the body but never sees or touches a body themselves while what we call the coroner is the person who goes to the scene and does the autopsy themselves and then reports to a judge if a legal determination is needed. They also bring bodies from accidents and murder scenes into the regular hospital morgue instead of having a separate one. This is not a book for the faint hearted, if you don't wish to know exactly how they remove the organs from a body still attached to each other in one long piece then this isn't the book for you. Ms Williams is no writer, most people have done better work in high school essays, and her life outside of her job is boring as can be but she still has to go on about it a bit, but she does have some pretty interesting things to say about her profession. Overall I enjoyed the book and learned a lot of interesting stuff. 

My Shit Life So Far by Frankie Boyle - Not one of those "I have feelings too" autobiographies but if you know the British comedian at all you wouldn't expect it to be. If you're not familiar with him he is an often controversial, brash comedian who has no filter. He is funny but he is also pretty harsh. Like a lot of comedians his story is told mostly by his career path, not too much of any depth into himself as a person. Very little about even relationships. Even talking about having a daughter he only mentions the mother casually and not much about the child either, maybe a paragraph all together. There is talk of sex but not relationships. I have read a lot of comedian's memoirs and they are typically like this, comedians are not usually the kind to divulge much about themselves. Kind of odd really, but you really have to be to be a decent comedian. 

Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern - The Twitter thing was funny but this book suffers from Saturday Night Live movie syndrome - what is funny in small doses rarely transfers to a longer format. Luckily it was a quick read but it wasn't nearly as fun as the Twitter exerpts. Explaining the background of a funny statement usually ruins the funniness. It is really amazing how many times an educated man can say shit in his life, the title really is very fitting. If you don't like swearing you won't like this book. Every other word out of the guys mouth, just seems funny from someone in his profession - the dad in question is a research oncologist. Hmm, maybe I need to find some books that don't have the word 'shit' in the title. 

Juliet, Naked by Nick Nornby - I'm a big Hornby fan so I've read several of his books, this wasn't the best of the lot. It was alright but seemed to lack his usual insight. The ending was compelling, I was up until 2:30 am because I had to finish before I could go to bed, but overall not a keeper like some of his others. 

Through Violet Eyes by Stephen Woodworth - An original concept but average writing. There were parts that were a little suspenseful but overall not very complicated. I was surprised by a turn near the ending, it went somewhere most writers don't dare and the book prior wasn't exactly innovative. In general nothing that stands out. I will probably remember the original concept for some time, it would be really cool if there were people with this ability, but the writing was just....average and aside from that one twist pretty predictable. 

I am currently enthralled with Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens. A drama with a bit of historical fiction in the flashback parts. 

I haven't found a page turner like this in years!

Started: Hope: A Tragedy~Shalom Auslander: Hilarious!! Philosophical husband and beleagured father Solomon Kugel moves his family to the country and discovers that he has one decrepit but famous Holocaust "survivor" in his attic (Guess Who???) I only got toread 1/2 from the library copy (as usual,sigh) but now that I have a Kindle, I plan to finish it!!

Cat's Eye~Margeret Atwood: I have been intending to get intot his for a long time, Atwood is a fave of mine!

The Thirteenth Tale~Diane Setterfeld: Just what I like, a book about a book, looks very satisfying!

The City of Shadows~Ariana Franklin: Love her characters and humor so far! Great historical fiction about finding the "real" Anastasia!

Finished: L is for Lawless~Sue Grafton: great story about a 40 yearold bank hiest and the hunt for the money, lots of suspense and chase scenes! One of Grafton's best!!

Next up: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks~Rebecca Skloot:For my monthly reading group Looks very intriguing, good Lake reading!

R is for Ricochet~Sue Grafton: Another Grafton

I'm now reading The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and a lesser known ghostwriter.  Supposed to be a post-apocalyptic vampire / zombie trilogy but have found more than one implausible plot points, so I doubt I'll read the whole series.  Good for giggles.

For fun I am reading Runabout by Pamela Morsi  and for a memoir I am reading the Autobiography of an Recovering SkinHead by Frank Meeink.  My other book for this week is a Western  The Hell Riders by Mark Henry.  I am getting ready to start Cutting for Stone..  

Currently reading: 

I Wish I were Engulfed in Flames by Jeni Decker

Finished:

Don't Let me go by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Sugar Crash by Elena Aitken

Blacklisted from the PTA by Lela Davidson

Bridesmaid Lotto by Rachel Astor

Slim to None by Jenny Gardiner

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

PHANTOM by Jo Nesbo

The New Harry Hole Thriller

Sunday bumping

Recently Finished: Redeeming Love  and If I Stay and Seahorse in the Thames

Currently reading -  Shadow of the Wind  

Becasue I just drove to and from the beach I have made some progress listing to  Echo in the Bone

I'm reading  "The Enchantment Emporium" by Tanya Huff. It's really good and different!