My Reading List - October 2012

FINISHED - 

1. "SWEET SURRENDER" by Maya Banks (Sweet #1) (A++++) Under Faith Malone's deceptively soft exterior lies a woman who knows exactly what she wants: a strong man who'll take without asking - because she's willing to give him everything. Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission: find the guy who killed his partner and bring him to justice. So far, he's found a link between the killer and Faith - and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it. Faith is sweet and feminine, everything Gray wants and desires in a woman, but he suspects she's playing games. No way would she allow a man to call the shots in their relationship. Or would she? Faith sees in Gray the strong, dominant man she needs, but he seems determined to keep her at a distance. So she takes matters into her own hands to prove to him it's no game she's playing. She's willing to surrender to the right man. Gray would like to be that man. But catching his partner's killer has to be his first priority - until Faith is threatened and Gray realizes he will do anything to protect her.
2. "THE HEART MENDER: THE STORY OF SECOND CHANCES" by Andy Andrews (A+++++) While digging up a withering wax myrtle tree beside his waterfront home on the Gulf Coast, author Andy Andrews unearths a rusted metal container filled with Nazi artifacts and begins an intriguing investigation that unlocks an unspoken past that took place in his backyard...literally. In the summer of 1942, as the country gears up for a full-scale commitment to WWII, German subs are dispatched to the Gulf of Mexico to sink U.S. vessels carrying goods and fuel for the war. While taking a late-night walk along the coastline, Helen Mason - recently widowed by the realities of war - discovers the near-lifeless body of a German sailor. Enraged at the sight of Josef Landermann's uniform, Helen is prepared to leave the lieutenant to die when an unusual phrase, faintly uttered, changes her mind. Set in a period simmering with anger and suspicion, The Heart Mender offers the very real chronicle of a small town preparing itself for the worse the world has to offer. As cargo from torpedoed ships begins to wash up on the beach, Josef and Helen must reconcile their pasts in order to create a future. Blending his unique style of historical accuracy with unparalleled storytelling, Andy Andrews offers a tale of war, faith and forgiveness - illuminating the one principle that frees the human spirit.
3. "CHRISTMAS IN SUGARCREEK" by Shelley Shepard Gray (Seasons of Sugarcreek #4) (A+++) Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her oldest brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she's watched her younger siblings, helped around the house and worked in her family's store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked and underappreciated this holiday season. But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox. Ben Knox is the "bad boy" of Sugarcreek. Though he's never considered jumping the fence, he's certainly never tried to be anything close to dutiful. Two years ago he left Sugarcreek under a cloud of shame. Rumors circulated that his rumspringa had been filled with more than the usual harmless explorations. Now he's back and working side by side with Judith. As the chaos of the holiday season threatens to sap all joy, sparks fly between Ben and Judity. But Judith steels herself to ignore her infatuation. The last thing she wants to be is just one more girl who falls under Ben's spell. Ben, on the other hand, wants Judith to realize there's more to him than his bad reputation. When he fled Sugarcreek, he was running from a disruptive home life. Now that he's back, he wants a fresh beginning. Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?
4. "THAT THING CALLED LOVE" by Susan Andersen (Razor Bay/Bradshaw Brothers #1) (A++++) He's the last man on earth she should want. For a guy she's fantasized about throttling, Jake Bradshaw sure is easy on the eyes. In fact, he seriously tempts inn manager Jenny Salazar to put her hands to better use. Except this is the guy who left Razor Bay - and his young son, Austin, whom Jenny adores like her own - to become a globe-trotting photojournalist. He can't just waltz back and claim Austin now. Jake was little more than a kid himself when he became a dad. Sure, he'd dreamed of escaping the resort town, but he'd also truly believed that Austin was better off with his grandparents. Now he wants - no, needs - to make up for his mistake. He intends to stay in Razor Bay only until he can convince Austin to return with him to New York. Trouble is, with sexy, protective, utterly irresistible Jenny in his life and his bed, he may never want to leave.
5. "INSTANT ATTRACTION" by Jill Shalvis (Wilder Adventures #1) (A++++) Get wild...and then get wilder. Accountant Katie Kramer the quintessential good girl - working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn't fit in anywhere. That's all she wants. Well, that - and amazing sex and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she's crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed - that part defies explanation. After wandering the planet for months following a life-changing accident, Cameron Wilder has come back to the only home he knows. Under other circumstances, he might be thrilled to find a gorgeous woman sleeping in his cabin, but now, while he'll risk his body taking clients on adrenaline-drenched excursions, his heart is off limits. Still, Katie's killer smile triggers something deep in his gut...among other places. Showing her how exhilarating it can be to stop balancing her life as if it was a checkbook is the biggest rush he's ever felt - and an adventure Katie's wishing would never end.
6. "THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CLUB" by Ann Pearlman (unabridged Audio CD) (A+++) The most important ingredient is love. Mark your calendar. It's the Christmas Cookie Club! Every year on the first Monday of December, Marnie and her twelve closest girlfriends gather in the evening with batches of beautifully wrapped homemade cookies. Everyone has to bring a dish, a bottle of wine and their stories. This year, the stories are especially important. Marnie's oldest daughter has a risky pregnancy. Jeannie's father is having an affair with her best friend. Rosie's husband doesn't want children and she has to decide whether or not that's a deal breaker for the marriage. Taylor's life is in financial freefall. Each woman, each friend has a story to tell and they are all interwoven, just as their lives are. The Christmas Cookie Club is about the paths Marnie and her friends have traveled, the absolute joy they take in life and love despite the decisions they've regretted, the hard choices and amends they've had to make and the sacrifices along the way. Ultimately, The Christmas Cookie Club is every woman's story. As you get to know Marnie and her friends, you'll see yourself and some of the ingredients of your own story. Celebrating courage and joy in spite of hard times and honoring the importance of women's friendships as well as the embracing bonds of community.
7. "SAMURAI GAME" by Christine Feehan (GhostWalkers #10) (A++++) In an underground club, a high-ranking public official spends his secret nights indulging in fantasies as exciting as they are depraved. For a seductive employee of the Dungeon, it's her job to fulfill them. But she's playing a far more dangerous game - one of blackmail, politics and murder - that reaches into the shadow world of the GhostWalkers and the creation of a spectacular, one-of-a-kind new weapon of defense. But when a dictator makes his own catastrophic moves, the GhostWalkers have no choice but to bring in two major players - a man and woman both driven by passion and revenge. Both are expendable. Both have nothing left to lose.
8. "LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER" by Toni Blake (A++++) The last thing she needs right now is a man. Lindsey Brooks had it all - an awesome job doling out advice to the lovelorn, a fabulous high-rise apartment and a to-die-for fiance. But then she got dumped - wearing nothing but a "Kiss the Cook" apron - and desperate to escape, she retreats to a tiny Montana town to reclaim a family treasure. She never dreamed anyone would try to stop her - or that he'd be sexy as sin. Too bad she finds such a hot one. Rob Colter isn't into relationships - but Lindsey sees Rob as the perfect guy to help her "get back on the horse." The sex horse, that is. Unfortunately, he comes complete with a mysterious past, which gets even more mysterious when she finds his passionate letters to another woman - whose name happens to be tattooed on his chest. And too bad he has so many secrets. Now Rob's dangerous past is about to catch up with them both. And if that's not horrible enough, Lindsey is falling for him - hard. For a girl who usually has all the answers, Lindsey is up to her neck in trouble.
9. "LAID OPEN" by Lauren Dane (Brown Siblings #5) (A+++) All she needed to pack was a few bikinis, a toothbrush and some sunscreen. That's what Ben told Erin when he presented her and Todd with tickets to Fiji and the promise of ten days of nothing but sleeping until whenever they wanted, sex without having to close the door and lots of alone time. And that's what they have. Long days and nights filled with pleasure. Long enough that the stress and exhaustion drops away and the three can simply enjoy each other. They've got heat. More than ever before. Recharging their batteries has also brought new levels of intimacy and connection. But when Erin stumbles over the pain of her past, both men band together to not only help her through, but to help each other as well.
10. "THE WAY BACK HOME" by Barbara Freethy (A+++) In the small California town of River Rock, the river is always there - sometimes unpredictable and wild, sometimes a source of comfort, always a part of life. Former Marine Gabe Ryder is fulfilling the last request of his best friend, Rob, who was killed in a firefight during their last days of service. He promised to help Rob's family - especially Rob's twin sister, Alicia - with their struggling river rafting business. Gabe has a hidden past with Alicia, thought. She's the woman who taught him that love might exist, yet he walked away from her. Alicia has more than enough on her plate with her brother's death, her father's injury from a tragic rafting accident, the entire town turning against them and a series of dangerous attacks on her business. She doesn't need this rugged loner who broke her heart. But passion flares between them, and this time, they can't walk away. Alicia can't help wondering: did Rob really send Gabe to watch over her - or did he want her to show Gabe the way home?
11. "WILLOW BEND" by Ally Blue (A+++) Can two men from different worlds cut the ties binding them to heartaches past and present and make a life together? For Paul Gordon, the little town of Willow Bend, South Carolina is the perfect place to start over. A place where he can move on after his lover's death, alone and anonymous. Cory Saunders is just trying to survive. Between working two jobs and caring for his ailing mother, it's all he can do to keep his head above water. When Paul and Cory meet, their mutual attraction is undeniable. When the intense physical attraction starts to blossom into something deeper, neither wants to admit to what's happening. Cory doesn't have time for a relationship and Paul isn't sure he's ready for one. But sometimes, what you thought you couldn't have turns out to be exactly what you needed.
12. "JUST DOWN THE ROAD" by Jodi Thomas (Harmony #4) (A++++) When Tinch Turner lost his wife, he gave up on living. Now he spends his nights brooding, boozing and brawling. When one of his escapades lands him in the ER, he finds himself staring up at the beautiful new doctor in town. For the first time in years, he feels a spark, but Addison Spencer wants nothing to do with the unruly rancher - or any man for that matter. She's only going to be in Harmony for four months, long enough for the trouble she left behind to settle down. But then a vulnerable little boy barrels into both their lives, forcing them out of the past - and into a future where love is just down the road. In the meantime, as Reagan Truman grieves for her beloved uncle, she finds comfort in the makeshift family she's made in Harmony - and in a new baby, the first in the Wright Funeral Home in forty-five years, proving that life goes on.
13. "PLEASURE BOUND" by Opal Carew (A+++) When Marie meets Zeke - a tattooed, motorcycle-riding bad boy with a body built for sin - she's swept up in a torrid affair that rocks her world. He's so different from the dependable Mr. Nice Guy types she'd always dated in the past - and after a few nights in his arms, she vows never to go back. Little does she know that her best friend, Ty, the quintessential Mr. Nice Guy, is gearing up to make his move and finally admit his true feelings for her. When Ty learns that Marie thinks he's "too nice" for her, he sets out to prove that he can be the overpowering Dominant she wants and overwhelm her senses in ways Zeke never could. What Marie never expected to discover is that Zeke and Ty share a secret history together. A secret history that changes everything she thought she knew about them - a past that went far beyond the bounds of friendship. Now both men, together, are about to take Marie beyond the bounds of pleasure...and into a world of soul-shattering ecstasy.
14. "SWEET LAUREL FALLS" by RaeAnne Thayne (Hope's Crossing #3) (A++++) Love knows no season. Spring should bring renewal, but Maura McKnight-Parker cannot escape the past. Still reeling from the loss of one daughter, the former free spirit is thrown for a loop by the return of her older daughter, Sage, and the reappearance of her first love, Sage's father. Jackson Lange never knew his daughter - never even knew that he'd left the love of his life pregnant when he fled their small town - but he as never forgotten Maura. Now they are all back, but Sage has her own secret, one that will test the fragile bonds of a reunited family. Thrown together by circumstances and dedicated to those they love, Maura and Jackson must learn to move forward and let go of the mistakes of their past for the bright future that awaits them and their friends in Hope's Crossing.
15. "THE DEVIL'S OWN" by Sandra Brown (unabridged Audio CD) (A+++) From the start, Kerry Bishop anticipated danger: She expected unimaginable fear. In a terrifying race to save nine children, she prepared for the fight of her life. But she wasn't prepared for a passion almost as dangerous as the mission she had undertaken. At the first, Linc O'Neil appeared to be exactly the kind of man Kerry needed: strong, ruthless and definitely too drunk to care about helping her steal a truck to get past the guards. Then she discovered her mistake. Linc was not a hardened mercenary; the heavy gear he carried was not guns but cameras. She had hijacked a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. Now he was their last hope. Dependent on a stranger, Kerry refused to let unexpected desire complicate their mission. If Linc had the mistaken impression that she was a woman of the church, she was not about to correct him. Certainly, it kept him at arm's length, which was just where she wanted this man who, despite his bad attitude and constant stream of threats, was their one chance for survival through fifty miles of treacherous jungle. And survival was all they could think about. But if they succeeded, what then? Could Kerry tell him the truth: that she was no more a woman sworn to chastity than she was immune to the powerful effect he had on her? That she desired him more and more? If freedom came, would they be free to love?
16. "A FOOL'S GOLD CHRISTMAS" by Susan Mallery (Fool's Gold #10) (A++++) The unrelenting cheer in Fool's Gold, California, is bringing out the humbug in dancer Evie Stryker. She learned early on that Christmas miracles don't happen, at least not for her. And this year seems like no exception. An injury has forced her to return to the family fold, no matter that they're estranged. She won't add to the awkward scenario by being seduced by the bad-boy charms of her brother's best friend, the last man she should ever want to date. Even when she's recruited to stage the Fool's Gold winter festival, she vows to do as promised, them move forward with her life anywhere but here. Jaded lawyer Dante Jefferson is getting used to the backwater town he now reluctantly calls home, but the pounding of little dancers' feet above his temporary office is more than any man should have to take! When he confronts their gorgeous teacher, he's unprepared for the attraction that sears him down to the soul. Evie is his best friend's sister - off-limits unless he's willing to rish hi heart. Dante has always believed that love is the most dangerous force in the universe, but that was before he had to reckon with the magic of a certain small town, where miracles do seem to happen.
17. "CAN'T HURRY LOVE" by Molly O'Keefe (Crooked Creek Ranch #2) (A++++) Victoria Baker, the penniless widow of a disgraced fiancier, is ready to stand up, be counted and make a new life for herself and her beloved son in Texas. She's taking over Crooked Creek ranch, her birthright, and turning it into something special. All that stands in her way is Eli Turnbull, a rugged, too-handsome cowboy who wants the land just as badly. If Victoria wants a fight, Eli will give her one. He's devoted his life to Crooked Creek and he's not about to let some pampered city girl - even one as brave and beautiful as Victoria - turn it into some silly spa. But Victoria's and Eli's burning anger and frustration only fuel heat of another kind: uncontrollable passion. And soon they each realize that the person standing in their way is the one they can never do without.
18. "CALL ME WILD" by Robin Kaye (Wild Thing #2) (A++++) She doesn't know a single thing about relationships. Unemployed sportswriter Jessie James plans to make a killing writing a bestselling romance novel. She's never read one, but really, how hard can it be? Moving cross-country to a borrowed house in Idaho, Jessie starts her research with the first gorgeous guy she runs into. Luckily, he knows everything. Sports doctor Fisher Kincaid notices Jessie right away - the transplanted Easterner sticks out like a sore thumb in the small town. When he discovers she's researching attraction and romance, he graciously offers himself as a test subject. That's when everything starts to go wrong and they both find out how much they need a few good lessons in love.
19. "SIMPLY SEXY" by Linda Francis Lee (Sexy #3) (A+++) When life goes awry for wild and sexy Julia Boudreaux, she packs up her stiletto heels and swears off guys who spell nothing but trouble. And to keep her job in television, she decides to create a TV hit - a makeover show. She's going to turn rugged West Texas men into sensitive guys. Easier pitched than done. Undercover cop Ben Prescott is so sexy it hurts. Back in Julia's orbit after a brush with a bullet, Ben steers clear of the woman who used to set his blood on fire. She's changed from Mae West to Mother Teresa and she's trying to turn him into a sensitive guy. But when life heats up, will this rugged hunk risk everything for a woman who's about to lose it all?
20. "IT HAPPENS EVERY SPRING" by Catherine Palmer & Gary Chapman (Four Seasons #1) (A+++) Word travels fast at the Just As I Am beauty shop. So when a simple homeless man appears on Steve and Brenda Hansen's doorstep, the entire shop is set abuzz, especially when Brenda lets him sleep on their porch. That's not all the neighbors are talking about. Spring is blooming outdoors, but an icy chill has settled over the Hansens' marriage. Steve is keeping late hours with clients and the usually upbeat Brenda is feeling the absence of her husband and her college-age kids. Add to that the unsavory business moving in next to the beauty shop and the entire community gets turned upside down. Now Brenda's friends must unite to pull her out of her rut and keep the unwanted store out of town. But can Steve and Brenda learn to thaw their chilly marriage and enjoy the hope spring offers?
21. "SARAH'S CHILD" by Linda Howard (A+++) A tragic accident took everything that mattered to Rome Matthews - his wife, Diana and their two little boys. And it robbed Sarah Harper of her best friend. In the two years after the tragedy, Sarah wanted nothing more than to reach out to Rome. But she knew it was vital she stay away, guarding the secret she had kept from him and Diana all those years - that she was in love with her best friend's husband. But now Rome needs her. He wants to lose himself in the passion he feels for Sarah. Knowing he is trapped by a grief that won't let go and desperate to help him escape his pain, she willingly gives him what he so desperately craves. Though another woman will hold his heart forever, Sarah agrees to be his wife, know that everything has a price, including love. It is a price she is willing to pay, but one that will demand all of her courage and her heart. Then something totally unexpected rekindles her hidden hope that a marriage of convenience will become a union of love. Now it all comes down to her husband. Will Rome keep fighting his own growing need for a woman who dares him to believe there are second chances in life...or will he give in to the power of love and miracles?
22. "FOOLS RUSH IN" by Kristan Higgins (A+++) Millie Barnes is this close to finally achieving her perfect life. Rewarding job as a local doctor on Cape Cod? Check. Cute cottage of her very own? Check. Adorable puppy suitable for walks past attractive locals? Check! All she needs is for golden boy and former crush Joe Carpenter to notice her and Millie will be set. But perfection isn't as easy as it looks - especially when Sam Nickerson, a local policeman, is so distracting. Sure, he needs a friend after being dumped by Millie's fortune-hunting sister, but does she really need to enjoy his company that much? He is definitely not part of her master plan. But maybe it's time for Millie to start a new list.
23. "RENEGADE" by Catherine Mann (Dark Ops #3) (A+++) Tech Sergeant Mason "Smooth" Randolph lives to push boundaries - whether by bucking his wealthy family's expectations and joining the air force or by working outside the box on top secret flight projects. But he never could have anticipated how far outside the box he would land when an in-flight accident sends him parachuting into Nevada's notorious Area 51 - and into the handcuffs of sexy security cop Jill Walczak. As a member of a covert surveillance force, Jill is searching for a serial killer inside the air force - and the last thing she needs is some rebel aviator threatening her case. However, the smoky cloud Mason flew through during his parachute landing may have been toxic fallout from biochemical experiments - forcing Jill into quarantine with the reckless flyboy. Now, Jill has to keep her eye on Mason, without getting distracted by the growing passion between them and find the assassin before he ends her investigation, permanently.
24. "NIGHTJOHN" by Gary Paulsen (A+++) Sarny, a female slave at the Waller plantation, first sees Nightjohn when he is brought there with a rope around his neck, his body covered in scars. He had escaped north to freedom, but he came back - to teach reading. Knowing that the penalty for reading is dismemberment, Nightjohn still returned to slavery to teach others how to read. And twelve-year-old Sarny is willing to take the risk to learn.

Currently Reading -

1. "The Land of Painted Caves" by Jean M. Auel (Earth's Children #6)
2. "Animal Magnetism" by Jill Shalvis (Animal Magnetism #1)

Currently Listening to -

1. "Then Came You" by Jennnifer Weiner (unabridged Audio CD)

1. finishing up "the artists way" by julia cameron (highly recommend)

2. not sure. thinking of rereading an old favorite??

3. crickets in the background

Finished

• Dog Stars by Peter Heller 
• City of Women by David Gillham
• Heft by Liz Moore
• Lean on Pete by Willy Vlautin
• The Dangerous Edge of Things by Tina Whittle
• The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian

Currently Reading

• Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
• The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg
• The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay
• The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore

Listening To

• Juliet in August by Dianne Warren

Reading:

Dead in the Water Dana Stabenow

Finished:

The Bucolic Plague Josh Kilmer-Purcell

The Piano Teacher Lynn York

Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance Martin Gurden

Ravens George Dawes Green

Long Road Home Mary Alice Monroe

Playing with Fire Gordon Ramsey

Please Don't Feed the Daisy Beverly West

Cheap Cabarnet Cathie Beck

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady Denise Swanson

Finished: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters  ---  I really enjoy the Amelia Peabody series once I get back into the language of the Victorian era.  It does tend to be a little overwhelming at times. But the characters are fun, especially the precocious son, Ramses. You've got to love that little kid!!  The plots are involved and always revolve around archaeology, primarily in Egypt digging in the ancient tombs and pyramids. Peters knows her subject since she has a Ph.D. in Egyptology....makes for interesting reading.

 Fireside by Susan Wiggs  --- Susan Wiggs writes a heart-warming series, The Lakeshore Chronicles.  This is the 5th in the series and is about Bo Crutcher, a baseball hopeful who finds himself caring for a young son he hasn't met before and meeting a woman who ends up helping him, not only with his son, but also his baseball career.  A fun read.

Running Scared by Elizabeth Lowell  --- A continuation of the Rarities series.  Lowell always writes a page-turner, this one deals with Las Vegas, the powerful men and women who run the casinos and Celtic gold...those who covet it, those who protect it and those who will kill for it.

 A Superior Death by Nevada Barr  -- Second in the Anna Pigeon series,  this time Anna is serving as a US National Park Service ranger on Lake Superior and becomes involved in the investigation into the death of a man found drowned in Lake Superior.  Always an interesting read, not only from the mystery stand-point, but from the workings of the park service and descriptions of the locale.

Shark Island by Joan Druett  --- I picked this book up at a used book sale at a library one day when I needed something to read and didn't have a book with me.  What a surprise!! I read this book in just a few hours and really enjoyed it. Druett writes about the 19th-century   U.S. South Seas Exploring Expedition , which actually took place, and interspersed a riveting mystery, [fictitious] into it.  Her knowledge of sailing, shiping and nautical facts make for a very enjoyable read. This is the 2nd of the Wiki Coffin series and I'm going to try to find the first one. 

Shiver by Lisa Jackson  --- This is all a reader could want in a tense, well-written thriller.  It keeps you guessing until the very last pages as to who the killer is with interesting characters, [some from previous books by Jackson] but not so tied to other story-lines that the reader loses interest. A real page-turner as are all her New Orleans based books.

Grievous Sin by Faye Kellerman  -- Number 6 in the Peter Decker, Rina Lazarus series.   Kellerman writes with authority about the Jewish lifestyle along with a well-plotted mystery.  I always enjoy her books.

Orchid Blues by Stuart Woods  --- It had been awhile since I read the 1st Holly Barker novel, Orchid Beach, but this one didn't really need that background to be enjoyable.  I like the way Woods writes, short chapters, but still building characterization and plot.  All and all a very enjoyable read...looking forward to the rest of Holly's story in the next Orchid books.

Firefly Beach by Luanne Rice  ---  A wonderful, heart-warming story about family relationships, between mother and daughters, sister to sister and even brother to brother.  Rice really knows how to develop a story and draw the reader into the characters' lives.  Wouldn't hurt to have a couple hankies ready!!

Cat on the Scent by Rita Mae Brown --- The Mrs. Murphy series is always a fun read.  This time Mrs. Murphy, T. Tucker and Pewter help in another murder investigation and even astound their "Mom", "Harry" Minor with some unbelieable feats.

 Mrs. Pollifax on Safari by Dorothy Gilman  --- For a truly well-written mystery, you really can't beat Dorothy Gilman and the Mrs. Pollifax series.  Each one is a fun, fast read that keeps the reader turning pages, trying to see how Mrs. Pollifax is going to get out of this one!  This is one feisty lady...love to see an older heroine that's able to match wits with the "baddies" of this world. Highly recommend this series, but start with the first one, it's a hoot!

Currently Reading: ---

 Up Next:  still deciding

Finished

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson - Kind of different mystery about a woman who has amnesia which renews itself every time she goes to sleep, she never knows at what life stage she is going to wake up remembering. She may wake up being a child in her mind while in reality she is 47. They can explain it to her but she forgets every night when she sleeps. As she starts getting back little bits of memory and the story starts to not make sense to her you start to see there is something else entirely going on. I figured it out before she did but it was still a really enjoyable story.

Daughters-In-Law by Joanna Trollope - A little sloce of life story about a family with 3 sons and the women they marry. Not my usual style but it didn't completely suck, lol. No surprises, no revelations, just a little story. 

The Physick Book Of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe - about the connection between a woman killed in the Salem witch trials and a modern day history scholar. Kind of a mystery, pretty accurate in the facts, it was an interesting book. The author is a descendant of 2 of the women killed at Salem and wanted to write the book from the perspective of 'what if there really were witches in Salem'. It just steps over the border into fantasy, I would have enjoyed it more if she kept it to the possible, but it's not too fantastic. 

And Be A Villain by Rex Stout - Nero Wolfe book, smaller, not as complex as usual but still fun.

Dear Lupin by Roger Mortimer -  It's basically letters from a concerned father to his aimless, somewhat slacker, son. Nothing overly interesting or profound, a couple of good quotes but that's about it.

Does Anyone Have A Problem With That? by Bill Maher - Exerpts from his show Politically Incorrect, a lot of which hold true today but since the shows referenced here were taped from 93-94 a lot is out of date too. You have to keep thinking back to what was going on 20 years ago. 

The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx - Apparently Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue kept a diary during a year at the height of his addiction issues, while on tour with the band. Any book that starts out with quotes from most of the people who know you saying what an ass you are has got to be good right? Well, it was ok. The diary entries are scattered with current statements from people, a lot of them from Denise Matthews who used to be Vanity in those days. OMG what a freakin nut, she's worse now that she's sober. She calls herself an evangelist and some of the shuff she spouts, just insane. That is one messed up chick, she should write her own book. Maybe not, they would probably commit her. 

Black Skies by Arnaldur Indridason - Icelandic crime mystery, I really liked it. Can't wait to read some more of his. It gave me the impression that Icelandic cops are a little lawless and the crime pretty bad, it's not a country you hear much about so I have no idea if it's like that or not. The book was published after the country went broke but it's written as if it's predicting what will happen. Part of the crime involves shady banking and the end result they were saying could happen is pretty much what happened, whether he wrote it ahead of time and was a great predictor or wrote it afterwards and it's his take on what happened I don't know. 

If You Liked School You'll Like Work by Irvine Welsh - A collection of stories. Very diverse themes and genres, there's one that ends with a horror aspect. Didn't see that ending coming until the last minute! Quite a good collection, showing his great range of abilities. There were some typical Scotland set stories, not the usual cast of characters but the same dialect, but at least half were very different. Mostly set in America. He must have spent some time here, they were very true to form in story if some of the dialog (especially the one set around LA) was kind of stereotypical. 

Salem's Lot by Stephen King - King is a good writer but he does go on. Long book that didn't need to be so long, too much background info for incidental characters. If someone is going to be an active part of the story for 3 minutes they don't need a whole chapter of background info. I don't need to hear about Bob's failed marriage when the only part he has in the story is victim #6. Other than the length I enjoyed it. I've had a nightlight on the last few nights so it works, lol. 

We're Just like you only Prettier by Celia Rivenbark - Written by a newspaper columnist and it's pretty much that level of quality. In the style of Erma bombeck but not as good. I don't think she has a very realistic concept of what the term 'redneck' constitutes, she seems to think it applies to all southerners. 

The Leopard by Jo Nesbo - This was a good one but Nesbo is my favorite author. Lots of twists and turns and it's pretty much impossible to pick who's the bad guy because there is more than one. Nesbo is definitely the best.

Melted Into Air by Sandi Toksvig - I love Sandi but this was not my favorite of hers. It was ok, but that's about it. Still enjoyable because I like her style but nothing special about the story. 

Immortal Voyage by C G Powell - It's a paranormal-fantasy-medieval-space mash up kind of thing. It's all over the place. One group rides flying dragons into the village (which has no indoor plumbing) and another spaceship based one uses a shuttle. There are inconsistancies, horses are sometimes called horses and sometimes called stag ponies. A man is described as handsome and also common-faced in the same sentence. The technology/lack of doesn't jive with normal technological evolution. They have never heard of bathrooms but they have what sound like replicators? The story was predictable and nothing new but told pretty well and enjoyable. It kept my interest even though I knew basically what was going to happen. I found the profanity a little weird, it wasn't prolific but didn't fit the story. The few sex scenes seemed added in too. It's way better than I could have written but not quite as good as what you expect from a published book. It's great if you like a good story, don't bother if you're a critic. 

Storm Front by Jim Butcher - Paranormal detective series. Dresden is a wizard who is also a detective. I'm not a big paranormal fan but it was kind of a detective story first, he just used magic along with deduction. I liked it, and will probably read some others. I think there's a bunch in the series. 

Dark places by Gillian Flynn - Another great from Flynn. Not as shocking as Girl but a definite page turner. I normally only read the kindle in thebathroom but I had to take it out and finish it in my reading spot, I couldn't get out of the bathroom. She really does manage to come up with original ideas, something you don't see that often. 

Currently Reading

1. The Wheel of Darknes by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
2. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

Currently Listening to  

1. A Fistful of Collars by Spencer Quinn 

 FINISHED

1. The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry
2. Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
3. Birthright by Nora Roberts
4. The Passage by Justin Cronin
5. Split Second by David Baldacci
6. The Shining by Stephen King
7. Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
8. Appaloosa by Robert B Parker

Currently reading:

Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett

Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern

Just finished:

Buried in Treasures by David F. Tolin et al.

I see a theme here...   I'm in the middle of a major decluttering project at home right now, so I've ordered several books on cleaning and decluttering (including a couple more books by Don Aslett).

Over the weekend I read these 4 books by M.J. Rose:

Lip Service, The Halo Effect, The Venus Fix, The Delilah Complex

 I guess I would classify them as psychological suspense.  They were easy reads and I enjoyed the character development as well as the suspense.  

 Up next I am going to quickly reread/skip-read Lost & Found by Jacqueline Sheehan before I read the sequel Picture This.  I enjoyed Lost & Found but it's been awhile since I read it, so I want to get back into the mindset of the book before reading the sequel.

 After that . . . I don't know.  I have a ton!

Currently reading

Stephen King - Pet Sematary

Next will most likely be Stephen King's 2nd book into the Dark Tower series. (Drawing of the Three)

Finished: 

Waiter Rant

Currently reading:

Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine

I just finished "Garden of Shadows" by VC Andrews, it is the prequel to "Flowers in the Attic" and I actually enjoyed it.  Even 30+ years after reading the first book, this fun for me to read.

What to read next..... I feel like I need to read something deep to make up for that one  

Finished:The Immortal Life of Hennrietta Lacks~Rebecca Skloot,The Confession~John Grisham

Started,didn't grab me: The Game of Thrones~George Martin: Can ya believe it?

Reading:

State of Wonder~Anne Patchett

The Unbroken: Laura Hillenbrand                

The Secret History of Fantasy: Anthology

 Next:

 My Lobotomy, I am # 87, Glass Castles. Child 44

I am on book 6 of the Sookie Stackhouse series!

Bought at the thrift store and started Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand- not really catching my interest right now

So I quickly zipped through-

Edward's Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan; Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah; Classified as Murder by Miranda James 

and now about 1/3 of the way through Son by Lois Lowry

I also have The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce due back on 10/23-so I might not get back to Unbroken for a bit

Seeing a lot of Stephen King this month. We're going to be discussing Salem's Lot in the September Hot Topics forum soon if anyone wants to join in. 

Always interesting to see what other people are reading!

I just finished The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent and it was a very interesting read about the times of the salem witch trials.  I can't believe all those people died because of false statements.  I reckon' I can people go to jail today because of false testimony from people.

I just finished City of Glass by Cassandra Clare and I'm about through with The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

I just finished Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes.  I can only give it 2.5 stars.  It just simply lacked the people/character emotion that I like in fiction.  The Vietnam War was a war of fear and fruitlessness and the author got that right.  The characters are stilted and their emotions are monotone.  I noticed that the two men that reviewed the book here at PBS loved it.  I think it might be a good book for men.