November's Literary Adventures

November started off with The Wish, which is the latest novel by Nicholas Sparks. It was likely one of my least favorite books he has written. It wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't anything memorable either.  First Girl to Die was another in the British detective series. Phifer is a steady with these books and I always look forward to them as they are an easy read.  The Reason for Me was a really great book by a new-to-me author. I was pleasantly surprised by this one! In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I gave the author another try with Just Love, which was equally as enjoyable. From the Embers was definitely the best read of the month. A couple of twists and turns kept me engaged. Will was another read out of my usual genre - written by Will Smith about his life. Another great read!

October's Literary Adventures

October was a slow reading month for me. Finishing out fall sports and then prepping for and taking the Alaskan cruise slowed things down for me on reading.  A while back, I read the body farm series and thought I had finished the series. In doing some research on the authors to see if they had decided to write more, I stumbled upon two additional books that finished out the series, which I had never read! So I went back and read those, the final one giving some clarity on why the authors have not written more in the series. Both were great reads!  The Perfect Family was pretty "blah" for me. I also ventured out of my usual genre pickings to read How the Word is Passed. It was a great read, really challenging the "history" we are fed in the American education system. A look from the other side, if you will. It provided excellent context that is purposely (conveniently?) removed from our formal history books. I recommend!

July's Literary Adventures

July brought some pretty amazing books!

Hairpin Bridge was another raging success by Taylor Adams. I'm not sure he can write a bad book, to be honest. Dead by Dawn.....holy smokes. Best book of the month, for sure. This one started off with a bang and just didn't let up the entire book. It's been a minute since Tess Gerritsen put out a book, but I was eager to read her again. Choose Me was not her usual forensic/medical crime drama, but it still worked and I enjoyed the read.  The Stranger in the Mirror was a one-sitting read for me. I think it took me three hours to power through it - a quick and engaging read.

November's Literary Adventures

November was an interesting month for books. I had some that were utterly fantastic, and quite a few that were complete duds. The Last Flight was a great book with a well-executed plot. Little Secrets was very well written, though a little predictable. Murder on Cold Street was the one I was looking forward to the most. Sherry Thomas has taken the Sherlock Holmes storyline and completely turned it upside down, in the best way. Each year, I look forward to the latest book in this series. They are complex, twisty, suspenseful, and set in a time period that I absolutely adore. I intentionally slowly pace myself on each book in the series. All of the other books I read in November were really just garbage. 

50 Shades.....{book review}

 

{Dad, don't read this.}

 

Ok, so when the first book came out a couple years ago, I had zero interest. None. Hadn't even heard of it until the craze set in. Then EVERYONE was talking about it. Still, no interest. I didn't even know this was a trilogy. Even when the movie came out this Valentine's Day, I still had no interest. The world was going crazy over the books and movie, and I thought it was just a touch ridiculous. But then I started seeing all of these reviews, posts, and articles about it - from both sides. People who loved it. People who absolutely hated everything it stood for. People claiming it will do nothing but ruin your marriage. People claiming it was straight porn and porn is the devil. Then I started to gain some interest. Not because it was being classified as porn, but because it was becoming quite controversial and I wanted to form my own opinion.

 

I read several debates from people who work in the psychology field, specifically dealing with victims of domestic and/or sexual violence/abuse, who were basically calling out this book and the author as condoning violence. I knew at that point I must read these books. I must find out for myself why there is such a craze, why so much controversy, and decide for myself how I feel.

 

Having said all of that, and before I recommend this book to anyone, know this:  it's not a romance novel. This doesn't just dabble in a few romantic scenes here and there throughout the book. This is a book filled with "kinky fuckery" (Christian Grey). The two main characters are Anastasia (Ana) Steele and Christian Grey. Ana is working through her last semester of college and Christian is a self-made billionaire. Ana is a follow the rules, doesn't step over the line, virgin. Christian has quite the ego and is very entrenched in a BDSM lifestyle. If you don't know what that is, feel free to look it up. This is what takes the book beyond your typical "romance" novel. I loathe trashy romance novels. I read one a very long time ago and the cheese factor was just too much. Maybe that's why I stayed away from 50 Shades for so long....thinking it was a lame romance novel. Anyway, Ana and Christian's paths cross and the rest is history.

 

 

To say I got hooked on these books is an understatement. I read all three in a matter of nine days. I was THAT into them. And when the author decides to get hot and heavy, she doesn't mess around. These are very much ADULT books. I've heard people saying they let their teenage daughters read them and my mind was blown. No way in HELL should a teenager be reading these.

 

Getting back to the debates regarding abuse.....there is no abuse in these books. Granted, that's one person's opinion. But I didn't see it. I never got that feeling. I never got the feeling that Ana was beaten or mistreated. She consented to a relationship with Christian, they experimented, there were safe words to be used (again, look up BDSM) so that the "pain" remained for pleasure versus punishment, as well as rules on soft limits and hard limits. These books were very much about finding a healthy compromise between a "vanilla" sex life that Ana envisioned for herself, and the "kinky fuckery" that Christian had always experienced with his dominant/submissive "relationships", without either person really losing themselves to the other. And yes, Christian has quite a bit of back-story that led to him being the way he is. I'm glad the author dove into that back-story as it really made Christian more vulnerable and relatable.

 

 

 

There are some major bumps and twists and turns in these books (obviously why I remained hooked), and overall, I'm thrilled with how the whole story ended. I'm now intrigued to see the movie - I'm not sure how they were able to make the first one and only keep it "R" rated. I know they considered the NC-17 rating, which really would have been more appropriate, if the movie truly follows the book.

 

 

Having said ALLLL of this, I'm not sure how to recommend these books. Obviously they aren't for everyone. Obviously. Know what you are getting into before you read this book.  E. L. James is not the best author out there. There are some incredibly annoying things about her writing. I was able to overlook these and focus on the bigger picture. I found some stark similarities to another book series, but that bothered me for about 45 seconds before I was over it. It's a dark book, as far as material. It's dirty. It's funny at times. You will get hot and bothered no matter where you read it. Go for it! And no, it won't ruin your marriage. If a book is all it takes to "ruin" your marriage, you have bigger issues.

Book Review: Hope to Die

 

James Patterson is one of my favorite authors. Quite a few people in my family read his stuff. It seems like he got into a boring rut for a while. And how do you not when you are 21 books into one series, and are writing on like six other series at the same time? His last book in the Alex Cross series, Cross My Heart, was phenomenal. It was back to his best writing. These two books, Cross My Heart and Hope to Die, appear to have been split in half, obviously, because Cross My Heart ended with quite the cliff-hanger. And some have speculated that Hope to Die was the last in the Alex Cross series. I truly hope this isn't true because it was another example of brilliant writing by Patterson.

 

Here is a little blurb from a book review site:

Detective Alex Cross is being stalked by a psychotic genius, forced to play the deadliest game of his career. Cross's family--his loving wife Bree, the wise and lively Nana Mama, and his precious children--have been ripped away. Terrified and desperate, Cross must give this mad man what he wants if he has any chance of saving the most important people in his life. The stakes have never been higher: What will Cross sacrifice to save the ones he loves?

Widely praised by the greatest crime and thriller writers of our time, Cross My Heart set a jaw-dropping story in motion. Hope to Die propels Alex Cross's greatest challenge to its astonishing finish.

 

 

For anyone who reads these books, you know how important Alex's family is to him, and this really pushes Alex to a place where he has never been before - committing murder to save his own family, at the demand of the psycho who is holding his family hostage. So the review above, stating an astonishing finish, really hits the nail on the head. This was a fantastic book!

Book Review: Blue Labyrinth

 

 

November proved itself to be quite the month of reading! I had a variety of new books to choose from, and still have two more to go. Nothing makes me happier than having TOO many books to read. 

 

It's no secret that the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is one of my favorites. They are complex, both scientifically and psychologically, and Agent Pendergast ranks up there as one of my favorite literary characters. I would LOVE for Hollywood to make movies out of these books - or at least some sort of HBO series.

 

Here is a little blurb from www.prestonchild.com on this book:

"A long-buried family secret resurfaces when one of Aloysius Pendergast’s most implacable enemies shows up on his doorstep as a murdered corpse. The mystery has all the hallmarks of the perfect murder, save for an enigmatic clue: a piece of turquoise lodged in the stomach of the deceased. The gem leads Pendergast to an abandoned mine on the shore of California’s desolate Salton Sea, which in turn propels him on a journey of discovery deep into his family’s sinister past.

But Pendergast learns there is more at work than a ghastly episode of family history: he is soon stalked by a subtle killer bent on vengeance over an ancient transgression. In short order, Pendergast is caught in a wickedly clever plot, which will leave him stricken in mind and body…and may well end with his death."

 

This book started off with a bang and continued on in a grand adventure with every passing page. I love how Preston and Child made numerous historical references to events from past books. This was a page-turner at its finest - I could not put this book down and kept finding excuses to dive into it even for just five or ten minutes here and there. Read it! And beyond that, go back and start at the beginning of the series. You will NOT be disappointed.

Book Review - Gone Girl

 

This book was recommended to me by my best friend, Meag. I was initially interested in this book since a movie was made from it, starring Ben Affleck. Then Meag told me it was really good, so I had to dive in and find out for myself. 

 

Here is one official synopsis from Amazon:

 

Marriage can be a real killer.    One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.    On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?    As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?   

 

From a psychological standpoint, this book is incredible. The husband and wife are both psychos, so I get quite the giggle out of this "marriage". Reminds me of people I used to know.  This book captivated me from the very beginning. I remember thinking to myself "holy shit, this is so great!" And then there would be a massive twist and I would read on for hours on the new tangent. I would have to agree with most of the reviews out there, Gillian Flynn really does have a flare for the dramatics. However, having raved about the book, I was incredibly disappointed with the ending. I really needed it to go in a different direction, with a more satisfying end for all of the characters. I feel like Flynn touched on several different scenarios, only to drop them and just end the book. So in that respect, I hope the movie has a different ending. Overall, though, I would still recommend this book. It's a psychological thriller at its finest.

Helter Skelter Thoughts - Part 2

I really powered through the remaining part of this book - mostly because it was the trial and sentencing.  I really have to feel bad for Bugliosi for putting up with Manson's trial attorney. What a complete asshole, who bogged down the trial, everyone's time, and taxpayers' money with absurd objections and meritless motions. I have to deal with that every single day for the nine month trial would have been absolutely maddening for anyone in that courtroom. Even Manson begged him to sit down and shut up. To make it clear, Manson had asked numerous times to defend himself. The judge would not allow it. After going through quite a few attorneys in the preliminary stages, Manson was finally stuck with Irving Kanarek, who had quite the reputation in the legal community. He certainly lived up to that reputation, and then some, often keeping witnesses on the stand for cross-examination much longer than necessary. One witness was questioned for 18 days. Seriously! Manson and his faithful followers also kept the trial "interesting" with their own antics - at one point, Manson hopped over the defense table and lunged at the judge with a pencil. There were constant threats by the followers of jail breakouts or some unknown "doom" on what they deemed "judgment day". This all lead to heightened security at the courthouse. After the prosecution rested their case, it was finally Manson's day to present his side of the story. Many wondered if he would take the stand in his own defense. His trial attorney stood up and simply said "the defense rests."  They didn't even put on a case! They moved for a dismissal on the grounds that the prosecution had not provided sufficient proof to warrant a conviction.  One of the countless motions denied.  Rightfully so.

Ultimately, Manson and the other three ladies on trial were all sentenced to death. Two years later, the state of California reversed all death penalty convictions and reverted them to life sentences. The three ladies, naturally, all found Jesus in jail and are "model" inmates. They renounced any association with Manson.  They have all come up for parole numerous times - all denied. Susan Atkins (the most creepy, in my opinion) died in 2009 of brain cancer.

Manson, 80 years old, is still serving his life sentence at Corcoran State Prison in California in protective custody. He has never been in general population.  There are many websites and Facebook pages dedicated to his "cause" and his "wrongful conviction". He changed the X on his forehead (self-carved during his trial, and copied by the three women defendants) to a swastika. Charming. He has a lady "friend" who has moved across the country to Corcoran to be near him. She visits every weekend and is in charge of the various websites dedicated to Manson. She claims she wasn't drawn to him by the serial killer stigma, but by his pro-Earth environmental beliefs. She also claims that one day, they will be married. Honey, he's all yours.

The house where the Tate murders occurred has been demolished. A new house has been built, but it stands empty as no real estate agent will list it.

Manson claims that we (the American people) made him this way. Before he was released prior to the Tate murders, he asked the jail staff to let him stay in prison. It's all he knew. He was completely institutionalized. It's the people's fault for letting him out. And it's our fault that the fascination with him continues. He flat out said in one interview, I don't ask for all of these people to write me, to create websites dedicated to me, to come visit me. They do it on their own. You all are as sick as I am.

Helter Skelter - Thoughts, Part 1

The first time my dad recommend this book to me, I'm pretty sure the conversation went something like this:

 

Me:  I have nothing to read, do you have any recommendations at the top of your list?

Dad:  Did you ever read Helter Skelter?

Me: No, what is that?

Dad: It's the book about the Charles Manson murders. It's one of those books that will make you get up and lock all the doors and windows in your house.

Me: Gosh, no thanks.

 

And that was the end of it. Then I really got into a rut because I was out of books to read by my regular authors. So again I asked my dad, and again he recommended Helter Skelter. I already have an imagination that runs on high, so really the last thing I needed was a story like this, a TRUE STORY no less, to really get my mind racing. Despite my initial refusal to read this book, I looked it up and did some research. One of the co-authors, Vincent Bugliosi, was one of the prosecutors of the Tate and LaBianca cases. Talk about some insider information! The book is 680 pages. No, that's not a typo. I just passed the 400 page mark, so I thought I would write down some thoughts.

 

This is a true crime book. I really don't need to say anything beyond that because I think we are all aware of who Charles Manson is, along with The Family (his loyal pack of followers). Bugliosi does a fantastic job of recapping the investigation, arrests, grand jury indictments, and trials surrounding the numerous murders committed (and those which didn't come to fruition - scary!) by Manson and his Family. He also does a great job of capturing the complete ineptitude of various police departments involved in the investigation. As a criminal justice major, I just cringe at some of the bonehead moves made not only by the police officers, but the crime scene techs, coroners, and other various entities involved. I had to really remind myself, numerous times, of the time difference. This all takes place in the late 1960s. Obviously these police departments are different than what we have now. Resources were more limited, for sure. But the glaring contrast is the blatant lack of communication between the separate police departments involved. There were numerous agencies all working these investigations together, and no voluntary sharing of information, discoveries, tips, leads, interrogation notes, confessions, etc. These guys were tripping up other agencies' investigations, sometimes on purpose. It almost seemed like a competition to see who could delay the other's investigation more. So much for speedy justice!

 

I like that we got a really detailed background on Manson, dating back to his early childhood where he was, sometimes, raised by his very young mother who was a drunk, druggie, partier, prostitute (not entirely sure who his father is), and in and out of jail for the majority of his youth. Sometimes Manson was passed on to family members, other times he was in some sort of boarding/reform school. His introduction to crime was also at a very early age (I believe he was 12 or 13 when he committed an armed robbery). By the time he was in his 30s, he had spent half of his life in jail - not shocking.

 

Bugliosi really dives into Manson's motive when trying to put together his case for trial. Manson was obsessed with a couple of ideas, stemming from various sources. One was Revelation 9 and the other was the White Album by the Beatles. He truly believes the Beatles were speaking directly to him, via their music, and directing him to act. He believed there would be a world-wide race war, with the blacks killing off all of the whites. Due to this, Manson started building his "Family" of followers in the hopes of reaching 144,000 (a number mentioned in the bible). He centered this Family in Death Valley, where he sought a bottomless pit (Revelation 9) where the Family was to hide during this race war. It was his belief that after the race war was over, these 144,000 white people would emerge from the bottomless pit and rule the world. And he convinced each of his followers of this. The Family consisted of men, women, and children (naturally there were children since most of Manson's initial contact with the followers began at LSD parties that turned into orgies). Manson had a hatred for "the establishment" and anyone who belonged. He would give the followers LSD (or other drugs) and then talk to them about life, love, world order, how they had to respect the earth, and apparently kill anyone associated with the establishment in preparation for this race war. When the race war never really "took off" on its own, that's when Manson decided he had to go show the blacks how to get it started. Hence, the Tate and LaBianca murders. There were several other planned murders, which were unsuccessful for various reasons. Many very close encounters with some very lucky people (in the sense that they are still alive).

 

Bugliosi also talked a lot about the "power" that Manson had over the followers. Whether you call it brainwashing or something else, Manson had all of these people convinced that he was Jesus Christ. The followers completed every task asked of them, whether it was running to get supplies, doing something on the compound, or stabbing someone 52 times. Didn't matter, it was done if Manson directed it. And reading the quotes from some of these people, especially the meek women who fell into this "trap" is just sickening...their nonchalant descriptions of the murders, as if they were describing picking out a brand of soap. It just meant nothing to them. It was all done in the name of love, and Charlie, and Jesus Christ.

 

In the book, I am just now getting to the beginning of the trials, and what a shit show! I feel so bad for Bugliosi for having to deal with the games and completely asinine behavior of Manson and the others on trial, including some of the defense attorneys.

 

I will have a Part 2 once I finish the book to share some closing thoughts, not only on the book itself, but some of the independent research I have done to dive deeper into some of the topics.

Book Review: James Rollins {Blood Gospel}

Official synopsis:

 

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators—Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist—are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb’s sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ’s own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. But the enemy who hounds them is like not other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christ’s own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines.

In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened—until now.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

I very impatiently waited for this book. James Rollins is one of my favorite authors of all time. His past books have been incredible adventures, thrilling tales. I expected this one to be the same. It is a new series for him, and this is the first time he has collaborated with another author. I'm not sure if that was the downfall of this book, but it sorely let me down. I expected so many things from this book, simply based on the huge success of all the others. 

 

There are two aspects to this book: the adventure and religion. I can deal with religion in moderation. I don't mind reading about it; in fact, many of Rollins' other books have touched on religion here and there. Honestly, I don't mind it. But this book was so deeply rooted in the subject, I had a hard time pressing forward. I read the book in just a few days - pushing forward through the adventure, thinking that at some point, the book was going to explode as a thrilling page turner as all the others have. It never really reached that point, and I found myself nodding off with all the religious history. Another downpoint was the introduction of supernatural "creatures" so to speak. I know this is a fictional book, and I can deal with that, but sometimes I just can't let my mind "go" enough to get caught up in a story. This book is a classic example. Too far-fetched and too much primary plot centered around something in which I don't believe.

 

I will continue reading Rollins, don't get me wrong. I just won't follow this specific series. I do, however, highly recommend his Sigma series, or any of the other stand-alone novels.

Book Review: Echo Park

This is another book by author Michael Connelly (I just reviewed another book by him last week).  Below is a synopsis:

Bestseller Connelly's compelling 12th Harry Bosch novel (after 2005's The Closers) offers some new wrinkles on a familiar theme—the aging detective haunted by the one who got away. In Bosch's case, the elusive quarry is the man who abducted a 22-year-old equestrian, Marie Gesto, in 1993. Having returned to active duty as a member of the LAPD Open-Unsolved Unit, Bosch repeatedly pulls the file to see if he can discover something new and give some small solace to the victim's parents. When a chance police stop of a suspicious vehicle nets serial killer Raynard Waits, who's carrying body parts in his van, Bosch assesses the murderer's claim that he was responsible for killing Gesto, too. The weary and cynical detective soon suspects that Waits is trying to barter information for a reduced sentence of life imprisonment. Political motivations connected with the upcoming DA election also cloud the investigation. Smooth prose and plausible characters—even the secondary figures—elevate this several notches above the standard cop vs. serial-killer thriller.

This isn't the first Bosch novel in the series, so I pretty much started out of order.  And that's ok.  I don't think this is one (series) that necessarily needs to be read in order to make sense.  Echo Park is definitely a great crime thriller.

I did, however, notice one similarily to The Lincoln Lawyer, which I read last week - it was another book that got off to a slow start, but finished with a bang.  Once these books reach a certain point, the story seriously picks up and the books are impossible to put down.  It's just getting to that point that is the hard part!  But now that I'm getting familiar with Connelly's writing style, I feel more invested in his books.  In fact, I just started another one today.

Book Review: The Lincoln Lawyer

By:  Michael Connelly

Book Synopsis:

Mickey Haller has spent all his professional life afraid that he wouldn't recognize innocence if it stood right in front of him. But what he should have been on the watch for was evil.

Haller is a Lincoln Lawyer, a criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back seat of his Lincoln Town Car, traveling between the far-flung courthouses of Los Angeles to defend clients of every kind. Bikers, con artists, drunk drivers, drug dealers — they're all on Mickey Haller's client list. For him, the law is rarely about guilt or innocence — it's about negotiation and manipulation. Sometimes it's even about justice.

A Beverly Hills playboy arrested for attacking a woman he picked up in a bar chooses Haller to defend him, and Mickey has his first high-paying client in years. It is a defense attorney's dream, what they call a franchise case. And as the evidence stacks up, Haller comes to believe this may be the easiest case of his career.

Then someone close to him is murdered and Haller discovers that his search for innocence has brought him face-to-face with evil as pure as a flame. To escape without being burned, he must deploy every tactic, feint, and instinct in his arsenal — this time to save his own life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I was actually out of books to read - which, to anyone who is an avid reader, causes somewhat of a panic. My father actually recommended Connelly to me.  He has a couple different main characters he writes about, and the first one I chose was attorney Mickey Haller.  I have to admit, this book started out slow. I struggled with it because it didn't really seem like it was headed anywhere.  But let me tell you - once the investigation and trial kicked into high gear, I could NOT put this book down.

And even better? It's been turned into a movie, coming out in March.  I know, I know.  Lots of books get made into movies.  However, this one stars Matthew McConaughey, Josh Lucas, and Ryan Phillippe.  Can we say HELLO!  I'm extremely excited to see this movie - and it's definitely on my calendar for March.

I picked up several other Connelly books from the library, from his other series, which I will be starting today.  Hopefully they turn out to be an excellent read as well!

Book Review: The Postcard Killers

We all know James Patterson is one of my favorite authors.  I usually stick to his two main series, however, this book was another murder mystery and I just can't turn those down.  All new characters and he collaborated with a new author.....why not?  The book didn't disappoint - definitely a thriller!! Glad I took a chance on this one - Patterson succeeded once again.

Book Review: A Blessed Event

I was really unsure of this book when I picked it up.  Based on the synopsis on the inside cover, it almost seemed like it was going to be too........"religious" for me.  And add to that the fact that it was a new author I had never read, I was really hesitant to read it.  However, since I'm pregnant, and this story seemed to largely revolve around a baby, I decided I wanted to read it.  And I'm so glad that I gave it a chance because while it did spend some time dealing with religion in a sense that certain events tested the characters' faith, the bigger story made it all worth it.  In the words of the author, "The story, I hope, has universal themes of friendship, family, and redemption."  And that's exactly what it is - a genuine LIFE story that tests the bonds of a lifelong friendship and a new-ish marriage.

The book was really good and I hope to seek out more from this author.

Book Review: Ice Cold

For those who know me, Tess Gerritsen is one of my favorite authors.  She writes medical crime thrillers.  The main characters are Rizzoli (homicide detective) and Isles (medical examiner).  You may have heard of the TV show on TNT, which is based on this book series.  This series is just phenomenal. Every single book is a mega page turner, and this one was no different.  In fact, I knocked it out in just over a day and a half.  This book is based on a trip in the dead of winter, to Wyoming of all places, that has gone incredibly wrong.  It's also loosely based on some of the FLDS sects in this region of the country.  It's a fantastic read, and if you haven't read any of the books in this series, I highly recommend them (in order, of course).

Book Review: Crashers

This is a new author to me.  This book was recommended to me by my dad.  I'm not sure where he discovered this book, but it's the author's first book and it's fantastic!  It's gripping - about a crew (called "crashers") who are assigned and respond to airline crashes.  The author, to his credit, obviously did an overwhelming amount of research.  This book was simply amazing and I really hope they make it into a movie.  It's a thriller for sure!!

Book Review: Fever Dream

I was thrilled to grab this book the week it came out.  This series, which includes one of my favorite characters, Special Agent Pendergast, is one of the best series I have read.  I continue to enjoy every single book, though some are far better than others, and this book was no different.  They are all gripping thrillers, usually all crime based, and the authors do an amazing job with their attention to detail and their character development.  I find myself more and more intrigued by each character with each new book.  I highly recommend this series!!

Book Review: The 9th Judgment

This book is the next in the Women's Murder Club series - I thoroughly enjoy this series, and this book was definitely par for the course. The plot was a little hard to swallow since the killer in this book sought out women and children first. Since I'm a mother, reading the details of the child killings definitely made my stomach turn. But overall, the book was, as usual, intense and quite a page turner. Patterson delivered another success, in my opinion.