Reads From the Field

Be Mine Tonight by Kathryn Smith

2012-02-11T07:21:00.002-06:00

Prudence Ryland is dying. Her only hope is to find the Holy Grail. Her father has bought land near their house where the Holy Grail is rumored to be. With the help of Marcus Grey, the digging begins. But before they discover anything, a mysterious man named Chapel appears. He says he is with the Church but there is something different about him.

Chapel is a vampire. He was turned over 600 years ago by drinking out of the UnHoly Grail. Chapel and five others were turned. Now his mission is to protect others from the the UnHoly Grail. He has come to Pru's home to make sure the Grail isn't found. What he didn't expect was to fall for Pru.
When Pru finds out Chapel is a vampire, she wants him to turn her. But Chapel believes she will be damned and won't do it. Pru accepts his decision and they spend every moment together. But there is a group out there that will do anything to destroy them. Will they survive and will true love prevail?

This is the first book in the Brotherhood of Blood series. I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the rest!

Devious by Lisa Jackson

2012-02-09T07:53:00.027-06:00

What I love about Jackson's New Orleans series, besides the setting, is that the recurring detectives, Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya, are more on the periphery of the story. As a result, you can really read this series in any order since the protagonists are new each time, with Bentz and Montoya in the background solving the crimes.

In this 7th entry, Sister Camille Renard is found murdered in the chapel of St. Marguerite's wearing a yellowed wedding dress and bleeding out from the neck. Valerie Renard, an ex-cop from Houston, and Camille's sister, plans on finding her killer with the not always welcomed help of Slade Houston, Valerie's husband, who is in town trying to stop Valerie from divorcing him.

This case hits close to home for Montoya when he discovers that the victim is someone he went to high school with. What's more is that Montoya knows another nun, Sister Lucia, and Father Frank from high school as well, and none of them seem to be cut out for a lifetime commitment to God. It is practically a high school reunion.

Even more perplexing is the fact that Camille was pregnant. Who would impregnate and kill a nun, and is it the same person who commitment both of these sins? As Valerie starts digging around, she receives resistance from Sister Charity, St. Marguerite's Mother Superior, making her question what exactly the antiquated order is hiding.

This page-turner is another winner from Jackson. Plus, a reappearance from the killer in Hot Blooded who we all thought was dead really cranks things up a notch. I am looking forward to the next one since an important plot thread was left unresolved.

New Fiction 2/7/12

2012-02-07T07:42:00.016-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

All that I am by Anna Funder
Catch Me by Lisa Gardner
City of Dragons by Robin Hobb
Desert Wind by Betty Webb
A Good American by Alex George
Girl Reading by Kate Ward
Hanging Hill by Mo Hayder
History of a Pleasure Seeker by Richard Mason
Kill Shot by Vince Flynn
The Last Storyteller by Frank Delaney
Left for Dead by J.A. Jance
The Lost Saints of Tennessee by Amy Franklin-Willis
The Mirage by Matt Ruff
No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie
Ragnarok by A.S. Byatt
Stay Awake by Dan Chaon
Stick and Stones by K.J. Larsen
Throne of a Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed

It's All Greek to Me by Katie MacAlister

2012-02-04T07:28:00.001-06:00

Eglantine "Harry" Knight is in Greece. She was asked at the last minute to be the stand in manager for a rock band who is performing on a private island. Not one to say no to a free vacation and having the flexibility as a writer to travel whenever, Harry is excited. But that excitement quickly fades when the lead singer, Cindy, accuses one of the hosts of forcing himself on her. Harry quickly diffuses the situation but not before she gets into it with one hot Greek named Iakovos Papaionanno.

Iakovos Papaionannou cannot get Harry out of his mind, so he seduces her. And Harry is more than happy to be seduced. Even when the band leaves Harry stays in Greece. And everything is going great, so great that Harry is moving to Greece. But of course true love always has its obstacles. And for Harry and Iakovos it is siblings, pregnancy, and marriage.

It has been forever since Katie MacAlister has written a contemporary romance and It's All Greek to Me was worth the wait! I adored the characters and Greece has moved to the top spot on the places I want to visit!

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James

2012-02-02T07:43:00.007-06:00

Exciting news! I am now the proud owner of a Nook™ Simple Touch. And, after having my fill of books available for free download, I decided I wanted to finally splurge and purchase something to read in my leisure time. I received some inspiration from the literary gods as I was perusing through our list of newly purchased E Books…

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James. This book is a blend of classic literary fiction with the contemporary murder mystery novel; a fusion of the old with the new… kind of like my Nook™. It seemed like an appropriate choice, so I bought it. The story picks up six years after Elizabeth and Darcy have had their happily-ever-after at the end of Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth has settled into her role as lady of the house at Pemberley. She and Darcy have two sons, Fitzwilliam and Charles. Jane and Bingley live close and visit often. They lead a perfectly blissful existence.

As the novel opens, preparations are under way for the much-anticipated autumn ball, held every year at Pemberley. On the eve of the ball, a carriage arrives carrying Elizabeth’s estranged sister, Lydia. Lydia stumbles from the carriage, shrieking and hysterical, and announces that her husband, Wickham, has been murdered. Elizabeth and Darcy’s idyllic life at Pemberley is shattered as the situation escalates into fear and mayhem.

… I’m going to stop here, because I don’t want to give too much away!

In short, I highly recommend this book. Unlike other modern reinterpretations of Austen novels I have read, James’s version maintains a delicate balance of both classic and contemporary elements. She manages to preserve the writing style and characters that we love while adding an additional layer of mystery and excitement.

Did I mention we now have this book available for download as an E Audio Book in the library’s collection? I just had to throw that in there!

Interested in downloading this book? Click here: http://www.mymediamall.net/DF8E8389-208D-4CA6-8AF9-4FC0A2C03B68/10/391/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=9DD86044-12A1-41DD-BFED-AA161448EB24

New Fiction 1/31/12

2012-01-31T08:12:00.016-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

$10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles by Parnell Hall
A Catered St. Patrick's Day by Isis Crawford
Defending Jacob by William Landay
At Last by Edward St. Aubyn
Black Site by Dalton Fury
The Fear Index by Robert Harris
Helpless by Daniel Palmer
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
The Mountain of Gold by J.D. Davies
A Parliament of Spies by Cassandra Clark
Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones

Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly

2012-01-28T08:54:00.019-06:00

Evanovich departs from her Stephanie Plum series to co-write this romance/mystery with Dorien Kelly. Love in a Nutshell is cute, light fair, but I wonder how much Evanovich contributed. It didn't sound like her voice or writing style. Nonetheless, this will is entertaining enough for those not expecting anything super literary or heavy.

Kate Appleton has moved back to family summer home in Keene's Harbor, Michigan determined to save the dilapidated house from foreclosure, but she needs money, and fast. Kate storms into Matt Culhane's Depot Brewery demanding a job, after all, she lost her previous job due to a problem with his beer at the restaurant down that street that serves it.

Although taken aback by her boldness, something about this attractive, driven woman makes her hard to resist. Matt eventually relents and hires Kate to be his covert investigator. Lately, a lot of damaging things have been happening around the brewery that is costing him a lot of money and could no longer be chalked up to accidental. Clearly, it has to be an inside job. If Kate finds the culprit among his staff, she gets a bonus that will allow her to pay the mortgage on her house. A win-win for both of them.

However, the closer they work together, the more their passion heats up. Kate, recently divorced, doesn't want to get too close for fear of a broken heart, but how long can she deny her heart? To complicate matters further, Kate is also in for a rude awakening when she finds out the identify of the person trying to bulldoze her house.

Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase

2012-01-26T07:52:00.000-06:00

Merry Mackenzie is free. She is finally moving out of her father's house in Rhode Island to an apartment in Boston. Now she just has to get her dad and brother to leave her apartment before they embarrass her in front of her hot landlord, Jason Falco. But her first night there she is attacked outside the building but soon rescued by her fellow neighbors, Konrad and Sly. There is something different about them. They seem to move really fast and seem super strong. Merry passes it off as being shaken up.

Jason Falco is an all star pitcher. It is the off season and he just wants to be anonymous. What he didn't expect to find was his mate. Jason is a shifter and they mate for life and it is looking like Merry is the one. But before he can do any wooing, he has to deal with a ghost in the apartment building. And his pesky aunt. And his witch neighbors. And the nosy journalist snooping around.

I really enjoyed Strange Neighbors. The characters were fun and quirky and the sex scenes were steamy! I will definitely be picking up the next book, The Werewolf Upstairs.

New Fiction 1/24/12

2012-01-24T08:11:00.010-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

All I Did Was Shoot My Man by Walter Mosley
An Available Man by Hilma Wolitzer
Bond Girl by Erin Duffy
Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian
The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
Pineapple Grenade by Tim Dorsey
Taken by Robert Crais

Sleepwalker by Karen Robards

2012-01-21T09:10:00.024-06:00

This latest from prolific Robards (Justice, Shattered) is another easy, fast paced, sexy read. Robards books are not in a series so picking up any of her back list titles is a safe bet. Robards would also be a good pick for both veteran and new readers of romantic suspense.

It is New Year's eve and the day after Detroit cop Mick Lange split with her boyfriend. While house sitting at her "Uncle" Nicco's sprawling mansion, she finds herself waking up downstairs, sleeping walking again after suffering a terrible nightmare. On her way back to her bedroom, she hears a noise and soon learns that her Uncle's safe his being robbed by two masked men. During the scuffle in trying to stop them, incriminating photos of Nicco clearly involved in the murder of a man and his family fall out of the safe.

When they hear Nicco's security men approaching, the thieves split up, and Jason's forces Mick to come with him, hoping having a hostage will increase his chance of escape. Now Mick and Jason are on the lam, being pursued by her Uncle's thugs. After seeing those photos, Mick knows that Nicco will order his goons to kill her, even though she is almost blood. As a cop, the right thing to do and the safest for them both is to convince Jason to let her arrest him, but he is not relenting any time soon and won't let go of the suitcase of money.

Jason at the very least will to everything he can to keep her safe from Nicco's men, and Mick falls for the sexy thief when he might be the only one she can now trust. But will justice and the law be comprised by the passion in Mick's heart?

The Dewey Decimal System of Love by Josephine Carr

2012-01-19T07:33:00.000-06:00

Ally Sheffield is the head of the reference department at the Philadelphia Public Library, and has recently fallen in love with a man she has never met. Aleksi Kullio is the new conductor of the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra and not only does he not even know that Ally exists, but he is married as well.

After watching Aleksi lead the orchestra one night, Ally decides that she is in love with this man and in order to encourage this relationship which she believes will soon come to fruition she begins to volunteer at the Philharmonic. Once Ally begins an email correspondence with Aleksi she convinces herself that he feels the same way.

The plot also features some senseless vandalism of both the library and the Philharmonic building, a mystery surrounding a possible murder for hire, missing musical scores and librarians that don’t seem to ever work.

When I first saw the title of this book I really wanted to like it. It seemed that it might combine my love of romance with my love of all things library. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. None of the characters seemed particularly likeable and once the plot started to get interesting it was rushed right along to the end. Overall, I think the general idea of this book was a good one, it just wasn’t put together very well.

New Fiction 1/17/12

2012-01-17T07:11:00.019-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

150 Pounds by Kate Rockland
All Necessary Force by Brad Taylor
The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell
Dead Low Tide by Bret Lott
Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell
The Face Thief by Eli Gottlieb
First You Try Everything by Jane McCafferty
The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus
Gone West by Carola Dunn
In the Lion's Mouth by Michael Flynn
The Look of Love by Mary Jane Clark
Raylan by Elmore Leonard
Reefs and Shoals by Dewey Lambdin
The Rope by Nevada Barr
Shadows in Flight Orson Scott Card

Murder List by Julie Garwood

2012-01-14T08:15:00.014-06:00

This is the first Garwood book I have read, and it was just okay. There was a huge chunk of the book in which it seemed like the killer went dormant, and I think it would have been more suspenseful had she kept both the romantic elements and killings lively. Also, for us local folks, this book takes place in Chicago, but you wouldn't know it, because there isn't much mention of specific streets or locations unique to the Chi.

In Murder List, Regan Hamilton Madison attends a self-help seminar with her friends in order to see if the doctor is really a quack. Her reporter friend Sophie heard that Dr. Shields convinced a vunerable women to give him all her money and dumped her. Shortly after, she committed suicide. At the seminar, participants are directed to write up list of people who, if they didn't exist, would mean your life would better. Only half serious, Regan writes up her list but drops in the parking lot when she thinks someone is chasing her.

Next thing she knows, the first person on her list shows up dead, and she receives an anonymous email with the gruesome image as confirmation. Her controlling brothers don't want her to leave their hotel, which belongs to her family and where she both lives and resides.

The Chicago PD sends detective Alec Buchanan to be her bodyguard for the next three weeks until he leaves for Boston. This is his punishment for resigning from the force to join the FBI, but, he soon learns, protecting a beautiful woman isn't much of a punishment. As the next victim on her list dies, Buchanan has to stay extra close to Regan to insure her safety. Then, the rest of the book focuses on their romance without much word from the killer until the end.

This is the fourth in the Buchanan series, but each book features a different Buchanan family member who works in law enforcement. These can be read in any order.

Night After Night by Janelle Denison

2012-01-12T07:19:00.001-06:00

Sean O'Brien has been given a second chance after his stint in jail for running a con. Now clear Sean wants to help people. And he has that chance by working with the Reliance Group. His next assignment takes him back to the past. The man he is looking for, Grant Russo, helped put Sean's dad in prison. Now it looks like Russo is back to his con ways. Sean's task is to get close to Russo's daughter to try and find him.

Zoe Russo is finally opening her boutique. She has found the perfect location at the Onyx Hotel and Casino. Zoe accepts a date with the leasing agent, Sean O'Brien, not that she has time. She was burned in the past but is really attracted to Sean. But she discovers that Sean is just using her to find her dad. Zoe is worried because she hasn't talked to her dad in a while and can't get a hold of him. Reluctantly she teams up with Sean to try and find her dad.

As they work together, they start to discover a couple of things. Such as maybe Zoe's dad is a victim and not the conman and maybe Zoe can forgive Sean and maybe Sean can start forgiving himself for his past. But they need to figure out what is going on before someone ends up dead.

Another fantastic romantic suspense book by Janelle Denison. This is the second book featuring the Reliance group. The first book is Into the Night.

New Fiction 1/10/12

2012-01-10T08:10:00.017-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz
Darth Plagueis by Jame Luceno
Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston
The Jaguar by T. Jefferson Parker
The Little Russian by Susan Sherman
The Night Swimmer by Matt Bondurant
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen by Thomas Caplan
Start Shooting by Charlie Newton
Vulture Peak by John Burdett
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak

Last Look by Mariah Stewart

2012-01-07T08:30:00.010-06:00

Mariah Stewart is a pretty safe bet for any reader of romantic suspense, as likeable characters and suspenseful plots are standards. Plus, there usually aren't gratuitous sex scenes that might offend some readers. I was in a reading slump last week and was glad that I had one of her books to rely on. Last Look is the first in her FBI thriller series. Each series features a different Sheilds' family member and plot, so these need not be read in order.

The prostitute body of Shannon Randall is discovered on a private island off the coast of Georgia and the county corner determines that the victim had expired only about 8 hours prior to the discovery. What makes this case so perplexing is that the death of Shannon Randall had already been resolved. Although her body was never found, there was enough circumstantial evidence to execute Eric Beale years ago.

Matt Rainier is the hot shot FBI agent who closed up the case against Beale. Dorsey Collins, Matt's daughter, now in the FBI herself, wants to work the case to clear her dad's name before the media backlash destroys him. Because of the conflict of interest, the best the bureau will do is permit Dorsey to work as an "unofficial" investigator along side Andrew Sheilds.

Dorsey and Sheilds began their research in Shannon's home town by interviewing all the people who knew her. Everyone attests to Shannon being a good student who was active in her father's church. Her family swears that she must have been kidnapped, but it is obvious they are hiding a dark secret that made Shannon not only become a cutter, but also desperate enough to turn to a life of sin. The deeper they dig, more questions than answers arise: how did Beale become the suspect, what made a renowned agent so convinced that he mistakenly allowed an innocent kid to be executed, and who killed Shannon now?

Fallen by Lauren Kate

2012-01-05T07:53:00.001-06:00

Luce Price has been sent to Swords and Cross boarding school in Georgia. It is a school for delinquent kids. Right from the start Luce is draw to two boys Cam and Daniel. Cam is flirty and seems into her. And Daniel wants nothing to do with her. Not sure why Luce tries to figure out what is going on. She is also wondering why the shadows she has seen all her life are so much worse now that she is at this school.

Daniel Grigori has been in love with Luce Price for many centuries. But every time they kiss for the first time or he explains what is going on, Luce dies. And Daniel has to wait 17 years before he finds her again. But it hurts so much seeing her so he decides to try another strategy of ignoring her. But of course it doesn't work. They are drawn to each other always.

But something amazing happens. When he tells her what he is and explains everything, she doesn't die. Nor does she die when they kiss. Believing they might finally be together, Daniel will do everything to protect Luce.

I really enjoyed this book. The friends Luce makes and the love that lasts forever. This is the first book in the Fallen series. Book two is Torment, then Passion and the last book Rapture is available June 2012.

New Fiction 1/3/2012

2012-01-03T07:10:00.026-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

The Best Bad Dream by Robert Ward
Breakdown by Sara Paretsky
The Bride Wore Black Leather by Simon R. Green
The Broken Land by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
The Cat Sitter's Pajamas by Blaize Clement
Cell 8 by Anders Roslund
The Confession by Charles Todd
The Darkening Field by William Ryan
A Devil is Waiting by Jack Higgins
A Good Man by Guy Vanderhaeghe
Gun Games by Faye Kellerman
The Hunter by John Lescroart
Iago by David Snodin
Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
Need You Now by James Grippando
Power Play by Ben Bova
Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson
The Retribution by Val McDermid
Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
Shock of War by Larry Bond
Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert
The Translation of Bones by Francesca Kay
A Walk Across the Sun by Corbin Addison
Wild Abandon by Joe Dunthorne
The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

Silent Killer by Beverly Barton

2011-12-31T07:55:00.028-06:00

For the first time I experienced not finishing an eBook prior to the due date and had it disappear on me. I am so peeved since I was all up in my book. I will check out Silent Killer again to finish it, but I was pretty far along, so I can tell you what I thought of this so far.

Cathy Cantrell has returned to her small Alabama town after spending a year in a mental rehabilitation center following the death of her husband. Mark Cantrell was a preacher who, when he answered his door, was doused with an accelerant and lit on fire. Cathy is finally feeling mentally strong after this substantial lost and hopes to gain back custody of her sixteen year-old son, Seth.

Also back in town is Jack Perdue, a former military man and Cathy's first love. After being injured in the service, he has returned as the new deputy sheriff whose first first assignment is reviewing the county's cold cases. As he starts investigating Mark's unsolved murder, other reverends in the area are murdered in the same manner as Mark, making him suspect that killer has a personal vendetta with men of cloth.

All the murdered victims seem to be honorable, upstanding citizens with no enemies, but as Jack starts digging into their past, he uncovers something much more sinister. Cathy and Jack must work together to solve Mark's murder and stop the killer before another preacher falls prey to a killer who has taken on the role of God.

I haven't been disappointed in a Barton book yet, and this one was just as satisfying. Barton is adept at balancing page-turning suspense and romance to make readers so engrossed in the story, they don't pay attention to the due date! The talented Barton passed away this year, so I am sad that we won't get any new material from her. Fortunately, she is a prolific author with plenty of back list offerings.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

2011-12-29T07:08:00.000-06:00

I saw this book on Angel’s Classics Revisited fiction display in the Reference & Readers Services Department a few weeks ago and it seemed like an interesting read. Turns out, this book is every former-English-major’s greatest fantasy!

Set in a parallel, futuristic universe, the novel portrays England as a place where literature is taken very, very seriously. Readers can (quite literally) get lost in a story. Literary questions are debated so hotly that they sometimes inspire violence. Plagiarism is the highest punishable offense.

In the middle of this world we find Thursday Next, a literary detective living in London with her pet dodo, Pickwick. As the story begins, Thursday is asked to investigate the theft of the original manuscript of Charles Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit. She comes close to capturing the thief, Acheron Hades, during a stakeout.

Thursday is badly injured during the stakeout, but is saved by a copy of Jane Eyre that stops Hades' bullet. A mysterious stranger aids her until the paramedics arrive, leaving behind only a monogrammed handkerchief. Next recognizes the handkerchief as belonging to Rochester, a character from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

While recovering in the hospital, Thursday is instructed by her future self to visit her Uncle Mycroft in her home town of Swindon. There she discovers that he has invented the Prose Portal, a device which allows people to physically enter works of fiction.

Unfortunately, Hades follows Thursday to Swindon and manages to kidnap the Prose Portal and uses it to blackmail the literary world. Thursday chases Hades into the original text of Jane Eyre, where she finally succeeds in killing him.

As a result of her showdown with Hades, Thursday inadvertently changes to the ending to Jane Eyre. Thornfield Hall is burned, Rochester's mad wife Bertha falls to her death, and Rochester himself is grievously injured. In other words, she alters it to match the actual ending to Jane Eyre.

The novel ends with Thursday facing an uncertain future; public reaction to the new ending is positive, but there are other consequences, which set the stage for the next book in the series.

This may be the best book I have read this year. In fact, I don’t think I have ever read anything quite like it. It is unique and delightfully imaginative; a must-read for any lover of literary fiction.

New Fiction 12/27/11

2011-12-27T08:07:00.020-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz
1222 by Anne Holt
Dark Revelations by Anthony Zuiker
Death Benefit by Robin Cook
The Demi-Monde by Rod Rees
Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag
The Innocent by Taylor Stevens
The Retribution by Val McDermid
Sleepwalker by Karen Robards
A Vine in the Blood by Leighton Gage

Werewolf in the North Woods by Vicki Lewis Thompson

2011-12-24T08:27:00.002-06:00

Abby Maddox is out to prove her grandpa is not a loon. He swears he saw Bigfoot and his mate in the woods behind his house in Oregon. But his neighbor, Cameron, has called in a professor, Roark Wallace, to investigate and pretty much make Grandpa Earl look like a fool. Abby ends up blackmailing Roark when she witnesses him turning into a wolf! He agrees to let her come with him to find Bigfoot.

Roark cannot believe he got caught turning. He needs to find the Bigfoot and his mate and now he has to take Abby with him. He is very attracted to her but he doesn't want his mate to be human like his brother's. But that doesn't stop him from wanting her. Along the way they give into their desire. They also pick up another hiker looking for Bigfoot. They take him with to try and throw him off the scent. But Roark doesn't realize that Cameron has another agenda in mind until he kidnaps Abby. Now Roark will do anything to get her back.

This is the second book in the Wild About You series. And it is another winner. I really enjoy Vicki Lewis Thompson's books. Also try her Nerd series!

Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal

2011-12-22T07:52:00.001-06:00

As a former Sweet Valley High reader I was thrilled to hear that Francine Pascal was going to give us a glimpse at what life was like for the Wakefield twins ten years after high school. Sweet Valley Confidential is by no means a literary masterpiece but for fans of the Sweet Valley series it was just what we needed after such a long absence.

At 27 years old, Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield are living on other sides of the country and haven’t spoken in eight months. Jessica is still in Sweet Valley, Elizabeth has fled to New York City and it isn’t too hard to figure out exactly what happened to cause the rift. The novel is told from the perspectives of both girls in the present day as well as through flashbacks from high school and college.

Liz is now writing for an online magazine that reviews Off-Broadway shows and trying to get on with her life in New York. When she gets a phone call from her mother to come home for her grandmother’s eightieth birthday she is at first hesitant, but decides to go so she can seek revenge on Jessica in the form of her date, a bartender named Liam. Of course things don’t go quite as she planned but Elizabeth goes back to New York and realizes that she is finally able to get on with her life. Shortly after returning though she discovers Jessica waiting outside her apartment door and it seems that after everything the girls are ready to put the past behind them and move on. The girls both head back to Sweet Valley for Jessica’s wedding and Elizabeth discovers a love that she didn’t even know was there all along.

These are not exactly the same Wakefields that we all remember. They drink, swear and have grown up relationships. Yes, there are some inaccuracies with supporting characters and events that happened in previous books, but overall everything seemed so familiar. I don't know that I would recommend this book to anyone new to the Sweet Valley series, or even to those fans that will be able to spot everything that is wrong with this book, but as someone who has fond memories of times spent with these characters this book is a must read.

New Fiction 12/20/11

2011-12-20T08:07:00.012-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Covert Warriors by W.E.B. Griffin
The Devil's Elixir by Raymond Khoury
D.C. Dead by Stuart Woods
Perlmann's Silence by Pascal Mercier

Killing Me Softly by Maggie Shayne

2011-12-17T09:45:00.027-06:00

This is the first of Shayne's Secret of Shadow Falls trilogy. I had read the second one, Kill Me Again, and really enjoyed it, but was surprised to learn that this one, although marketed as romantic suspense, had some elements of paranormal. Fortunately, the supernatural parts were pretty low key, so I plunged ahead and am glad I did, as I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Five years ago, Dawn Jones left Shadow Falls and her first love behind, running away from the ghosts that have haunted her. Her "gift," or more like "curse," was inherited by her father, a now deceased murderer who heard the voices of ghosts that prompted him to kill.

Now, Bryan Kendall needs her back and more than ever. After a night of partying, he awoke to find his lover murdered in his bed. The evidence points to Bryan, a cop, as the main suspect. Even though his captain and mentor, Nick de Marco, believe he is innocent, they can't ignore the law, especially since this killer's M.O. is an exact copycat of the Night Strangler, a closed case from sixteen years ago in which the killer was captured and died in prison.

Now Bryan and Dawn are on the lam, evading arrest while they figure out the truth. Their digging brings them to a college professor who had ties to all the Night Strangler's victims. Working together to save him won't be easy, especially when their previous passions and emotions rears their ugly heads.

Take a Chance On Me by Jill Mansell

2011-12-15T07:40:00.002-06:00

Cleo thinks she has finally found the perfect boyfriend in Will. And she can't wait to rub Johnny LaVenture's nose in it. Of course it is in poor taste to do at his father's wake but Johnny has been Cleo's nemesis since they were kids. But to Cleo's disappoint Will is not the man she thought he was. Now single again, Cleo is off men or so she thinks. Because Johnny is back to stay and he is suddenly not looking so bad.

Abbie is Cleo's older sister. She has the perfect marriage or so she thought. Her husband, Tom, has been acting strange and Cleo is imaging the worse. But when Abbie finds out the truth it is even worse than she thought. And then to makes matters worse, Abbie turns to her boss for comfort. Now these two sisters need to find a way to make their lives the ones they want.

Another winner by Jill Mansell. And the secondary characters are just as good as the main characters!

New Fiction 12/13/11

2011-12-13T07:06:00.018-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Dark Men by Derek Haas
Kill Switch by Jonathan Greene
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo
Locked On by Tom Clancy
Silence by Jan Costin Wagner

Killing Floor by Lee Child

2011-12-10T07:50:00.001-06:00

Jack Reacher has been drifting for the last six months. He has just left the Army and is finally free to do what he wants. But his first day in Margrave, Georgia he is accused of murder. But he has an alibi but it cannot be checked out until Monday. In the meantime he is sent to the local prison where he is supposed to be in a secure location. But an error occurs and he and another man Hubble are put in the worst cell block. Just trying to lay low, Jack soon realizes that it was no accident they are in this cell block. And a hit has been ordered on them. Jack must use all his training to protect himself and Hubble.

Now free Jack wants to move on. But he is drawn into the investigation when the identity of the victim is revealed. Jack will do anything to find the killers and end the corruption in this small town with the help of Detective Finlay and Officer Roscoe, his only allies.

This is the first book in the Jack Reacher series and I am hooked. It has been reported that Tom Cruise is going to play Jack Reacher in the movie. Let's just say I do not picture Tom Cruise when I picture Jack Reacher!

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

2011-12-08T08:50:00.034-06:00

This newest Stephanie Plum novel isn't one of her best. It wasn't as funny as some of the others, and the ongoing love triangle between Stephanie, Morelli, and Ranger gets old. Still, series fans will want to pick this up to find out the what happened in Hawaii (just don't expect any big revelations here).

In Explosive Eighteen, Stephanie has returned from Hawaii and once home discovers an envelope containing a photograph in her messenger bag, which she believes the person sitting next to her in the airport accidentally slipped into her bag. Seeing that it is no importance, it gets pitched in the trash.

Unfortunately, this person from the airport has ended up dead, and she has several people hounding her about the photograph, including his ex-fiance, the fake FBI, the real FBI, and Razzle Dazzle. None of them believe she no longer possess the photograph and won't leave her along until she hands it over.

Meanwhile, Lula, Connie and Stephanie are operating out of a coffee shop since the bonds bus was blown up thanks to an altercation Vinnie had with DeAngelo. Stephanie and Lula go out on their usual hunts for FTAs, but Stephanie's bad juju is bad luck. Grandma thinks it is her love life, and her bowling partner gives Stephanie a love potion. Too bad Lula got to it first and is now in love with one of their most undesirable FTAs.

I have to say I will keep reading these books because Lula is my favorite character and I can't get enough of her. Plus, I am always craving fried chicken after reading a Stephanie Plum book!

New Fiction 12/6/11

2011-12-06T07:05:00.018-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

The Angel Makers by Jessica Gregson
The Artist of Disappearance by Anita Desai
Collateral Damage by Terrell Griffin
Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
Egypt by Nick Drake
The Forgotten Affairs of Youth by Alexander McCall Smith
I Am Gold by Bill James
Murder in Mount Holly by Paul Theroux
Murder Season by Robert Ellis
Mr. Kill Martin Limon
Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell
Slash and Burn by Colin Cotterill
Soft Target by Stephen Hunter
Storm Damage by Ed Kovacs
Supervolcano by Harry Turtledove
The Talk Show Murders by Al Roker
The Thirteen Hallows by Michael Scott
Vigilante by Stephen Cannell

Up Close and Dangerous by Linda Howard

2011-12-01T08:51:00.057-06:00

This quick and exciting read from popular author Howard is a winner! I can't wait to read another one of her books.

Most everyone assumes Bailey Wingate is a gold-digger. How else do you explain the marriage of a thirty-something woman to an elderly business tycoon who dies after only a year of marriage? No one knows the agreement Bailey and Jim came to before he passed, that Bailey would manage the trusts of his two irresponsible and spiteful adult children in exchange for a lifetime of financial security.

Planning a trip to Denver for white-water rafting, Bailey books a flight with the private plane service of the Wingate corporation. At the last minute, Bailey's usual pilot is too ill to fly, meaning she will be flown by his business partner, sourpuss Cam Justice. Cam is none to happy either, annoyed he has to escort the frosty Mrs. Wingate to her destination.

Something goes terribly wrong mid-flight, and the engine abruptly stops. Fortunately for them both, Cam is one of the best pilots out there, and he is able to land them into a tree bank. Although they survived, they sustained terrible injuries. Now stuck on a cold, snowy mountain with no rescue in sight, their only hope of getting out alive depends on trusting each other.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Cam and Bailey, two characters who started out hating each other but eventually fall in love. Additionally, the reader learns what happened to their plane is not what it originally seemed, and Howard throws in an unexpected curve ball towards the end that really made for unpredictable and satisfying read.

New Fiction 11/29/11

2011-11-29T05:17:00.026-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

The Alpine Winter by Mary Daheim
An Amish Wedding by Beth Wiseman
Angel of Darkness by Cynthia Eden
Dead by Nightfall by Beverly Barton
Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
Hunter of Shadows by Nancy Gideon
Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless by Kiki Swinson
The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose
Queen of America by Luis Alberto Urrea
Vampires Dead Ahead by Cheyenne McCray
Within the Flames by Majorie Liu
You're Not the One by Alexandra Potter

The Next Always by Nora Roberts

2011-11-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

Beckett Montgomery has been in love with Clare Murphy since he was sixteen. But she was in love with another and moved away. But when her husband was killed in action, Clare moved back home with two sons and one on the away. Now six years later, Clare Murphy Brewster has a bookstore and three sons and Beckett is still in love.

Inn Boonsboro is being restored by Beckett, his two brothers, Owen and Ryder, and their mom, Justine. Every room will be named after literary characters with a happy ending. For example Elizabeth and Darcy, Buttercup and Westley, and Eve and Roarke. Beckett is proud of what they are accomplishing but he is still wants Clare. He has finally decided to make his move. But it is hard to schedule a date with three kids and a business.

They find an opening and have a great time. But there is someone else out there who wants Clare. And he isn't taking no for an answer. As their relationship grows so does the menace of the other man who wants her. Will Clare and Beckett find there happy ending?

The Next Always is the first book in the Inn Boonsboro trilogy. And if the other two are anything like this one, it will be another winner for Nora Roberts!

Killer Takes All by Erica Spindler

2011-11-24T08:50:00.032-06:00

I love you Erica Spindler! I don't know if it is the New Orleans settings, the engaging characters, or the twisty plots that keep me reading her, but I don't intend to stop.

Spindler's books really aren't series, but some of them feature minor characters from previous books that become the main characters in other books. Killer Takes All features one of the Malone brothers, Spencer, and Jane's sister from See Jane Die, Stacy Killian.

Stacy Killian is an ex-cop from Dallas who has moved to New Orleans for graduate school intending to leave the grueling life of police work behind. But once a cop, always a cop, and when her neighbors are murdered, Stacy makes a commitment to track down Cassie's killer.

Detective Spencer Malone isn't exactly thrilled with a civilian's involvement in his case. However, with no viable leads, Spencer agrees to look into Stacy's theory that Cassie and her roommate's death has to do with the role playing game, White Rabbit. Unlike other RPGs, White Rabbit isn't mainstream and takes it to another level that involves eradicating everyone until there is only one left standing.

Stacy teams up with White Rabbit's creator, Leo Noble, who has been receiving threatening postcards that pose the game's characters in gruesome death scenes. Leo, however, innocent as he seems, may know more than he is letting on.

New Fiction 11/22/11

2011-11-22T05:17:00.024-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Cat Telling Tales by Shirley Rousseau
Come a Little Closer by Dorothy Garlock
Dead Last by James Hall
Dead Man's Grip by Peter James
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
The Impossible Dead by Ian Rankin
Longing by Karen Kingsbury
Micro by Michael Crichton
Miss Dimple Rallies to the Cause by Mignon Franklin Ballard
Physical Education by Maggie Barbieri
Swift Edge by Laura Disilverio
The Third Reich by Roberto Bolano
Three-Day Town by Margaret Maron
Well-Tempered Clavicle by Piers Anthony

When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer

2011-11-19T07:18:00.001-06:00

Lady Mary "Molly" Fairbanks has a knack for finding trouble. But when her fiance ditches her on the way to their elopement it wasn't her fault. The fault lies with Lord Harry Traemore. Her childhood nemesis. His mistress and her fiance left together. Now Harry is in a bind and needs a favor from Molly. But with their track record it won't be easy to convince Molly to be is false mistress.

The Prince Regent has come up with the game to find the most delectable companion. The winner does not have to wed for a year and the loser has to marry someone of the board's choosing. Harry is not ready to wed and he had the perfect mistress in Fiona. Now with no Fiona, Harry needs Molly to step in.

Molly doesn't want to go back to her life so she reluctantly agrees. At first she is awful as a mistress but starts to get the hang of things and starts winning over the other mistresses. But what she didn't expect is to start to like Harry. And Harry never expected to like Molly but she is all he can think about. As they continue the charade their feelings deepen until Harry comes up with a plan to keep Molly forever.

When Harry Met Molly is the first book in the Impossible Bachelors series. This is definitely one to read.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

2011-11-17T10:58:00.004-06:00

“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was” (347).

A creative and imaginative child, Jacob Portman was enchanted by his grandfather’s unusual bedtime stories about special children with strange abilities and magical powers. As the novel opens we find an older, skeptical and more jaded version of Jacob, shocked and grief-stricken by his grandfather’s unexpected death. His discovery of a bizarre collection of photographs among his grandfather’s possessions sends him searching for answers about his past.

Jacob’s journey initially leads him to a remote island off the coast of Wales. Here he finds Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the orphanage where his grandfather grew up. As Jacob explores the elaborate estate, at first seemingly dilapidated and abandoned, he begins to doubt the possibility that his grandfather’s fantastical stories could be true. Jacob ultimately discovers, however, that the stories are not only true, but that the children in the photographs are still alive, frozen in time, re-living the same day over and over again for the past seventy years. As he falls further and further down the rabbit hole, Jacob finds himself becoming one of them, trapped between two realities, struggling to determine what’s real.

Filled with eclectic details and laced with dark humor, the novel is also accentuated by a sense of ominous foreboding, echoed in Jacob’s belief that he is being followed by some invisible, malevolent force. While the subject, tone and writing style lend themselves primarily to a young adult audience, this book could be enjoyed by readers of various age groups. The vintage photography incorporated throughout lends a unique supplemental feature to this novel, a must-read for anyone who loves YA-Crossover, Paranormal Fiction and Fantasy.

New Fiction 11/15/11

2011-11-15T05:16:00.025-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

The Angel Esmeralda by Don DeLillo
Bones Under the Beach Hut by Simon Brett
Dollhouse by Kim Kardashian
KBI by John Weisman
Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
Our Man in the Dark by Rashad Harrison
Revan by Drew Karpyshyn
The Silver Lotus by Thomas Steinbeck
V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

2011-11-12T07:15:00.002-06:00

Gaby is getting married. It has been three years since her beloved husband has died and Gaby is ready. The only problem is no one knows who she is marrying including the groom! Three men have asked for her hand and she decided that on Christmas day she will have her wedding and let the groom know then. Gaby is confident in her decision and knows that the other two men will understand.

Her four kids are just as curious but they also have there own lives to worry about. Lizzie's husband Mike has cancer. Emily is trying to make partner at her law firm. Claire is thinking about leaving her husband, and Seth is trying to sell his novel. But with all their issues, they will do anything for Gaby including showing up for a Christmas wedding that doesn't have a groom!

I really enjoyed this book. It is a fast read and it is wonderful to see a family stick by each other and love each other so much. If you are in the mood for Christmas, I definitely recommend The Christmas Wedding!

The Widow by Carla Neggers

2011-11-10T07:05:00.032-06:00

This is the first Carla Neggers book I have read and The Widow is the first book in her Boston PD-FBI series. I would be willing to read her again, but I wasn't dying to finish this book either. How all the characters were connected seemed a bit confusing and implausible.

Boston homicide detective Abigail Browning FBI husband's, Chris's, murder has been unsolved for seven years. On the anniversary of his death, Abigail receives a prank call from someone claiming to know more about the murder of her husband. Is it really a prank or is something more sinister going on? Tormented by the thought of Chris's killer running free, Abigail goes back to his family cottage in Mt. Desert, Maine in hopes of bringing the killer out.

Not everyone in this quiet town is happy about her return. Grace Cooper has the FBI snooping around before she is approved for a prestigious Washington position. Mattie Young, Chris's old friend, is Grace's uncle's yard man who uses the old Garrison property near Abigail's cottage for private parties. Linc, Grace's brother, was just a kid when Chris died, and knows about the burglaries that happened around that time. None of them want Chris's death stirred up again.

The only one who wants the truth brought to light is her neighbor, the sexy Owen Garrison, who also lost someone important to him years ago near the same place Chris's body was found.

The killer isn't revealed until the end, although there are plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. The mystery behind Chris's killer and the romantic parts were strong, but I was just disappointed in some of the elements of the plot and characters. Not all the characters or back stories return in the other books in this series, so they can be read as standalones.

New Fiction 11/8/11

2011-11-08T05:16:00.020-06:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

11/22/63 by Stephen King
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
Battle of the Crater by Newt Gingrich
Blink of an Eye by William Cohen
The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol
A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch
Coffin Man by James Doss
A Dark and Lonely Place by Edna Buchanan
Endurance by Jay Lake
Hot Water by Erin Brockovich
The Ionia Sanction by Gary Corby
Love and Shame and Love by Peter Orner
The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco
Rain Falls Like Mercy by Jack Todd
Scholar by L.E. Modesitt
The Sisters by Nancy Jensen
The Templar Magician by P.C. Doherty
The Time in Between by Maria Duenas
White Truffles in Winter by N.M. Kelby

At the Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker

2011-11-05T08:18:00.000-05:00

Madelyn Heywood will do anything not to be one of the seven women picked to participate in the bride hunt ball. So when she sees the envelope coming her way she does what any sensible girl would do: run. She goes into the garden and meets Gabriel Devine. Not knowing he is the Duke, the one responsible for the ball, Madelyn lets her guard down and lets him know how she feels. While she is distracted, Gabriel slips her the invite.

Not really having a choice, Madelyn is resigned to the fact she has to go. Her mean stepmother is promising her the cottage she grew up in if she catches the eye of the Duke and not his brother, Tristan, the one the ball is for. Madelyn is also going to keep an eye on her best friend, Charlotte. But Madelyn is in for a shock when she finds Gabriel there and he is the Duke.

Gabriel Devine, the Duke of Wolverston, wants perfection. Knowing he will never find it in a wife he has come up with the idea for the ball to marry his younger brother off. What he didn't expect was to like Madelyn Heywood. He tries to stay away but he can't stop thinking of her. Now he just as to convince her to take a chance on him.

I really enjoyed this book. I just found my next favorite historical romance author! The next book is Charlotte's story called To Wed a Wicked Earl.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

2011-11-03T07:48:00.037-05:00

Just like The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Selznick's new story, Wonderstruck, has something so special and magical that it will appeal to event adults, especially those who have a appreciation for history, museums and a young boy trying to find his way in the world.

While going through his mother's things after her death, Ben Wilson, who now lives in his cousin's cabin in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota, finds an old book called Wonderstruck, written by a curator of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Out of the book falls a bookmark with a cryptic note, which makes Ben ponder whether the note came from his father, the man whose existence was always a mystery.

During this stormy night, Ben attempts to call the number on the bookmark, hoping to find out about his father, when he suddenly blacks out. The next thing he knows is that he is in the hospital, recovering from being struck by lightning. Already deaf in one ear, the accident has caused deafness in his other ear, and now he cannot hear at all.

Ben sneaks out of the hospital and sets out for the big city in hopes of learning about his father. His journey brings him to the American Museum of Natural History, which is like a beckon calling him home. What he learns there about his own history will change his life forever.

The story is told in a combination of words and pictures, and alternates between the 1920's and the 1970's. It is not everyday that an adult fiction reader like myself gets to experience a story told through pictures, so this was such a special treat. I don't want to give too much away, so just read it and be prepared to fall in love with this book!

New Fiction for 11/1/11

2011-11-01T10:49:00.000-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

The Next Always by Nora Roberts
Christmas Treasures by Thomas Kinkade
The Corn Maiden by Joyce Carol Oates
Hotel Vendome by Danielle Steel
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
Lost December by Richard Paul Evans
Mercury's Rise by Ann Parker
Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire
Petrified by Graham Masterson
Prince of Ravenscar by Catherine Coulter
Roam by Alan Lazar
Stone Spring by Stephen Baxter
Until Thy Wrath Be Past by Asa Larsson
The Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
The Wild Ways by Tanya Huff

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2011-10-29T07:35:00.011-05:00

Celia Bowen was given to her father after her mother committed suicide. Not really interested in the child, Hector Bowen aka Prospero the Enchanter, doesn't want the bother. But then he discover she has magic just like him and he decides to train her. But just as the training begins a man in a grey suit shows up. They decide to make a challenge. Celia versus an opponent of the grey suit man's choosing and a venue created by Chandresh Christophe Lefevre. Celia is given a silver ring which binds her to the challenge.

Marco Alisdair is found in an orphanage by the man in the grey suit. He is trained by the man in the grey suit to win the challenge. He is given a gold ring that binds him. However neither Marco nor Celia know who their opponent is.

Le Cirque des Reves or the Circus of Dreams is created. And in this circus is a magical world. The circus just shows up and leaves without warning and is only open at night. But within a duel is happening that no one knows about except Celia and Marco. But what they don't know is that the only way to win is for one of them to die.

With an array of characters The Night Circus is one magical read. There is magic, romance, and intrigue. My review is not doing this excellent book justice. All I can say is read it!!

The Accident by Linwood Barclay

2011-10-27T07:38:00.003-05:00

I discovered Barclay a few years ago when I read Never Look Away, and I loved it so much that I had to go back and read all of his other books, naturally. The Accident is another winner with not one but two unsuspecting turn of events at the end. This book would be an easy transition for fans of Kate White's Bailey Wiggins mysteries.

Barclay's protagonist, Glen Garber, is reeling at the shocking death of his wife Sheila. When she didn't return home from her night class, she was eventually found drunk and behind the wheel of her car which she parked on a freeway exit ramp. Besides killing herself, the two people in the car that hit her also died. Sheila never had a drinking problem, so he can't understand how she could do this, especially since she left behind Kelly, their eight-year-old daughter.

When Kelly spends the night at her friend's house shortly after Sheila's death, she not only overhears but also inadvertently records a phone conversation her friend's mom has in which she tells someone they will get a bullet to their head. When Ann discovers her hiding in the closet, she tells Kelly she can't talk about the conversation. Glenn feels something isn't quite right here, especially since Ann's husband has been trying to talk to Kelly about the conversation his wife had.

Besides Ann's Slocum's odd behavior at the sleepover, it comes to light that she may be involved with some very shady characters who provide the knock-off purses she sells for extra income, and that somehow Sheila might be connected to this illegal business. The more Glen digs, the more he finds their circle of friends are all involved with the knock-off sales that make him question if Sheila's death was really an "accident."

New Fiction for 10/25/11

2011-10-25T07:21:00.021-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
A Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry
The Christmas Note by Donna Vanliere
Christmas in Sugarcreek by Shelley Shepard Gray
A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander
The Litigators by John Grisham
The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts
Ranchero by Rick Gavin
The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston
Tides of War by Stella Tillyard

Living on the Edge by Shannon K. Butcher

2011-10-22T06:21:00.005-05:00

Sloane Gideon must get to Columbia and rescue her friend Gina. But first she has to finish her bodyguard job. Guarding a businessman at a party, Sloane is counting down the minutes. Things start getting interesting when she is approached by a strange man and then gunfire erupts. Next thing she knows, the man is trying to stop her from going to Columbia. But Sloane outsmarts him and makes it to her plane.

Lucas Ramsey is just trying to do a favor for the General. But the General didn't warn him that the woman he was supposed to prevent from going to Columbia is a mercenary for a company called Edge. Now Lucas is in Columbia trying to track her down. The General also forget to mention Sloane was his daughter and Sloane wasn't too fond of the General. When Lucas finally catches up with Sloane he does everything he can to convince her that they should team up to get Gina. Reluctantly she agrees. Now they must navigate a jungle and there feelings for each other to reach Gina in time.

This is the first book in the Edge series. Really enjoyed it and cannot wait for the next one to come out in November!

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

2011-10-20T14:53:00.026-05:00

Bestselling author Sparks follows his usual formula of love and tragedy in his newest book, The Best of Me. Fans of Spark will know what to except, but newcomers might be disappointed if they are looking for a feel good ending.

Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole (not Leery, although there is a creek) have your typical Romeo and Juliet love affair. They meet in high school in Oriental, North Carolina, where Amanda comes from a well-to-do family while Dawson, on the other hand, comes from a family who has a long history of violence, drugs, and prison. Dawson is unlike the other Coles, and despite threats from his family, he goes out on his own by moving in with Tuck, a local man who owns the garage where Dawson works.

Neither family approves of their relationship, and Amanda's parents refuse to send her to college unless she ends her romance with Dawson. Although it tears him apart, he makes the selfless decision to let Amanda go.

Fast forward twenty years, and Amanda is a married woman with three children. Dawson never loved another woman again and now works on oil rig off the Gulf Coast. Tuck has just passed away, and Dawson and Amanda are going to be reunited again when they are asked to follow through with the instructions of Tuck's will.

New Fiction for 10/18/11

2011-10-18T07:57:00.016-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Bonnie by Iris Johansen
Damned by Chuck Palahniuk
Double Dexter by Jeffry P. Lindsay
Ed King by David Guterson
The Infernals by John Connolly
The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
The Maid by Kimberly Cutter
Najing Requiem by Ha Jin
Power and Beauty by T.I. Harris
Scenes From Village Life by Amos Oz
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
Zone One by Colson Whitehead

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

2011-10-15T07:10:00.000-05:00

This is an entertaining suspense debut and first in a new series from novelist Williams, especially if you like Evanovich's Stephanie Plum character and can handle a little bit more edge.

Recovering alcoholic Keye Street has been fired from her position as an FBI criminologist and now owns her own PI/bail bonds/corporate security business. Working along side her is expert hacker and frequent stoner Neil. In addition to clients, Keye and Neil receive visits from her friend and Atlantic PD cop Aaron Rauser and Charlie, a handicapped bike courier who always brings presents.

Although reluctant, Keye eventually relents and agrees to help Aaron work up a profile for a killer whose victims are sexually mutilated, raped, and stabbed. Because the killer, who the media has dubbed Wishbone, leaves no forensic evidence behind, Rauser suspects he has a special knowledge of how the authorities process crime scenes. The crimes will start getting personal when Keye receives the next letter from the killer bragging about his latest conquest.

Even behind all gruesome murders, you may find yourself chuckling at Street and the situations she gets into from time to time. I also really liked the first person narration that allowed the reader to understand the story through Keye's eyes. Readers can also look forward to a twist at the end as well.

Defnitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you are a Jane Austen fan and looking for a light, fun read, check out Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos. Chloe Parker is a single mom with a failing business and loves Jane Austen and the Regency era. She applies for a British television show about Jane, hoping to win the $100,000 prize through trivia contests. However, when she arrives, she learns that she will be living as if it is 1812 and competing to win the heart of handsome Mr. Wrightman. It's The Bachelor meets Survivor meets Jane Austen!

So Chloe needs to live without cell phones, email, indoor plumbing, hot baths and deodorant and perfect her Regency era skills of bonnet trimming, archery, tea parties, and playing the pianoforte all while camera crews film her every move. To win the prize money, she also needs to compete for Mr. Wrightman's attention and earn a marriage proposal from him. Not easy to do with a chaperone always present!

Chloe is determined to earn the prize money, but doesn't think she is ready to fall in love again. Her journey is full of laughs and frustration, and the competition is tough!

New Fiction for 10/11/11

2011-10-11T07:02:00.023-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

As the Pig Turns by M.C. Beaton
Bad Moon by Todd Ritter
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
The Children of the Sky by Vernor Vinge
The Dark at the d End by F. Paul Wilson
Harbor by John Lindqvist
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
Snuff by Terry Pratchett
The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst
Troubled Bones by Jeri Westerson

Close Enough to Kill by Beverly Barton

2011-10-08T09:45:00.013-05:00

Prolific romance author Beverly Barton, who sadly passed away earlier this year, has a solid and intriguing story in Close Enough to Kill. Jim Norton recently accepted a position as police captain in the small town of Adam's Landing, Alabama to be closer to his son Kevin.

When a young, pretty, and popular brunette's body is discovered naked and posed, sheriff Bernie Granger is shocked that a violent crime could penetrate the safe walls of her idyllic town, and she is leaning on the help of Jim, as captain, to catch this killer. But even Jim, who has experience with violent crimes from his time in Memphis, can't outsmart this guy before a body of another pretty Brunette is turns up again.

Their killer takes his time stalking his victims by sending them jewelry and love notes. The women are flattered that they have a secret admirer until the correspondence gets more vicious, at which point the she is abducted, raped, tortured and killed. It is soon revealed that the victims had known their killer and willingly left with him, but which resident of Adams Landing could do this?

As the case heats up with more and more women missing, so does the heat between the nurturing Bernie and Jim, who craves the love of a women he can trust after having his heart broken by his ex-wife.

Barton really keeps you guessing by not revealing the killer' identity until the very end. The romantic elements between Bernie and Jim as well as a a page-turning plot made for a very enjoyable read, and I am sad that we won't hear more from this talented author.

Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg

2011-10-06T08:34:00.003-05:00

Even if you are not a fan of Simon Pegg, chances are you've seen in him in one of his movies - Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Run Fatboy, Run and, most recently, Paul. As a particular fan of his work, I was super-excited to see that he had written an auto-biography, but hesitant because the vast majority of biographies that I have read usually turn me off of that person. Happily, this is not one of those. Pegg has written a poignant, sweet, and funny tale of his life thus far.

Born into a middle-class family in western England, Pegg's mother was an amateur actress and his father a musician, so his creative apple didn't fall far from the tree. Growing up in the 1970's and 80's, he details his triumphs and tragedies, first loves and bromances, and throughout it all his adoration of science fiction and other nerdy pursuits. He even includes the autobiography he WISHED he could write, interspersed with the factual accounts, detailing his superhero-like prowess, rugged handsomeness and robotic sidekick.

I don't believe this book will broaden Pegg's appeal beyond those who are already fans - but if you are interested in reading more about him and his background, give this bio a try.

New Fiction for 10/4/11

2011-10-04T06:55:00.012-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

The Ares Decision by Kyle Mills
Cain by Jose Saramago
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
Changes by Mercedes Lackey
The Chocolate Castle Clue by Joanna Carl
The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
Down These Strange Streets by George R.R. Martin
Falling Together by Marisa De Los Santos
The Great Leader by Jim Harrison
Headstone by Ken Bruen
Lionheart by Sharon Penman
The Lost Angel by Javier Sierra
Murder Unleashed by Rita Mae Brown
Neverwinter by R.A. Salvatore
The Night Strangers by Christopher Bohjalian
The Sandburg Connection by Mark De Castrique
Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs
Shock Wave by John Sandford
Stolen Souls by Stuart Neville
The Very Picture of You by Isabel Wolff
The Visible Man by Check Klosterman
Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

Inside by Brenda Novak

2011-10-01T09:57:00.010-05:00

Inside, the first in the Bulletproof Trilogy, was just OKAY. There weren't a lot of twist and turns, but a focus on prison gangs made for a compelling read nonetheless.

Peyton Adams, Chief Deputy Warden of Pelican Bay, has made her concerns known, but the director of the California Corrections and Rehabilitation, Rick Wallace, will put Virgil Skinner's life in danger to get what he wants whether she approves or not.

Skinner, an ex-con who was exonerated after being incarcerated for fourteen years for the murder of his stepfather, made a deal with the Feds that he would go undercover to get the proof Wallace needs to convict the Hells Fury gang for ordering a hit on Judge Garcia. In return, the Feds will protect his sister and her two kids from his ex-gang, The Crew. Peyton knows that putting Skinner inside is a huge risk, and she will do whatever it takes to protect a man that she knows is dangerous, but that she just can't resist.

I didn't know a lot about prison gangs beforehand, so I felt that this made for a refreshing read, and the romantic elements between Skinner and Peyton helped to propel the story. Fans of the television series Prison Break will definitely like this one.

Hush by Cherry Adair

2011-09-29T07:39:00.004-05:00

Acadia Gray cannot believe what is happening. She woke from her one night stand in Venezuela to find herself surrounded by men with guns. Now kidnapped with her one night stand, Zak, and his brother, Gideon, Acadia doesn't know what is going to happen. She finds herself locked in a cell with Zak and Gideon is in another one. After a daring escape, Acadia, Zak and Gideon are on the run in the jungle.

Zakary Stark let is guard down for the first time in two years and now he is running for his life in the jungle. It doesn't help that he cannot stop remembering the hot night he had with Acadia. Zak and Gideon decided to split up and no sooner Zak is shot in the arm. Acadia steps up and saves his life. But when they get to the rendezvous point to meet Gideon he isn't there.

Not knowing who to trust Zak and Acadia try and find out where Gideon is and who is behind the kidnapping. And when Zak gets a sixth sense he will have to figure it out before they all end up dead.

Another great book by Cherry Adair! I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I highly recommend all of Cherry's books!

New Fiction for 9/27/11

2011-09-27T07:44:00.032-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber
The Affair by Lee Child
Aleph by Paulo Coelho
An Angel for Christmas by Heather Graham
The Barbarian Nurseries by Hector Tobar
Coup d'Etat by Ben Coes
The Deception at Lyme by Carrie Bebris
Defensive Wounds by Lisa Black
Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke
Ghost Hero by R.J. Rozan
Half Past Dawn by Richard Doetsch
His Mistress by Christmas by Victoria Alexander
It's Classified by Nicolle Wallace
A Lawman's Christmas by Linda Lael Miller
Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks
Luminous Airplanes by Paul Lafarge
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods
River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh
Skating Over the Line by Joelle Charbonneau
Tag Man by Archer Mayor

The Surrogate by Tania Carver

2011-09-24T07:27:00.015-05:00

Wow! If you like a thriller that will keep you up all night, then this is the book for you! Unimaginable crimes, a bleak English setting, and short chapters make for a fast read you won't want to put down.

In The Surrogate, detective constable Phil Brenan has just walked into the fourth crime seen of a murdered pregnant woman. In the first few cases, the baby was cut out and left near the body, but now the baby has been removed from the victim's body. His team believes that there is a possibility the infant could still be alive, given the fact that the mother was almost to term, so every second that passes means an innocent child is in further danger.

Joining his team is criminal psychologist Marina, who believes the killer is not the detectives' main suspect. Even though their suspect has connections to several of the victims, he doesn't fit the profile. There is a good subplot here involving Phil and Marina, who first met on a previous case and were once lovers. There relationship fell apart when the case had comprised Marina's life. Marina, now pregnant, is in another relationship.

The plot skips around from Phil's team and his corrupt assistant, Clayton, to a woman named Hester who has the baby in her possession. Disturbing is the best word I can think of to describe Hester, and your palms will be sweating until you know the child's fate. I loved this book, and I can't wait to read what Carver has in store for her readers next.

Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare

2011-09-22T07:49:00.000-05:00

Senator Reece Sheridan never expected to meet a woman like Kara McMillan. He is interested from the start even though she is a investigative journalist. Kara doesn't want to get her heart broken again. The last time was by her son Connor's father, who has nothing to do with them. Reluctantly Kara agrees to go on a date with Reece. She is surprised how much she enjoyed herself and wary of the feelings she is developing.

On the work front, Kara has been contacted by a whistle blower. The person has evidence of the company they work for is dumping toxic materials into drinking water. Kara follows the leads and finds disturbing results. One of those results is leading her right to Reece's door. Is he involved? One thing is for sure, Kara is making people angry. Angry enough to kill.

The I Team series is a great romantic suspense series. Extreme Exposure is book number one.

New Fiction for 9/20/11

2011-09-20T08:33:00.016-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Getting Off by Lawrence Block
Heat Rises by Richard Castle
I'll See You in My Dreams by William Deverell
Letha l by Sandra Brown
Last Man in Tower by Aravind Adiga
Son of Stone by Stuart Woods

Dying Scream by Mary Burton

2011-09-17T07:20:00.025-05:00

The new owner of the Colonies, the Thornton estate bequeathed to Adrianna Barrington after the passing of her husband, required the family cemetery on the property be moved before he agreed to purchase the home. The sale of the home hits a snag when the grave diggers happen upon 2 bodies of young women in unmarked graves.

This is the perfect opportunity for Detective Gage Hudson to reopen the case of a missing women who he has always suspected was involved with Adrianna's husband, Craig, but he could never prove it. Adrianna swears she knew nothing of Craig's infidelity, but clearly someone wanted these women kept quiet.

The reader knows the killer calls himself Craig, as we get glimpses of the snuff films he is making with the women he abducts. The question is did Craig fake his own death, and if so, how? And if the killer isn't Craig, Burton puts suspicion in so many of the characters that when the story ends with a unexpected twist, even the most astute readers will be surprised.

The sex scenes are pretty mild, so this book should please many readers looking for a page-turning story and don't care about romantic elements. Those who like steamy sex with their suspense should look elsewhere.

This is also available for check out as an eBook from MyMediaMall.

Prey by Linda Howard

2011-09-15T07:45:00.001-05:00

Angie Powell has lost. She has to sell her home and business and it is all Dare Callahan's fault. If he hadn't come back two years ago and opened his own wilderness business Angie wouldn't be in this mess. But he did and it doesn't help that everytime she sees him she gets butterflies. She has one last job to do and then she will worry. A repeat client, Chad Krugman, is bringing a business associate, Mitchell Davis, who wants to hunt a bear. Being terrified of bears doesn't help Angie but she needs the money.

Dare Callahan has a week off. But Harlan, a friend of Angie's and Dare's, has an uneasy feeling about Angie going into the woods with two strange men. So Dare reluctantly agrees to be in the same area as Angie and check up on her. After a day of fishing, Dare returns to his camp. While getting ready for the night Dare hears gunshots coming from Angie's camp. Dare gets his horse and takes off.

Angie is trying to sleep when she hears Chad and Mitchell arguing. As she goes to investigate a storm arrives. As she nears Chad and Mitchell, she watches as Chad shoots Mitchell and then turns the gun on her. She manages to get out of the way but knows she needs to get away. Before she can a black bear appears and attacks Mitchell's body. Chad runs off with the horses and Angie manages to get away before the bear scents her.

Now on the run from Chad and bear and in a terrifying storm, Angie must get to safety. Before she can Angie gets injured. Thinking she is all alone she is relieved when Dare finds her. Dare takes her back to his camp and they wait out the storm and plan how to get to safety since Chad and the bear aren't accounted for yet. Being stuck together, Dare and Angie will either work out their feelings for each other or kill each other. And before they get to safety there will be a final showdown between them, Chad and the bear.

Another fantastic book by Linda Howard. I love how she told the story from the point of view of everyone including the bear! I just wish Linda would write more than a book a year!!

New Fiction for 9/13/11

2011-09-13T08:08:00.021-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb
The Blood Royal by Barbara Cleverly
Forbidden by Ted Dekker
Goddess of Vengeance by Jackie Collins
Hot Property by Michele Kleier
King of Badgers by Philip Hensher
Kings of Vice by Ice-T
Lassiter by Paul Levine
Light From a Distant Star by Mary McGarry Morris
Prospero Regained by L. Jagi Lamplighter
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten
Or the Bull Kills You by Jason Webster
Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues by Michael Brandman
There But for The by Ali Smith
The Vault by Ruth Rendell
Wife-in-Law by Haywood Smith

Mile 81 by Stephen King

2011-09-10T07:27:00.003-05:00

This new story by Stephen King has been published in eBook format only. Unfortunately, Scribner (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) does not license their content for library lending. The only way to get this title is by shelling out the $2.99 to buy it from your eBook retailer. Although I did enjoy this quick and intense read, it probably is not worth the money for a 43 page book!

In Mile 81, too young to do bike jumps with his older brother and friends, Pete Simmons decides to seek his own danger by checking out the abandoned rest stop on a Maine expressway where all the teens hang out. In the deserted and dilapidated Burger King, he finds an awesome treasure, a half full bottle of vodka, which he proceeds to take shots of until he passes out on a stained mattress.

Meanwhile, Doug Clayton pulls into the rest stop when he sees a station wagon covered in mud with its front door left open. He is concerned the driver is hurt and is hoping he can help. What he doesn't know is that the car will take his life, and poor Mr Clayton won't be the last person whose life will end at the hands of this car.

This was such a good set-up for a full length novel, and I was disappointed to see it end so quickly. However, be on the look out for his novel coming out this fall called 11/22/63, which is about a man who travels back in time to prevent JFK's assassination. This should be something different from the prolific King.

Trace of Fever by Lori Foster

2011-09-08T07:43:00.000-05:00

Trace Rivers is undercover to stop Murray Coburn who runs a human trafficking operation. He is posing as Murray's bodyguard. Much to his annoyance a woman shows up and is insisting that she is Murray's daughter. This is one complication Trace didn't see coming and she could jeopardizes the entire operation.

Priscilla Patterson is out to kill Murray Coburn. The only way she can infiltrate his organization is to claim to be his daughter, which could be true. Priss wants revenge for what Murray did to her mother. She didn't count on Trace though. She knows he is more than a bodyguard. She even figured out he is undercover.

Now Trace has to keep Priss safe without blowing his cover. Easier said than done considering Priss is hellbent on killing Murray. Trace takes Priss to a safe house, his partner Dare's (When You Dare) place. While there, they regroup and come up with a plan to take down Murray. Trace will do anything to keep Priss safe even if it means risking his operation.

Another awesome book by Lori Foster! There's suspense, sex and great characters. What more can you ask for! Look for the next book in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series, Savor the Danger.

New Fiction for 9/6/11

2011-09-06T08:28:00.014-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Birds of Paradise by Diane Abu-Jaber
The Bone House by Stephen Lawhead
The Burning Soul by John Connolly
A Crack in Everything by Angela Gerst
I Married You for Happiness by Lily Tuck
The Mercy by Beverly Lewis
Murder in the 11th House by Mitchell Scott Lewis
Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen
The Perfect Suspect by Margaret Coel
Prey by Linda Howard
The Race by Clive Cussler
Sanctus by Simon Toyne
Second Nature by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Secret Obsession by Kimberly Lawson Roby
The Tale of Castle Cottage by Susan Wittig Albert
Trackers by Deon Meyer

Hot Blooded by Lisa Jackson

2011-09-03T07:58:00.029-05:00

The first in Jackson's New Orleans series, Hot Blooded has just the right amount of hot sex scenes and complex plot threads to keep you on your toes. After returning from a disastrous Mexican holiday with ex-boyfriend David, Samantha, a.k.a "Dr. Sam," arrives home to find a sinister message on her machine and a publicity shot of her with the eyes blacked out in the mail.

The threats intensify when "John" calls into Sam's radio program, Midnight Confessions, informing her she will soon pay for her sins. To make matters worst, a second caller claims to be Annie Seger, a young girl who committed suicide nine years earlier. Annie was a scared, pregnant teenager who repeatedly called into Sam's show and who Sam couldn't convince to seek help for her problems before it was too late.

New, sexy neighbor Ty Wheeler is keeping an eye on Sam during the turmoil. He claims to be a struggling novelist, but harbors secrets that may just be related to Annie's suicide. Meanwhile, Rick Bentz, the detective who is looking into Sam's threats, is also investigating a string of murders involving prostitutes who are positioned in a praying position after death. Could these killings, which obviously have a religious tone, be connected to Dr. Sam's case?

This fast-paced story makes Jackson a good choice for fans of Karen Robards and Erica Spindler. I can't wait to read Cold Blooded, the next one in the series!

One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming

2011-09-01T07:43:00.000-05:00

In this seventh book of the series, Clare Fergusson returns to the upstate New York town of Millers Kill after an 18-month long tour of duty as a helicopter pilot in Iraq. Waiting for her are boyfriend Russ Van Alstyne (the local police chief) and her position as priest of St. Alban's Episcopal Church. The adjustment back to civilian life is difficult, and Clare tries to cope by joining a support group for veterans. But while Clare is very dedicated to caring for her parishioners, she does not adequately care for her own emotional and physical needs. She finds solace in an unfortunate over-reliance on alcohol and pills which she hides from the devoted Russ.

When Tally McNabb, a young woman from Clare's support group, is found dead in her swimming pool, the assumption is that the guilt of an affair during her stint in Iraq has led to her suicide. Clare is not convinced, however, and begins digging into the possibility that Tally was murdered. The mystery of Tally's death soon pulls in many threads from other characters and events in the novel, making the plot more multi-dimensional that it originally appears. There is also a tie to a character who figured prominently in an earlier book in the series, so you'll probably enjoy this book more if you've read the earlier entries.

Spencer-Fleming is a very good writer who sets a high standard for language, plot development and character development. She does an excellent job of exploring the difficulties faced by our returning veterans and, as always, draws us into the complex but loving relationship between Clare and Russ. The book ends with a hook that will definitely make you want to read the next entry in the series! I highly recommend this book for mystery fans who appreciate good writing and enjoy a dash of romance.

New Fiction for 8/30/11

2011-08-30T06:26:00.024-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

40 Love by Madeleine Wickham
The Burning by Jane Casey
The Dubious Salvation of Jack V. by Jacques Strauss
The Emperor of Lies by Steve Sem-Sandberg
End of Days by Robert Gleason
Heartwishes by Jude Deveraux
The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger
Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
Rip Tide by Stella Remington
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Train Dreams by Denis Johnson

Sister by Rosamund Lupton

2011-08-27T07:44:00.001-05:00

Beatrice "Bee" Hemming just got a phone call from her mother in London. Bee's sister, Tess, has gone missing. Bee takes the next flight from New York to London to find out what is happening. Tess is a 21 year old art student and 8 months pregnant. What Bee finds when she gets to London is a whole lot of unanswered questions.

When Tess's body is found and ruled a suicide, Bee isn't satisfied. She knows her sister would never take her own life. With everyone against her, Bee is on her own trying to find Tess's murderer. Could it be her married lover? Or the art student who was obsessed with Tess? Or did Tess commit suicide?

I didn't write a long review because I didn't want to give anything away. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It keeps you guessing until the end. And the love between the sisters shows in Rosamund's writing. I cannot wait for Rosamund Lupton's next book!

Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose

2011-08-25T07:53:00.039-05:00

While Dana Dupinsky, who runs a shelter for abused women and children in Chicago, waits to pick up her new clients, Jane Doe and son Erik, at the bus terminal, she is clonked in the head by a mugger trying to run away with an elderly woman's purse. To the rescue is Ethan Buchanan, who is at the station watching security tapes in hopes of locating someone a woman on the lam.

After ensuring she is okay, Ethan makes a date to meet Dana for breakfast, wanting to learn more about the woman who he clearly desires. Ethan tells Dana he is a P.I. working on a custody case in which a mother ran away with her son. What he can't reveal is that he is looking for his godson, who was kidnapped by a woman who has already proved she is not to be messed with and has directly said that no cops are to be involved.

Dana has a secret of her own and can't tell Ethan the truth about her involvement with the Hanover House without putting her clients at risk. Their two secret lives converge when Ethan discovers that Dana has been harboring Alec and his abductor at her shelter this entire time.

I read a lot of suspense and the villain is usually a male, so having such a sick and psychotic killer be a woman was a refreshing change. The the way the attraction played out between Ethan and Dana seemed a little cheesy at first, but became more acceptable as the story progressed. Although not my favorite of Roses's, this was an entertaining read.

New Fiction for 8/23/11

2011-08-23T06:45:00.015-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Anatomy of Disappearance by Hisham Matar
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs
The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Luminarium by Alex Shakar
The Measure of Magic by Terry Brooks
The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
Saint's Gate by Carla Neggers
Trick of the Dark by Val McDermid

To Die For by Linda Howard

2011-08-18T08:28:00.004-05:00

Blair Mallory is the owner of Great Bods, an upscale gym. She is blond and a former cheerleader and proud of it. Leaving the gym late one night she sees a car parked in the alley. The car belongs to a customer, Nicole, she kicked out of the gym early that day. Before a confrontation can take place Blair hears a gunshot and then another car driving away. Thinking she is being shot at, Blair makes her way back inside the gym and calls the police. When they arrive she is told that Nicole has been shot dead.

Enter Lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth. Blair and Wyatt had three dates two years ago and then Wyatt dropped her. Still upset by it, Blair gives Wyatt a hard time. Wyatt is frustrated by Blair's attitude but won't let her out of his sight. He realizes what a mistake he made two years ago and is determined to protect her. When the killer is caught, everyone thinks it is over. But someone is still out to get Blair. And with Wyatt at her side all the time, Blair is having a hard time keeping him at distance. Will she realize they work better together before it is too late?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little different from Linda Howard's other books but I liked it. There is one more book featuring Blair and Wyatt called Drop Dead Gorgeous.

New Fiction for 8/16/11

2011-08-16T08:27:00.011-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Bye Bye, Baby by Max Allan Collins
Dry Ice by Bill Evans
Hideout by Kathleen George
Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn
Low Town by Daniel Polansky
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The Sauvignon Secret by Ellen Crosby
Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones
The Submission by Amy Waldman
The Tempering of Men by Elizabeth Bear

The Sixes by Kate White

2011-08-14T07:05:00.024-05:00

I know this isn't really an articulate assessment, but Kate White's new standalone book was really, really good! In style similar to her Bailey Weggins series, the first person narration leaves the reader in the dark about a lot of things, just like the main character, which adds to the mystery and makes for a page-turning story.

In The Sixes, after battling plagiarism accusations, journalist and celebrity writer Phoebe Hall leaves Manhattan to teach a semester of journalism at Lyle College, located in a sleepy Pennsylvania town. She was offered the job by Glenda Johns, the university president who knew Phoebe from their days in boarding school.

After just a few weeks, student Lily Mack goes missing and her body eventually washes up in the river near town. A rumor circulates that Lily was part of a secret society on campus known as "The Sixes." Relying on her stellar research skills, Glenda asks Phoebe to covertly find out if The Sixes exist. While on her mission, Phoebe develops a romantic relationship with psych professor Duncan Shaw, a widower whose wife was sick with cancer but died prematurely by drowning in the tub.

When she starts to probe too deep, threatening messages are left at her house, suggesting the work of The Sixes. However, Phoebe discovers that another student went missing a year earlier and was never heard from again. Could this be a work of a serial killer, a girls' group gone to the extreme, or someone from Lyle's very own administration?

Breaking Point by Pamela Clare

2011-08-11T06:05:00.000-05:00

I am not going to lie. I initially picked up this book because the man on the cover was HOT. But I am glad I picked it up. I really loved this book. And then I found out it is part of a series called the I-team. And that made me happy.

Zach McBride is a US Marshall who has been captured by a drug cartel called the Zetas. He has been tortured for six days when he hears her voice. A woman is put in the cell next to him and they start talking to each other. It gives Zach the will to keep fighting.

Natalie Benoit cannot believe what has happened. A journalist from Colorado she was in Mexico for a conference when her bus was attacked and she was kidnapped. Not sure what they want but knowing it isn't good she finds herself thrown into a cell. Having survived Hurricane Katrina and the death of her family, Natalie will fight with everything she has to escape this hell. But she realizes she isn't alone and together her and Zach plot their escape.

Miracles occur and Zach and Natalie escape the Zetas. But now they have to get out of Mexico and cross the border which means goes through forty miles of desert. Zach being an ex-military has the training to get them home alive. But once they make it back the threat isn't over. Natalie wasn't just a random kidnapping victim. And now the danger is at her doorstep. Thinking she would never see Zach again, he shows up to protect her. And together they will find the person threatening her.

New Fiction for the Week of 8/9/11

2011-08-09T05:42:00.013-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

13 Million Dollar Pop by David Levien
Acceptable Loss by Anne Perry
Accident by Linwood Barclay
All the Pretty Hearses by Mary Daheim
Ascension by Christie Golden
Bad Intentions by Karin Fossum
Darkness, My Old Friend by Lisa Unger
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close
House of Holes by Nicholson Baker
The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood
The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson
The Magician King by Lev Grossman
Spycatcher by Matthew Dunn
The Twelfth Enchantment by David Liss
Victory and Honor by W.E.B. Griffin
Wyatt by Garry Disher

Checkmate by Dorothy Dunnett

2011-08-06T07:44:00.003-05:00

Checkmate is the sixth and final book in The Lymond Chronicles. It is also the one that I have the hardest time being objective about: it is long, arguably full of melodrama, in many ways different in tone from the rest of the series, yet it seduces me on every page.

Lymond is now in France, and trying desperately to escape and return to Russia. France is equally determined to keep him, for the king wants his military skill in battle. Eventually, Lymond is persuaded to give him one year of service, and he immediately begins accumulating power and influence within the French court, and is instrumental in the pivotal Battle of Calais. However, the years of fighting, physical and emotional stress, and several knocks on the head have taken their toll, and he suffers from spells of blindness brought on by migraines. His health deteriorates, while his political star rises.

Furthermore, Philippa is still looking into the truth of Lymond's birth, which brings her in contact with some dangerous enemies of Lymond. Lymond has cut himself off from his family, but she is determined to reconcile him and his mother.

While Lymond spent the previous book trying to be an emotionless automaton, here he is finally brought to his knees by love. Being Lymond, he decides that this love is not to be, and spends considerable energy on denying and trying to escape it. He also seeks to set his beloved up with another man, believing it to be in her best interests. There are many times when you want to smack some sense into him, although to be fair, Dunnett had been laying the groundwork for his emotional dysfunction and sense of unworthiness for the entire series. While some of the plot may seem overly melodramatic, Dunnett also does a masterful job of portraying Lymond's worldview so that we understand his seeming inexplicable choices.

Checkmate has action, adventure, romance and gorgeous language. The characters are three dimensional and frequently surprise us. Finally, after five other books and several thousand pages, Dunnett portrays a powerful and extravagant love affair that changes the lives of many.

Love You to Death by Shannon Butcher

2011-08-04T07:17:00.011-05:00

This is the first Shannon Butcher book for me, and I would not hesitate to read another one of her romantic suspense novels; she also writes paranormal romance and is wife to Jim Butcher, author of the Dresden Files series.

In Love You to Death, Elise McBride takes the first plane from a reporting assignment in Hong Kong to Haven, Illinois, where her younger sister Ashley lives. It is unlike Ashley to not call several days, and Elise is panicked that something terrible has happened. Her fears are confirmed when she finds Ashley's house deserted and she almost gets arrested when Ashley's neighbor, Trent Brady, sees someone creeping around her house.

After Elise explains who she is and what she is doing, Trent realizes the danger Elise will face by asking questions around Sally's, a seedy town bar, and won't let her out of his sight. Trent, an ex-cop from the Chicago P.D., has his own demons to battle. He quit the force after killing a kid and shooting his partner in the process, but he can't resist the cop instincts in him that feels the need to protect Elise. As other women's body parts turn up, revealing a sinister serial killer is in the works, Trent and Elise are in a race against against time to find Ashley before it is too late.

I have nothing bad to say about this book because it was such a satisfying read in all respects. Plenty of steamy love-making throughout, a make your skin crawl antagonist, and page turning suspense make Butcher an author worth picking up again.

New Fiction for the Week of 8/2/11

2011-08-02T06:00:00.017-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

Back of Beyond by C.J. Box
This Beautiful Life by Helen Shulman
Bed by David Whitehouse
Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto
Bury Elminster Deep by Ed Greenwood
Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta by Carole Nelson DouglasCold Vengeance by Douglas Preston
Death in High Places by Jo Bannister
Flowering Judas by Jane Haddam
I Gave My Heart to Know This by Ellen Baker
The Gentlemen's Hour by Don Winslow
A Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam
The Hand That Trembles by Kjell Ericksson
Home Improvement: Undead Edition ed. Charlaine Harris
The Killer is Dying by James Sallis
The Magdalena Curse by F.G. Cottom
Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Second Messiah by Glenn Meade
The Sixes by Kate White
Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath
The Wild Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

How to Host a Killer Party by Penny Warner

2011-07-30T08:01:00.001-05:00

Presley Parker is trying to be an event planner. So it is a big deal when she is asked to plan the surprise wedding for the Mayor. The location is Alcatraz and the theme is ball and chain and Presley is ready and nervous. While everyone is waiting for the bride to arrive for her surprise wedding, Presley helps herself to the champagne. But when the bride arrives she is less than thrilled. She dashes out of the party and simply disappears. And to make matters worse Presley was overheard saying she could kill the bride.

The next day the bride's body is found and Presley is suspect number one. Brad Matthews is a crime scene cleaner and is the one who overheard Presley. It doesn't help that Brad has moved into the office across from Presley and isn't hard on the eyes. Now Presley is out to prove she isn't a killer. But as her investigation starts another body is found and it is her party event planner rival. Presley needs to found the killer now more than never. Because her life is now in danger.

I really enjoyed this book. It is the first one in the series, Party-Planning mysteries. I cannot wait to start the next one!

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens

2011-07-28T08:01:00.003-05:00

Steven's second book is another palm-sweating, emotionally intense psychological thriller. Never Knowing tells the story of Sara Gallagher, who is the only adopted child in her family. After her adoption, her parents were able to conceive her two younger sisters naturally. Dad always treated Sara as an outsider, so it is no surprise that now in her thirties, she hopes to find her biological parents. She just never anticipated the horror of her own lineage.

Her mother is living under a different name, the only surviving victim of the serial killer and rapist, dubbed the campsite killer, who was never apprehended. Sara was the product of that rape, which means her father is a murderer and is still at large. Julia wants nothing to do with Sara, and is angry she has been found. When the media leaks the news that Sara is the daughter of the campsite killer, all hell breaks loose.

The killer, who calls himself John, has now found Sara and wants to get to know her. He claims that she is the only one who can keep him for killing again. Sara is working with the police to try to capture John, but he is too clever to catch, and he keeps upping the anty. He now sends her homemade dolls; dolls whose hair is made from the real hair of his victims. In addition to having to keep the case under wraps from her family and putting her daughter and fiance at risk, how far will Sara have to go to get to know her father in order for him to be caught?

You better set aside a weekend for this book, because I guarantee you won't be able to put it down once you get started. Her first book, Still Missing, was equally as good, so I know that this is an author worth following.

New Fiction for 7/26/11

2011-07-26T07:55:00.000-05:00

Here is a sampling of new fiction released this week. Please click on the title to place a copy on hold through the Library's catalog.

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
Bannon Brothers: Trust by Janet Dailey
Close Your Eyes by Amanda Eyre Ward
The Eternal Engagement by Mary B. Morrison
Full Black by Brad Thor
Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
Killing Kate by Julie Kramer
Pampered to Death by Laura Levine
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
A Slepying Hound to Wake by Vincent Mccaffrey
Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong
Thick as Thieves by Peter Spiegelman
The Woodcutter by Reginald Hill

The Ringed Castle by Dorothy Dunnett

2011-07-24T07:41:00.004-05:00

The Ringed Castle is the fifth book in The Lymond Chronicles. Still reeling from the events of Pawn in Frankincense, Francis Crawford of Lymond has traveled to Russia, where he becomes the head of Ivan the Terrible's army. He also does his best to cut all softer emotions out of himself, leaving the men from St. Mary's who have followed him, mystified. He has no intention of ever returning to Scotland, but is eventually forced to travel to England, on behalf of the Ivan the Terrible.

Meanwhile, Philippa is back in England, nagivating the treacherous waters of Queen Mary's court. Her attempts to contact Lymond on behalf of his mother go unheeded, but when he returns to England they come into contact again. She continues to grow and deepen in character, knowledge, and savoir-faire, while Lymond increases his military acumen. In many ways the two characters are on two opposing paths: Philippa's compassion and awareness of human weakness and foibles increases, while he seeks to distance himself from all human ties. Philippa is also determined for many reasons to prevent Lymond from returning to Russia, while he is equally determined to go back there for good.

Once again, Dunnett's prose and her depictions of Queen Mary's England and Ivan the Terrible's Russia are stunning. She also introduces some wonderful new characters, while continuing to allow her older characters to develop and mature. While it isn't as emotionally powerful as the previous book, Pawn in Frankincense, The Ringed Castle is a still a rich, evocative and compelling historical novel

Bait by Karen Robards

2011-07-22T15:24:00.001-05:00

While in her hotel room trying to fall asleep, advertising exec Maddie Fitzgerald realizes that someone is in the room with her. She was able to escape before almost being shot. She knows it is him coming back to take care of what he didn't finish.

Despite almost dying, Maddie's main concern is her presentation with a potential million dollar account that would save her failing agency, but pesky federal agent Sam McCabe just won't let her be. It turns out another woman with the same name was murdered in the same hotel last night, but the last thing Maddie needs is for the killer to see the feds are involved, which will only put her at risk. What Maddie doesn't know is that there have been a string of killings throughout the country with a similar M.O., and Maddie being the only survivor is key to solving the case.

After nearly missing a sniper shot, Maddie finally relents and allows Sam and fellow agents, Wynne and Gardner, to stand guard. While staying in her apartment on the night shift, Maddie can't help but notice as irritating as he is, Sam is sexy if you like that muscular type with dimples that will make you melt type, even if he is a fed. By working together so closely, it is no surprise that they fall, and fall hard, for each other. But will Maddie's past destroy what they have started?

Robards is a master at making your palms sweat and needing to take a cold shower all at the same time. If you like Linda Howard, Karen Robards will be an easy transition. Her books are not part of a series, so you can pick up any one.