Never Coming Back by Hans Koppel

I really liked this book. Did I find it "amazing" as the 5 stars requires, no but I know I'm a little unfair being as how the book took place in Sweden and when I first started it I couldn't even tell you if the names were male or female and I feel out of sorts when I don't know where they are talking about when they say things like "just outside Helsingborg".

Aside from that, the book is about a wife, Ylva, who doesn't come home one day, just vanishes.  She leaves a husband, Mike and daughter, Sanna grieving, trying to understand what happened to her and after so long just assume she's dead.  What they don't know is frightening.  She's being held captive by the neighborhood (who is harboring a grudge), in a sound proof room in their basement where her only link to the outside world is a video camera set up to record her own house where she can see Mike and Sanna coming and going.

The book did get my heart racing and it did keep me quite entertained (even though not funny at all).  I didn’t care for the ending, I wish this was a book that had an alternate ending that I could also read.

I will definitely recommend!! Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this!

The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders

This book was good. I'll give credit for a debut, indie novel but it was very redundant. The woman in this book, Theresa was over-the-top stubborn. And I'm no author but some of the writing felt amateurish.

This book is about a marriage between Sandro and Theresa that set up in order for Sandro's father to keep his vineyard. The only way the marriage contract could be voided was with the birth of a son but Sandro eventually ended up falling in love with Theresa. However, it was a day late and a dollar short so to speak because Theresa had been hurt so often by Sandro during their 18mos marriage that she was entirely too guarded to let him love her... and then she got pregnant but you'll have to read it to find out the rest.

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

This book was wonderful. It's nice to read a mystery that doesn't have to be gory. I only gave this 4 stars and not 5 for a couple of reasons. 1) The more I read, the more I was able to predict some things and 2) I thought Claire's research came all too easy which made it a bit unbelievable for me but really I'm just nit picking.

An out-of-the-blue snow storm hits in May and a reporter, Claire, finds out that the same thing happened in 1933. She's compelled to write a story about the 2 storms and finds an intriguing mystery to solve along the way. That with many side stories along the way made the book an enjoyable, easy read.

I will definitely recommend this one!

The one I left behind by Jennifer McMahon

The last couple of books I read by Jennifer McMahon were weird, I thought. This one actually read like a normal mystery so I was happy to leave the 'weirdness' behind.

This is a story about a serial killer, Neptune, who kidnaps women, cuts off their right hand and kills them 5 days later - all except for Vera, Reggie's mother who was kidnapped, hand cut off but no body was ever found until 25 years later when she was so sick she couldn't tell anyone who the killer was or where she's been. Now that she is back, Reggie is determined to find out who the killer is only to find herself in a life and death predicament.

The book isn't bad but I feel like the ending is so over-the-top dramatic - predictable even. I mean we've all seen it before, so much so that it was almost boring. I liked it but felt it just fell a little flat.

Breathing Water by T. Greenwood

I guess I was expecting more from this book, from T Greenwood. I looked it up on Amazon and found that it's a re-release from 2000 which explains a lot for me.

This is a story bounces back and forth between times in Effie's life. Earlier times when she is dating Max and at the mercy of his mean streak and feels the need to leave the lake when a young girl dies and later times when she returns to the lake and is learning how to live again - free from the monster, the purple bruises and the pain.

The story is one of friendship and heartache and forgiveness.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Holy cow!

Writing a review for this book without giving anything away will be tricky so this may be a shorter review.

Nick and Amy are just hours away from celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary when Nick, still at work, gets a call from his neighbor that his cat is outside.  When Nick arrives home, he finds that not only is his cat outside but that his front door is wide open and his wife is missing.

The police arrive, a report is filed, the crime scene examined and Nick is continually repeating his innocence.  However, no matter what Nick says he still becomes the prime suspect because Amy is so very clever and not just clever but patient.

The story is unimaginable and I'm now afraid of the author Gillian Flynn because for her to make up with this story is scary.

Definite recommend!

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

This book felt drawn out to me. I liked it but at the same time just felt I was being teased with information the entire book, for example, how many times did Alice ask why her and Nick were getting divorced and no one would answer her or a phone would ring etc... That was annoying me. At first, I was also confused by the letters - Elisabeth's and Frannie's, I'm still not sure why their stories had to be told that way.

This book is a story about a woman who is, basically, in the middle of a mid-life crisis when she falls off her bike in spinning class, hits her head and forgets 10yrs of her life. Her mind takes her back to a simpler time - before her marriage got hard and before she had 3 kids. She left with trying to understand who she is and how to save her marriage.

I'm not sure I'd want to see myself now through the eyes of myself 10yrs ago especially since my life was in such turmoil 10yrs ago but it would be interesting to see how life has changed me.

Bleed for me by Michael Robotham

Sienna and Charlie, Joe O'Loughlin's daughter, are best friends. An ordinary night turns out to be anything but ordinary when Sienna shows up at Charlie's house covered in blood but takes off running, scared before anyone can speak to her. When she is found she is traumatized, won't even speak and then it is confirmed that she's wearing her father's blood. One thing leads to another and she is charged with her dad's murder. Joe wants to help Sienna. What he's put through in his attempts to prove her innocence is maddening.

I've already said, "I don't know who I love more Joe O'Loughlin or Michael Robotham for creating him" but I can not overlook Ruiz in this equation - I love when Ruiz and Joe work together.

This was not a predictable outcome and I highly recommend Michael Robotham to anyone who will listen to me!

January First by Michael Schofield

"A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her" - I could stop right here. This sums it up perfectly but I'll go on.

January first is not a date. January (Janni as they called her) is a little girl and her needs come first, they have to - she's 6yrs old and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

A lot of young kids have imaginary friends but Janni's friend can hurt her and tell her to hurt others, if she doesn't listen to them, she'll go nuts.

I'm amazed at what these parents went through (and continue to go through) every day with/for Janni. There were parts of this book that made me angry to the point of disbelief, I couldn't believe they were happening and the ending, the solution they come up with just to be a family will amaze you.

If you like a good memoir, this is a definite recommend.

The Promise of Stardust by Priscille Sibley

I was given a wonderful opportunity (by Bookreporter.com and William Morrow books - thank you!) to read and review this book.

I was immediately drawn into this book after reading just the first few pages. It reminded me a lot of a Jodi Picoult book: Lone Wolf + The Pact = The Promise of Stardust.

It's a love story like none you'll ever read with hope and despair. A young couple working against the odds of their age finally break-up and go their separate ways but when times heals the pain and they are reconnected they have an unlikely opportunity to rekindle what they once had and to start a family. If it were only that easy.

This book will make you think about things you never thought of before and you will realize that some things in life should be sacred - that you shouldn't have to fight for what's rightfully yours.

One last thing that I feel the need to mention, The Promise of Stardust is Priscille Sibley's FIRST book. I can't believe it. It's written like a pro, not like a novice. Well done Priscille!

I highly recommend.

What happened to my sister by Elizabeth Flock

"You're a rock in my pocket in the river of life."

What a heart breaking read. This is the sequel to Me & Emma and I loved that one so there was no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't like this one as well. And as soon as I opened the book and 'heard' Carrie speak, I was in love with her all over again. I missed her even. Elizabeth Flock has just made it impossible for me NOT to love Carrie. I wanted to bring her home so she could live with me - to show her love, feed her, give her a bath and clean clothes, to let her be a child.

At the beginning of the book, Carrie wants you to know that she's not crazy despite what they lead you to believe at the end of Me & Emma and despite what her mother tells you repeatedly throughout the book. The story introduces us to the Ford family and is told through the eyes of Mrs. Honor Ford, who meets Carrie as she's stealing croutons and cherry tomatoes from the salad bar at Wendy's, and Carrie herself. They are both stories of survival and told seamlessly.

If you care for Carrie at all (and how could you not?), you won't be able to put this down until it's over. This is a definite read, especially if you've already read Me & Emma, and if you haven't, do yourself a favor and read it already!

Gone Missing by Linda Castillo

This book is the 4th in a series. I really like the stories and how the author can tell it with such detail and suspense. It did feel a little like same ol' same ol' but I enjoyed it.

In this installment, teenagers from the Amish community keep turning up missing, one after another in a 100 mile radius. Kate is asked by Tomasetti to work on this case of his because of her understanding of the Amish. She becomes attached to the investigation in a way that she never expected and she's forced to keep a level head so she doesn't screw it up.

I must say that at one point, I was at the edge of my seat while reading. I felt like I was running with Kate. And I just love how I'm probably the only one who didn't see the obvious... I was kind of caught off guard at a small revelation at the end of book.

Yes, it's a recommend!

Wool by Hugh Howey

I believe this is one of those books that I would've found to be much better if I had read it a little faster. The storyline was great and the writing was great. The book is actually broken down into 5 books, the first book I really liked and left a cliffhanger at the end that prompted me to buy the collection and I have to say I was a bit disappointed reading the 2nd book which is probably why my reading slowed down, I was so bored with the 2nd book but then the 3rd book started and I was sucked back in.

This about life in silo. An underground silo. If you are sent to 'clean', you are being put to death. You can't even talk about the outside. Those in charge are ruthless.

I'm trying to word this review without including any spoilers but I can't. I don't even want to talk about 1 specific person without giving away too much so you'll have to read this -like no other- book for yourself and draw your own conclusion!

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

Well, I wasn't expecting THAT. What a great, well written story.

Every year the Moses family has a reunion. Every year Samuel Lake brings his wife, Willadee, and their three children - after all, Willadee is a Moses but this year, in the midst of the party, the unthinkable happens and the family is shaken, changing their lives forever.

Jenny Wingfield did a great job with her characters because if I'm being Just Plain Honest, I don't think I could pick my favorite character in this book but I'd say it's a toss up between Swan, Blade, Calla or Toy. However, the character I despise, with every ounce of my being, is very clear and even though I'm done with the book, Ras Ballanger, and his actions, will haunt me forever.

Don't go into this book, thinking it's at all light because it has a cute cover. This book is anything but light. It was hard to read at times. Heart wrenching. I fell in love. I was disgusted. I was happy. I was sad.

Definite recommend!

One good friend deserves another by Lisa Verge Higgins

I won this book on Goodreads! Very nice, light chick-lit... Everyone deserves a good friend or 3. Dhara, Kelly, Wendy, and Marta are a trip. They have dating rules that they expect each other to follow or you may end up in the middle of an intervention but you see, they were just watching out for each other. Here's a list of their rules that I grabbed from Goodreads because I could only remember 3 or 4:

1. Choose Your Own Man
2. Make Sure Your Friends Approve
3. No One-Night Stands
4. Trust Your Instincts
5. Never Make the Same Mistake Twice
6. After a Break-Up, Wait Six Months Before Dating Again.


So will you still get the happily-ever-after if the rules are broken? This is a story about life and what it means to be a good friend no matter what.  Definite recommend.

Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This story was beautifully told. I loved the authors characters and descriptions, I felt like I was there but the story line didn't do it for me. I mean, the story is over and I'm still a bit confused. I wasn't sure what to believe, then when I thought I had it straight, I was wrong but how could it be really? Huh?

The story is about a couple, Mabel & Jack, who move to Alaska. Farming the land is very hard on Jack and loneliness is almost paralyzing to Mabel. One day after the first snow, Mabel and Jack build a snowman... then they decide to make it a girl and provide her with red mittens and a red hat while Jack carves a face with his knife. The next morning the snow girl is destroyed, the gloves and hat are gone and there are tracks leading from the snow girl to the woods but none leading from the woods to the snow girl.... then they spot a little girl, Faina, with blonde hair and red mittens and hat in the woods.... things that make you go hmmm.... Did the girl steal the hat and mittens from the snow girl - but what about the tracks?

Basically the story told is the re-telling of a Russian children story that Mabel loved as a child that was told her by her father from an old Russian book.

It's a story like none other. I've never read one like this and I was hoping for so much more... I mean just when I thought I had it figured out, I was proven wrong. So weird for me. My imagination just can't do the math.

Unwanted by Kristina Ohlsson

I always have a hard time getting into books that take place in other countries - this one is in Sweden - because of the weird names and places that I'm not familiar with and the same was true with this one BUT holy cow, it drew me in and wow. Great murder mystery.

This story starts with a little girl, Lilian, being abducted from a train on a summer day in Sweden. A futile race to find the little girl is stalled when she's found dead in the parking lot of a hospital with the words UNWANTED written on her forehead. Now the police department, stunned, is in search for a murder suspects when he strikes again! They are left scrambling and frantic to find the suspect before he murders again.

The readers are taken through the investigation process while the author tells us just enough and yet so little that we are left guessing till the end.

I love it enough to not want to put it down so of course I'm going to recommend this one!

Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook

In a word, cute. I own several of Claire Cook's books but I've not read any of them yet... I can't pass up the covers, they are always just so so... cute, they pull me right in. However, I read this one and I loved Claire's wit and storytelling, I smiled quite a bit.

Anyhow, this book was about a girl, Deidre (Dee), who is a personal assistant and so much more to her famous brother, Tag. She feels like a wallflower, unnoticed, overlooked in life. Then one day, in a fit of rage, she had a little too much to drink and registered herself in a Dancing with the Stars contest and used her social networking skills to promote herself. I won't tell you how this turns out but Dee is starting to get noticed and she likes it.

Light enjoyable beach read. Definite recommend.

Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo

Another gruesome story in the Kate Burkholder series. I thought it was well done and unfolded nicely but I have to say by the end I was tired of the violence, there was just so much of it.

The book is about an upstanding Amish family who finds themselves as the main characters in this book when the mom, dad and uncle were found dead in the barn due to gas asphyxiation in the manure pit (what a way to die). Of course the story doesn't end there. There are Amish hate crimes and lie after lie is told to cover up the awful truth. Kate pushes for answers and delivers and explosive ending.

I will recommend.

Monarch Beach by Anita Hughes

3.5 stars for Monarch Beach... generally I "like" chick lit. Normally it's light and fun without much substance. This was pretty much just that but I liked it more than I thought I would, I think because there were things I wasn't expecting.

The story is about a woman, Amanda, who catches her husband cheating on her, only to find out that he's been cheating on her throughout their entire marriage. Her mother books a getaway for them so they can spend their summer at a 5-star hotel and 'heal' at the beach. While she is healing, she meets someone who helps her take her mind off her soon-to-ex and his indiscretions. The end of the summer is a whirlwind for Amanda, a summer she's not likely to forget.

I read another review that said an epilogue would've been nice to tell us how things panned out for Amanda over the next the year or so and I have to agree 100%, it feels as if the story ended a little too soon.

I will recommend.

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

What a good book.  I didn't know what to expect when I opened this book, all I knew is that I owed a review.

This story takes place in Wichita, KS in 1922 but it flashes back to earlier times and ends in 1982.  This is about a girl, Louise Brooks, who wants to go to NY to take a dance class but needs a chaperone to go.  Cora volunteers to be the chaperone because she has plans of her own in NY.  What she finds is not what she was expecting, as a matter of fact, it was so much more. 

The book flashes back to when Cora was a child and it also let's you grow old with her.

The story touches on serious issues from that time like prohibition and shows you how much times have changed - it was once frowned upon for a girl to show her knees... her knees!!  Very interesting.

I found myself caught in the pages of this book and didn't want to put it down.  I'd definitely recommend it!

These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen

I'd like to rate this one with 3.5 stars. 

Apparently I forgot to write a review for These Girls and now I'm a little foggy since reading a book after it.  This is why I write the reviews within a day.

A quick summary... 3 girls - Cate, Renee, and Abby - all struggling in their lives for various reasons are pulled together to help one another out in the Big City.

The book touches on some serious subjects yet Pekkanen's sense of humor shines through, love her sense of humor!

Definite recommend!

Pineville Heist by Lee Chambers

Hmmm, this was book was over-the-top suspenseful but I thought some of the characters were over developed while some of them were under developed.  The book was a little amateurish to me with the way things were worded or the use of underlining, bold and exclamation points to make a statement appear more intense when it didn't need it.  It also felt rushed.

With that said, I did like the book and I was caught up in the suspense and twists.

The book is about a boy, Aaron, and his friends who witness a murder after a bank robbery.  They flee back to the school and get caught inside with the bad guys.  It was a mess.

Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

Don't pass this one up!  I LOVED this book....EVERY word of it.  This is another one of those books that I would give more than 5 stars too if I could.  I liked it even more than The Help, which is a fair comparison to some extent.

This book was set in the 1800's and was about a little girl, Elizabeth (or Lisbeth) and her wet nurse, Mattie, who became very attached to each other over the years.  Their bond was like no other and then one day Mattie fled in hopes to be free.  Over the years Lisbeth longed to know if Mattie was ok, to know if she made it to Ohio safely but 10 yrs would pass without a word.

I don't want to give too much away in my review but I didn't want this book to end.  I loved the characters and I wanted more.  In a word, Excellent!

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

A review...  for The Glass Castle.  What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said.

"You know, it's really not that hard to put food on the table if that's what you decide to do."

I couldn't give the book 5 stars because while I read it, I felt too much hatred and disappointment in the parents.  There wasn't much depth to the book either, just many and many layers of why we should hate these parents to the point that, at times, it felt repetitive .

I did feel happy towards the end when the girls got to New York and then how they all stuck together.  I loved the kids determination to make something of themselves and how they succeeded.

11th Hour by James Patterson

I'm not sure I ever gave a Women's Murder Club book less than a 4 star rating and here we are with a 3. I'm not sure why. I wasn't a bad book but I only "liked" it.

Of course I have a hard time with reviewing these books because there is so much going on in one book and this one is no different. Boxer is pregnant but it doesn't stop her from taking 2 cases and dealing with rumors that a scummy reporter keeps reporting. One case we have an open ended mystery (and a lot of heads) without a clue in sight that might never be solved and another that involves a vigilante who is killing drug dealers on the street.

Will Boxer and Conklin solve the cases? Maybe with the help of 3 other women... maybe.

All the difference by Kaira Rouda

I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars.... I liked how there was this mysterious back story going on that kept you guessing about who they were talking about and where it was going. One thing that was a little hard for me was keeping track of all the characters that were introduced at the beginning but about 1/3 of the way through, I was finally able to keep them straight. lol

The book has love, hate, betrayal, sex and intrigue. You think you're getting chick-lit and end up with a murder mystery. There was one sentence in the book that helped me with the mystery so I had it figured out but if you don't catch that, this book is going to leave you guessing until the very end... so many possible motives.

Thanks for a good book Kaira!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

The title says it all.

I bought this book because the ratings were so high and I didn't find it awful but I did find it exhausting. I thought the couples fighting was a bit over-the-top and the ending was just as unbelievable.

Abby, the girl who is portrayed as the "good girl" meets Travis, the "bad boy" on campus at one of his fights. America, her best friend, is there with her boyfriend, Shepley, who is Travis's cousin. Right off the bat, Travis and Abby hit it off, eventually, they become boyfriend and girlfriend and then the shit hits the fan - over and over and over again. One minute Abby hates Travis (while Travis has nothing but love for Abby), then she loves him... One minute they are dating, the next minute they aren't. They are forever making a scene on campus somewhere... A beautiful disaster.

Defending Jacob by WIlliam Landay

Holy moose and squirrel. I didn't see that coming. I've got to say though, while this was a great book, if it weren't for the ending, I probably would've given it 4 stars but then the ending, wow. This is one of those books that I don't want to give too much away in my review, so I'll keep it brief.

This book is about a 14yr old boy, Jacob, who is indicted for the murder of a fellow classmate, Ben, when his fingerprint showed up on the victims clothing. However, Jacob's father is convinced of his innocence and defends and fights for him at his trial to keep him from going to prison. And I can't tell you anymore than that.

This is a must read.

I've got your number by Sophie Kinsella

Hmmmm, I loved this book. Loved it. It was funny and quirky and totally enjoyable.

This is a story about a girl, Poppy, who loses her engagement ring and as she's looking for it, she goes outside for better reception and that's when her cell phone gets stolen. While waiting to speak with the concierge about her ring, she finds a phone in the trash... and the rest is history.

This book reminded me a lot of Bridget Jones' diary because Poppy was a mess too and there's a wonderful love story wrapped up in here and finally this book is screaming to be a film.

Definite recommend.

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

"She had to go away to war and lose almost everything to find what really mattered."

Well, there it is, in one quote, that Kristin Hannah wrote herself, the summary of this whole book. Right now I wish I had a Kindle or had marked pages with good quotes on them because now I can't find them. What an amazing story of love, determination, stubbornness and loyalty.

This book is about a woman, Jolene, who flies a Black Hawk in the military and is deployed to Iraq with her best friend, Tami, who also flies. The day before Jolene got the news that she was getting deployed, her husband told her that he didn't love her anymore. When she left for Iraq she had to cope with leaving her children and worrying about her marriage. As the days passed she just went through the motions until she could see her kids again until one night, her Black Hawk is shot down. Now it's a whole new world and Jolene has to be stronger than she's ever had to be in the past.

I really liked this book and yes, I cried. Not like I did in Night Road but I still wiped away some tears.

Definite recommend.

On the island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

4.5/5 stars. What a great debut novel. This book held my attention better than any book I've read in a long time. There was intrigue, despair, love, loss, determination and maturity in this novel. I give it 4.5 stars and not 5 because in some spots the story would lag or just drag on but then it would always turn around.

The story is about a 15yr boy, T.J. who's cancer just went in remission right before summer starts and because he's missed so much school due to his illness his parents higher Anna, a tutor, who is to help him get back on track. To keep him focused, they all fly to Maldives for the summer but not together. T.J.'s parents fly out prior to him so that he spend his last weekend, before leaving for the summer, with his best friend which leave him and Anna to fly to Maldives together. They are so close. All they need to hop a sea charter to take them the last 2hrs of the trip but 1/2 way there, their pilot has a heart attack and dies, crashing them into the ocean. T.J. and Anna survive and make it an island where they end up living off the land for years. Some of their bags from the flight wash up on shore so they end up with some stuff to help them survive On The Island but nothing helps the despair they feel when a plane flies over and doesn't see them... Depression is becoming fierce and then one day they are hit with a tsunami which ultimately saves their lives.

Back home they are forced to come to terms with everything they left behind when they left and then some. There is a lot of feelings to sort through and a lot to think about. Can their love (born out of survival) last in the real world? Can it stand up to all the questions raised about their age difference? You'll have to read it to find out.

Recommend? Hell yea.

Stay Close by Harlan Coben

I liked this book but I always like Harlan Coben. With that said, I find myself comparing this book to his others and I just didn't think it was as good as some of those.


The book was about housewife, Megan who has two kids and a past that even her husband didn't know about. When one thing leads to another and characters are connected one by one this story flares up with suspense yet leaves you in the dark until the very end.

Coben is very good at coming up with psycho characters that cause fear to bubble up in me when I see their names and boy, he nails it this time with Ken and Barbie.

There is one part of this story that was misleading and unnecessary (I won't say what part so I don't ruin it for others) and I hate that but I'll let it slide this time since Coben never disappoints me.

Recommend? Absolutely!

The Plagiarist by Hugh Howey

This was a different kind of book for me, yet interesting at the same time. I can safely say that if this stuff isn't already happening in real life, it will be soon. I read some reviews where the reader said that they had seen the ending coming, I did not, especially after what happened just prior to the end... also probably because I'm naive to this subject. I thought that it was well written yet I felt it was a bit cut-off because it was short book and seemed to end abruptly.

A grown-up kind of pretty by Joshilyn Jackson

4.5 stars - I really enjoyed this book. I love Joshilyn Jackson's sense of humor. She makes me laugh even when talking about such severe topics that are presented in this book.

This is a book about a mother, Ginny (Big), a daughter, Liza (Little), and a child, Mosey - who is Ginny's granddaughter and Liza's daughter... or so you're told. Ginny believes that every 15yrs God comes after her and causes trouble which started when she became a mother at 15... then 15 yrs later she became a grandmother... 15 yrs later is no different. Liza has a stroke and when a skeleton of a baby is found in her yard there is much debate over who that baby is and then... who Mosey is...

A lot of family dynamics and secrets here, along with a dose of jealousy and out right hatred all fought and won with the right amount of love.

Definite recommend.

Splattered blood by Michal A. Draper

Well this book didn't disappoint. It was a murder mystery with just about everything you'd expect, blood, gore, suspense and thrill all brought to you by a widow, her brother and a friend. In this book, Roseanne's husband, Johnny, is murdered at work for something that he's investigating. Her brother, Graham, and a good friend, Randy and herself decide they need to find who killed Johnny and why. What they find and what they are put through along the way is more than any of them bargained for and will stay with them for a lifetime.

Do they get all their answers? You'll have to read it to see.

And yes, I would recommend it.

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

When I first started reading this one I thought it was the same enjoyable, funny Stephanie and crew but somewhere around 2/3's of the way through, I lost interest. There was nothing to put me on the edge of my seat and it seemed like the last "mercy illegal capture" was put in just to lengthen the book. I don't know. I did like the book to a degree but it went stale too fast.

Brothers Keeper by Glen Krisch

What lives in the minds of authors who write thrillers, scare me to death. How do they think of this stuff??

This was a good read but not my type of reading being as how it's a little far-fetched. It's a story about 2 brothers, Marcus and Jason, who don't get along and haven't even spoken in some time. They are reunited in weirdest and scariest circumstances and Jason learns that Marcus is someone that, even though he's his brother, is someone he doesn't know at all.

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

I love Jodi Picoult so it's no surprise that I loved this one as well. And I've said it before and I'll say it again, she gets an A+ for research and covering every angle.

This is a book about a father who is on life support and a daughter who wants nothing more for him to get better and a son who wants to pull the plug. The family is torn at the seams but not for the first time, they've had to be strong in the past but this time it's a matter of life or death.

The book started out a little weird for me as I had to get used to Luke and his wolves and how involved he was with them but as the story expanded, I couldn't put it down. I thought Jodi Picoult did a wonderful job making all of her characters personable - so much so, in one part, I felt my heart break. And of course, it was a Picoult book so she kept you on your toes with all secrets that were revealed at the exact precise moment.

And please, may I never be put in the same position Cara, Edward, Luke, Georgie or Joe.

I'm sad that I waited so long to read it and now it's done. But I will definitely recommend to everyone.

The good father by Diane Chamberlain

In one word, excellent. This will be an all time favorite book of mine and I will recommend it every chance I get.

I don't want to say too much about the book because I don't want to give anything away for another reader so I'll keep it simple.

This book is about a single dad, Travis, who is doing his best to raise his 4yr old little girl, Bella, when tragedy strikes and his world slowly falls apart.

I sure hope Diane Chamberlain gets all the credit she's due with this one. I told my sister while I was reading that I can't wait to see how it ends and at the same time I didn't want it to end.

Night Corridor by Joan Hall Hovey

Let me get this out of the way first... the grammatical errors in this book are like none I've ever seen. I don't know how that happens. If 1 person proof read this book, most of them would be corrected. It was unreal.

With that said, this book caught me by surprise. I don't believe all the characters were developed to their full potential and I did find some of the brutality to a bit amateur but that's okay because the suspense just built up and built up to a gripping climax.

This psychological thriller is about a girl, Caroline, who is released from a mental institute and is stalked and kidnapped by a serial killer.

I will recommend.

No more lies by Mona Risk

I gave this book 2.5 stars. This book, ugh, tormented me. I wanted to like it but I couldn't connect with the characters, I thought the story was too "story book" and I didn't enjoy the lines like "When would he be able to take her in his arms and taste the passion he'd missed so much?" [puke]

The story was about 2 psychologists who were once lovers 10yrs ago and now were reunited. Her lies about her past was what separated them years ago and now because their love never died, even after all these years, she forced, to face her past and come clean to keep the love she's been 'starved' of for the last 10 years... again puke.

This is one I won't recommend.

Caught by Harlan Coben

Once again, Harlan Coben did not disappoint me. I loved this book from beginning to end. It got a little confusing at times, toward the end, but by the last page, you have all the information you need.

This story is about a guy, Dan Mercer, who gets busted by a tv program for being a pedophile. The events that spiral from that one accusation are crazy and the book leaves you guessing until the end.

Lots of twists, just the way I like it. Definite recommend.

The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain

I give this one 3.5 stars. It was a good story that flowed smoothly but about 1/3 of the way through the book, I found myself bored. However, the last 1/3 of the story was great. The characters were developed well and I felt awful for Julie... I could've cried for her.

The story was about a family who lost a daughter/sister [Isabel]. When Isabel's former boyfriend passed away, his brother was cleaning out his house and found a letter stating that the wrong person went to prison for Isabel's death and the mystery began.

I'd definitely recommend for a nice light read but there's not a Diane Chamberlain book that I wouldn't recommend.

Heaven is for real by Todd Burpo

I have no idea what to write here for a review and I'm certain that I am not alone. I really liked this book and that's why I gave it 4 stars.

It's about a little boy, Colton, who gets really sick and when he's better, he tells his dad that he went to heaven for 3mins. when he was in surgery. Through the rest of the book Colton tells about all the things he saw when he was in heaven - things he would not have known, proving that heaven does exist and pretty close to how it's described in the Bible.

So... the only bad thing I'm going to write here is questioning whether or not this really happened or was the book meant to be a platform for Colton's dad, Todd, who is a pastor.

Flat-out Love by Jessica Park

This was a cute book about a dysfunctional family that, by a stroke of luck, had the right person come into their lives and change their family dynamic forever. There was love, sadness, deceit, anger and hope all wrapped up here. At times I thought it was a little predictable but I still liked it. Good read and I do recommend.

Plan B by Nick Heller

Another good short story that caught me off guard when it ended... turn the page and BAM! over. Nick Heller is the man but in my opinion, Joseph Finder is a little wordy. This story was about girl who was kidnapped and Nick Heller was hired to save her but things are never as they appear... I recommend.

Love, Accidentally by Sarah Pekkanen

Another good short story that made me feel that the book ended abruptly. This book has the same characters as All is bright but this book is told through Ilsa's eyes. I liked it but had a hard time reading through Ilsa's jealousy even if I couldn't blame her. Maybe I just didn't connect with her like I did Elise. Either way I'd recommend it.

All is Bright by Sarah Pekkanen

Loved it. But again, like with another short story I read, I'm left wanting more. I feel like the story just stopped. But this was about a girl returning home for the holidays to visit her grandma and got news about an old flame that crushed her. It also showed how we develop relationships with certain people for specific needs. Great story. Off to read Love, Accidentally.

Christmas at Harrington's by Melody Carlson

Good book. Easy read. About a woman falsely accused of a crime and starting fresh in a new town after being released from prison and all that entails while being considered a felon. A big dose of you get what you give but a little too sweet for me and somewhat preachy. I'd recommend it.