The Help

I recently read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It had really high ratings (at last look on Amazon, 5 stars from 1,114 reviews), so I knew it would be good.

I had no idea how good.

It was amazing. I loved it. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me so sad for black domestics and the way they were treated. At one point Mike looked at me (sitting there sniffling and trying to keep the tears from overflowing out of my eyes) and said "Why are you reading that if it makes you that upset?" I told him, "Because it is really good."

The book is Kathryn Stockett's first. Memories her housemaid Demetrie prompted her to write the novel. I hope she writes more books, and that they are as good as The Help!

The Girl Who Played with Fire

Last night I finished reading Stieg Larsson's second book, The Girl Who Played with Fire. OMG... It was so fantastic. It picks up shortly after the last book and focuses on Lisbeth Salander with Mikael Blomvist as a secondary character, and a host of supporting characters. In this installment, Lisbeth returns after over a year of traveling abroad and begins settling in to a new life. Her dreams of a quiet, happy existence are shattered when she is attacked by a hired thug and then three people turn up dead. The fast-paced story had me turning pages like an addict, wanting to know what would happen next. I began reading it on Tuesday, September 29. I read bits and pieces Friday and Saturday and then worked to plow right through starting Monday. At 512 pages, it was another long book, but I didn't care. I was an obsessed woman, anxious to know what would happen.

The book was a real treat. It took me a little while to get into the first thriller in the series, The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, mainly because I started it in a crowded airport. After the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. I was so anxious to read TGWPF (this one) that I actually went to the store and bought it (GASP!!!). I was completely unwilling to wait for the other 410 people wishing ahead of me on PBS. I am soooo glad I bought it.

The sad part in all of this is that Stieg Larsson passed away after delivering four manuscripts (three related with Salander as the main character) to his publisher. He was obviously a gifted author and would have had a huge and faithful following.

I wonder how the audio book versions are for those who don't want to read it... They're selling on iTunes for $18-$30 and on Audible for $21-$27... My local library also seems to have the first book available for download (which uses their proprietary player). Hmm...

True Compass

Yesterday I finished reading Senator Edward M. Kennedy's memoir True Compass. The 527 page tome took me about 6 days to read. I didn't want to put it down. The book was a beautiful, comprehensive, fascinating account of Ted Kennedy's life, family, and incredible contributions to this country.

The book is presented in four parts: Family, Brotherhood, On My Own, and Renewal. The content is presented chronologically (for the most part) in an honest, heartfelt, well-written way. Kennedy remembers his youth as the youngest of nine children, all raised to the exacting standards of a devout and moral Irish Catholic family. His grandfather, John F. Fitzgerald (known fondly in Massachusetts as Honey Fitz), served our state in many capacities including mayor (1906-1908, 1910-1914). Honey Fitz helped establish Franklin Park Zoo and threw out the opening pitch at the inaugural game in Fenway Park (1912). Ted Kennedy attended a string of schools through his primary education in London, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida. He held his brothers Jack and Bobby in the highest regard and strived to accomplish legislation and social justice that would have made his brothers proud. He owns up to his personal failings and notes how his faith and optimism have helped him through difficult times. Most touching are his loving references to his children and his wife Vicki.

Despite the unfavorable view of some about the Kennedy family's wealth and Senator Kennedy's personal failings, he was an amazing legislator for this country (not just the state of Massachusetts) whose 47 years in the Senate made a positive impact for all Americans. He championed desegregation, education financing, early campaign finance reform, minimum wage, fair housing, voting rights (which changed the national voting age to 18 from 21), low income heating energy assistance, Meals on Wheels, WIC, Title IX (girls sports opportunities),  American Disabilities Act, Federal Medical Leave Act, health care, education, and foreign policy (see http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/timeline.cfm for a comprehensive list of legislation). For all his wealth, he was a Senator of the People, and fought for us tirelessly on Capitol Hill.

The book had a strong impact on me. It served as an education about this great legislator. It also is a great inspiration to what politicians can be and how we can all be better people. I can't say enough positive things about his book. May he rest in peace. He is truly missed by many.

What I've Been Reading (Last week, anyway)

I know I have been a bit quiet as of late. Traveling kept me busy last week. The free time that surrounded my training sessions was filled with a lot of reading, and very little of much else. I was about 1/2 way through reading Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver when I left for my trip on Monday. The story features Kathryn Dance, a spin-off character from the Lincoln Rhyme series. The plot is two-pronged: one prong is the continuation of the Daniel Pell case (The Sleeping Doll) and the mercy death of an injured police officer; the other prong follows a serial killer who announces his intentions using roadside crosses. This suspenseful book kept me going. I finished it on my way down to Columbia.




My second book of the week was Lisa Kleypas' Smooth Talking Stranger. This is the third book in Kleypas' series about the wealthy Travis family. Middle son Jack meets strong-willed Ella Varner in this story of unexpected parenthood and family "issues". The story was well-paced and interesting. It was definitely an easy read as a romance.I finished it on Tuesday night...




 Next up was The Neighbor, by Lisa Gardner. Detective D.D. Warren is calling to a missing person's case when Jason Jones reports his wife missing. Of course Jones immediately becomes the primary suspect, and exacerbates suspicion by refusing to talk with the police or actively look for his wife. I kept thinking something about his character struck a chord as I read. Near the end, the tie-in with Gardner's Say Goodbye (which, by the way, was a horrific but well-written story). I was sucked into this story and couldn't wait to find out what happened. Gardner's writing is fast-paced and contains lots of twists and turns. I really like her.


Having finished my supply of books by my flight Friday morning, I stopped at an airport bookstore to get something for the flights home. I had no clue what to get, so I called up Amazon on my iPhone to read ratings and reviews of the books I had to choose from (yup, this really is how I shop). Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had great reviews, so I got it. Larsson was the second best selling author in 2008, behind Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns). Larsson, a Swedish journalist and editor of Expo, died from a heart attack weeks after providing three manuscripts to his publisher for this series. His writing style is very engaging and the story is well written. I am glad there are other books in the series to be read next. The Girl... is set in Sweden and intertwines stories of publisher Mikael Blomkvist, corporate magnate Henrik Vagner, and the troubled Lisbeth Salander. The story line as described by Amazon.com:

Once you start The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, there's no turning back. This debut thriller--the first in a trilogy from the late Stieg Larsson--is a serious page-turner rivaling the best of Charlie Huston and Michael Connelly. Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo. --Dave Callanan

I am about 1/2 way through and can barely put it down!

Quick Update on Books...

I have fallen behind on my consistent blogging on books. I just finished a couple of quickies, and thought I'd share!

Last week I read Death and Honesty by Cynthia Riggs. It is set on the Vineyard and features octogenarian Victoria Trumball investigating murder and real estate hijinks. It was a quick and easy read with the best part being all those scenes from the Vineyard.

Next I read Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich. It, too, is a quick read with the usual Stephanie Plum antics. So far she has blown up four cars -- really four -- and gotten her apartment firebombed. It is an easy read..

I will be back to my Kindle for traveling over the next two weeks. I have Shatter by Michael Robotham on tap for sure, along with several free books.

Have a happy day

New Blog Design and more

Today we launched our July blog design. It was fun to make and tested my Gimp skills... The embellishments and paper are from Scrapadelic ($3.99). Of course I made the header myself (from plain white to fill in fade and texture), along with assembling and adding the embellishments. It turned out summery and fun and was well worth the small price to Scrapadelic.

I don't think I'll have a June books entry... I haven't had much time to read. Anything from last month will be combined with this month. I am sure you couldn't care less!

And last but not least, this came across my reader right before I began this post. The kitty looks so much like Mattie that it really cracked me up...




see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Have a great day!

Sag Harbor

Contrary to my earlier statement about Sag Harbor, I finished it today. It was good. Not great, but good. Would I recommend it? Probably only to those that want to reminisce about the 80s or are familiar with Long Island...

Now, on to the next read!

My True Confession

I am sorry to disappoint you with the non-juciness of this, but, it is still the truth... I am having a killer time getting through a couple of books. Sag Harbor and Oxygen have just been killing me. I actually stopped reading Sag Harbor on the Kindle to start Oxygen. I couldn't get through it either!!! I finally bailed out on Oxygen and read the last two chapters. I am so happy to be done!!!

I am crossing my fingers that Sag Harbor  improves and I start reading something good!

Have  great day! I'm off to San Francisco for a work conference. I'll try to check in along the way...

What I'm Reading (May)

As usual, I am behind in posting my books!

	Summer on Blossom St by Debbie Macomber Kindle Edition From Publishers Weekly: "Macomber adds a tear-jerking installment to the Blossom Street series with this account of lives intersecting at the series-hinging yarn store, A Good Yarn. Upbeat cancer survivor Lydia and her pragmatic sister, Margaret, start a Knit to Quit group in their Blossom Street yarn store, hoping to bring in customers for weekly self-help sessions. Casey, the 12-year-old girl Lydia takes in while waiting for an infant of her own to adopt, helps out in the shop when she's not sulking in her room or causing trouble for Lydia's family. Local baker Alix wants a baby as much as Lydia does, but she and her husband agree she needs to quit smoking first. Then there's super-stressed chocolate magnate, Hutch, who takes the knitting class after his doctor suggests it. Hutch hits it off with Phoebe, who is trying to quit obsessing about a broken engagement. Rounding out the crowd, bookstore owner Ann Marie must deal with her adopted daughter Ellen's biological father, a recovering addict, re-entering their lives. Macomber deftly handles the multiple story lines and emotional terrain of families, while the predictably happy ending is very genuine."
	Loitering with Intent by Stuart Woods From Publishers Weekly: "Never one to avoid a glamorous vacation spot, Stone Barrington travels to Key West, Fla., in this easygoing entry in bestseller Woods's long-running series (Hot Mahogany, etc.) to feature the New York cop turned lawyer. Stone is supposed to track down Evan Keating, a young man whose signature is needed on documents allowing his father to sell the family business, except that Evan doesn't want to be found and when he is, doesn't want to sign the papers. Meanwhile, there's always time to enjoy good food and romance. Stone and Dino Bacchetti, his former NYPD partner, eat a lot of conch, while a beautiful Swedish doctor, Annika Swenson, learns the hard way that being involved with Stone is the most dangerous job in America. Woods handles the proceedings with dispatch and good humor, the pages fly by, and contented readers will sit back and eagerly await the next installment." This book was a typical Stone Barrington book. He gets the girl, gets a trip, and Dino manages to take time off from the NYPD to help. It was an easy beach read.
	Mr. and Miss Anonymous by Fern Michaels From Amazon: "College senior Lily Madison is on her own and desperate to pay for her last semester of school. With nowhere to turn, she makes the difficult decision to donate her eggs to a fertility clinic. Sam Parker is also a penniless student who supplements his tuition money by visiting a sperm bank. One day, Lily and Sam meet at the clinic and talk about their secret. They agree that the clinic gives them an odd feeling, as if all is not as it seems. Despite their obvious attraction, Lily and Sam go their separate ways. Twenty years have passed and Lily often wonders if she has a child somewhere in the world. She also thinks a lot about Sam. Now a wealthy entrepreneur, Sam never forgot Lily either, and when he sees her in an airport one day, he falls for her all over again. But while they enjoy their unlikely reunion, a story on the news has them riveted. Two teenage boys are missing and their disappearance may be linked to the fertility clinic Sam and Lily visited in college. In a shocking twist, one of the boys looks exactly like Sam. Lily and Sam are now determined to find out what really went on at the clinic all those years ago. When the whole story comes out, the truth will be more than they bargained for. But they will discover that letting go of their secrets from the past is the best way to build a future worth fighting for..." I liked this book. It had a storyline that kept me interested, even though it was a bit unrealistic. I like Fern Michaels a lot.
	Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead Kindle Edition Amazon.com Review: "Amazon Best of the Month, May 2009: Like his fellow New Yorker Jonathan Lethem, Colson Whitehead weaves gracefully through genres with each of his books, but Sag Harbor, billed as his "autobiographical fourth novel," seems positioned to be his breakout book--which is a funny thing for a writer who has already received so many major literary awards, including a MacArthur "Genius" grant and being short-listed for the Pulitzer. The year is 1985 and 15-year-old Benji Cooper, one of the only black students at his elite Manhattan private school, leaves the city to spend three largely unsupervised months living with his younger brother Reggie in an enclave of Long Island's Sag Harbor, the summer home to many African American urban professionals. Benji's a Converse-wearing, Smiths-loving, Dungeons & Dragons-playing nerd whose favorite Star Wars character is the hapless bounty hunter Greedo (rather than the double-crossing Lando Calrissian). But Sag Harbor is a coming-of-age novel whose plot side-steps life-changing events writ large. The book's leisurely eight chapters mostly concern Benji's first kiss, the removal of braces, BB gun battles, slinging insults (largely unprintable "grammatical acrobatics") with his friends, and working his first summer job. And Whitehead crafts a wonderful set piece describing Benji's days at Jonni Waffle Ice Cream, where he is shrouded in "waffle musk" and a dirty T-shirt that's "soiled, covered with batter and befudged from a sundae mishap." Whitehead pushes his love of pop culture into hyper-drive. Nearly every page is swimming with references to the 1980s--from New Coke and The Cosby Show to late nights trying to decipher flickering glimpses of naked women on scrambled Cinemax. And music courses through the book, capturing that period when early hip hop mixed with New Wave. Lisa Lisa and U.T.F.O make a memorable cameo at Jonni Waffle, and McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"--heard throughout the book in passing cars and boom boxes--gets tagged as "the black national anthem." Like that ubiquitous song, the soulful, celebratory, and painfully funny Sag Harbor and its chronicle of those lazy, sun-soaked days sandwiched between Memorial Day and Labor Day, will stick with you long after closing its covers. --Brad Thomas Parsons "
	Serial by Jack Kilborn and Blake Crouch Kindle Edition From Amazon: "Remember the twin golden rules of hitchhiking? # 1: Don-t go hitchhiking, because the driver who picks you up could be certifiably crazy. # 2: Don-t pick up hitchhikers, because the traveler you pick up could be raving nutcase. So what if, on some dark, isolated road, Crazy #1 offered a ride to Nutcase #2? When two of the most twisted minds in the world of horror fiction face off, the result is SERIAL, a terrifying tale of hitchhiking gone terribly wrong. Like a deeply twisted version of an -After School Special,- SERIAL is the single most persuasive public service announcement on the hazards of free car rides. Beyond a thrilling piece of horrifying suspense, SERIAL is also a groundbreaking experiment in literary collaboration. Kilborn wrote the first part. Crouch wrote the second. And they wrote the third together over email in 100-word exchanges, not aware of each other-s opening section. All bets were off, and may the best psycho win." This was really creepy. Quick, short, and creepy.
	Oxygen by Carol Wiley Cassella From Amazon: "With the compassion of Jodi Picoult and the medical realism of Atul Gawande, Oxygen is a riveting new novel by a real-life anesthesiologist, an intimate story of relationships and family that collides with a high-stakes medical drama. Dr. Marie Heaton is an anesthesiologist at the height of her profession. She has worked, lived and breathed her career since medical school, and she now practices at a top Seattle hospital. Marie has carefully constructed and constricted her life according to empirical truths, to the science and art of medicine. But when her tried-and-true formula suddenly deserts her during a routine surgery, she must explain the nightmarish operating room disaster and face the resulting malpractice suit. Marie's best friend, colleague and former lover, Dr. Joe Hillary, becomes her closest confidante as she twists through depositions, accusations and a remorseful preoccupation with the mother of the patient in question. As she struggles to salvage her career and reputation, Marie must face hard truths about the path she's chosen, the bridges she's burned and the colleagues and superiors she's mistaken for friends. A quieter crisis is simultaneously unfolding within Marie's family. Her aging father is losing his sight and approaching an awkward dependency on Marie and her sister, Lori. But Lori has taken a more traditional path than Marie and is busy raising a family. Although Marie has been estranged from her Texas roots for decades, the ultimate responsibility for their father's care is falling on her. As her carefully structured life begins to collapse, Marie confronts questions of love and betrayal, family bonds and the price of her own choices. Set against the natural splendor of Seattle, and inside the closed vaults of hospital operating rooms, Oxygen climaxes in a final twist that is as heartrending as it is redeeming. "

It was a light month. Hopefully I'll get more reading done this month, but I'm not counting on it!

What I'm Reading (April)

Here's what I've been up to in April. I can't believe it is May 5 already!!!

	The Babysitter's Code by Laura Lippman Kindle Edition This short-story mystery follows a teen-aged babysitter and her unexpected glimpse into the world of adults. It wasn't bad (for free!).
	Stranded with a Spy by Merline Lovelace Kindle Edition   From Amazon: "When Mallory Dawes, suddenly infamous in the States, decided to take that vacation to France, her problems were just beginning: a lost passport. A car swept out to sea. Missing travelers' checks. And a mysterious, if intriguing, man who always seemed to turn up just when she was in trouble... Cutter Smith-code name: Slash-was told to keep the beautiful blonde in his sights. But as his interest in her veered from the professional to the intensely personal, Cutter knew the cost of falling in love would be high indeed. And he would have to pay the price...." This was another freebie from Amazon. I loved it so much, I would have gladly paid for it. It was a good story, a bit predictable, but happy and romantic in the end.
	Afraid by Jack Kilborn Kindle Edition  Kilborn is a pen name for Joe (aka JA) Konrath. I've written a lot about Konrath's Jack Daniels series over the months, and they have really grown on me. This book is billed as being very scary. Here's what the reviewers said: Jack Kilborn's AFRAID is appropriately named. It will scare the hell out of anyone who reads it. Fast and ferocious, this is a dangerous thriller that will take a bite out of you. An absolute must read for anyone who loves the adrenaline rush of a shocking story told with style, speed and savage grace. (Jonathan Maberry, Bram Stoker Award winning author of PATIENT ZERO and THEY BITE ) Jack Kilborn's "Afraid" is a true page turner, a novel that offers a million mile a minute action and suspense. Definitely, a must have with constant thrills and chills. (Heather Graham, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author ) Full of colorful characters and dynamic action, this hard-to-put-down page turner will keep readers riveted and squirming in their seats. Hands down, AFRAID by Jack Kilborn is perhaps the best psychological horror novel to come along since Silence of the Lambs. (Michael Laimo, author of DEAD SOULS and DEEP IN THE DARKNESS ) "Kilborn kicks down your psyche's front door and RAISES HOLY EVER-LIVING HELL. Never have I read a novel so gruesome and simultaneously relentless. AFRAID throbs with unmitigated, inexorable. sheer friggin' TERROR." (Edward Lee, author of CITY INFERNAL and BRIDES OF THE IMPALER ) A bloody, terrifying, hurtling assault across a landscape of non-stop mayhem. A guilty, guilty pleasure. (F. Paul Wilson, creator of Repairman Jack ) "AFRAID is one of the most intense, relentless books I've ever read. This one takes no prisoners." (Marcus Sakey, author of The Blade Itself ) "The moment I heard about this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it." (David Morrell, NYT bestselling author of Scavenger ) "AFRAID is a bungee jump into pure terror, a story that plays brilliantly on all our primal fears, and stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best of Harris, Koontz, and King. A classic horror novel." (Blake Crouch, author of Locked Doors ) "AFRAID is a masterpiece of unrelenting horror. And I'm not exaggerating. Masterpiece. It's the best piece of fiction I've read in several years. It simply NEVER lets up." (James Rollins, NYT bestselling author of Black Order ) My take: This book was very good. It scared the crap out of me. But, it is not for those with a weak stomach. There is lots of blood and twisted stuff going on... It was very suspenseful and kept me turning the virtual pages!
	Testimony: A Novel by Anita Shreve From Booklist: "*Starred Review* Shreve, consummate crafstman and frequent provocateur, is on fire in her latest novel, a mesmerizing read centering on a sex scandal at a prestigious Vermont prep school. The story is laid out in short, dramatic chapters narrated by a chorus of participants and bystanders, from the beleagured headmaster to the heartbroken parents to the vacuous girl at the center of the scandal. Three star basketball players were videotaped having sex with a freshman, and the tape was then posted on the Internet. The reaction is immediate and the results devastating, destroying marriages, ruining futures, and, most horrifying of all, resulting in a death. Part of what makes the novel so riveting is its graphic rehashing of a scandal familiar from newspaper headlines, but most of this affecting novel’s appeal lies in the way it so carefully fills in the nuances often missing from the headlines. One of the boys, the son of local farmers who was attending the elite school on scholarship, had learned a shocking secret about his mother just prior to the incident and, uncharacteristically, had too much to drink. Conversely, the girl ultimately calls the cops, thereby alerting the media, and accuses the boys of rape because it’s easier than having to face the wrath of her father. Shreve views all of the characters, even the most flawed, with a good deal of compassion, revealing the heartbreaking consequences of a single reckless act. --Joanne Wilkinson"
	Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian From Publishers Weekly: "In his 12th novel, Bohjalian (The Double Bind) paints the brutal landscape of Nazi Germany as German refugees struggle westward ahead of the advancing Russian army. Inspired by the unpublished diary of a Prussian woman who fled west in 1945, the novel exhumes the ruin of spirit, flesh and faith that accompanied thousands of such desperate journeys. Prussian aristocrat Rolf Emmerich and his two elder sons are sent into battle, while his wife flees with their other children and a Scottish POW who has been working on their estate. Before long, they meet up with Uri Singer, a Jewish escapee from an Auschwitz-bound train, who becomes the group's protector. In a parallel story line, hundreds of Jewish women shuffle west on a gruesome death march from a concentration camp. Bohjalian presents the difficulties confronting both sets of travelers with carefully researched detail and an unflinching eye, but he blinks when creating the Emmerichs, painting them as untainted by either their privileged status, their indoctrination by the Nazi Party or their adoration of Hitler. Although most of the characters lack complexity, Bohjalian's well-chosen descriptions capture the anguish of a tragic era and the dehumanizing desolation wrought by war." I didn't know what to expect from this book, but it was good. As with any book about interment of the Jewish, it was sad. It followed the family for several months and painted a pretty complete picture of their devastation. The book was well-written.
	The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff Kindle Edition From The New Yorker: "This ambitious third novel tells two parallel stories of polygamy. The first recounts Brigham Young's expulsion of one of his wives, Ann Eliza, from the Mormon Church; the second is a modern-day murder mystery set in a polygamous compound in Utah. Unfolding through an impressive variety of narrative forms—Wikipedia entries, academic research papers, newspaper opinion pieces—the stories include fascinating historical details. We are told, for instance, of Brigham Young's ban on dramas that romanticized monogamous love at his community theatre; as one of Young's followers says, "I ain't sitting through no play where a man makes such a cussed fuss over one woman." Ebershoff demonstrates abundant virtuosity, as he convincingly inhabits the voices of both a nineteenth-century Mormon wife and a contemporary gay youth excommunicated from the church, while also managing to say something about the mysterious power of faith." This book was great. Not what I would normally read, but it really sucked me in.
	Vision in White by Nora Roberts Kindle Edition From Amazon: "Wedding photographer Mackensie “Mac” Elliot is most at home behind the camera, but her focus is shattered moments before an important wedding rehearsal when she bumps into the bride-to-be’s brother…an encounter that has them both seeing stars. A stable, safe English teacher, Carter Maguire is definitely not Mac’s type. But a casual fling might be just what she needs to take her mind off bridezillas. Of course, casual flings can turn into something more when you least expect it. And Mac will have to turn to her three best friends—and business partners—to see her way to her own happy ending." I am reading this now. I love love love it. Can't wait to finish!!!

I'll keep you posted on this month's books...

What I'm Reading (March)

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What I'm Reading (February)

February has come and gone, and I have just finished the last of my books for this month.

	Mounting Fears  by Stuart Woods From the New York Times: "President Will Lee is having a rough week. His vice president just died during surgery. Confirmation hearings for the new vice president are under way, but the squeaky-clean governor whom Will has nominated may have a few previously unnoticed skeletons in his closet. And Teddy Fay, the rogue CIA agent last seen in Shoot Him If He Runs, is plotting his revenge on CIA director Kate Rule Lee—the president’s wife. Plus there are some loose nukes in Pakistan that might just trigger World War III if Will’s diplomatic efforts fall short. It’s up to President Lee—with some help from Holly Barker, Lance Cabot, and a few other Stuart Woods series regulars—to save the world, and the upcoming election."
	Fuzzy Navel  by JA Konrath From Amazon: "Things are going well for Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels of the Chicago Police Department. She has solved some of the city's toughest and most high-profile homicides. Her personal life is finally in order. Her friends and family are safe and happy. And she just got a call that eased her mind like nothing else could: Alex Kork, one of the most dangerous criminals Jack ever arrested, killed herself while in jail. But things sour quickly when a group of vigilantes on a murderous spree decide to take down a cop and the people she cares about ... and they turn downright awful when Jack discovers that Kork may not be dead after all. The next eight hours will be the worst of Jack's life. And that's saying something." This installment was much last graphic than previous ones. It was ok, not the best, but the cliffhanger ending will have me reading the next one due out in June.
	Vineyard Stalker by Philip R. Craig From Publisher's Weekly: "Secret love affairs and real estate schemes drive Craig's lively 18th Martha's Vineyard mystery featuring retired Boston cop J.W. Jackson (after 2006's Dead in Vineyard Sand). While J.W.'s kids and wife, Zee, are off-island, Zee's friend Carole Cohen asks J.W. to help track down a stalker harassing her reclusive brother, Roland Nunes. A carpenter and Vietnam vet known as "The Monk," Roland lives in a cottage on a valuable plot of land. Carole, a realtor, worries that someone wants to scare her brother away. Could it be their cousin Sally Oliver, who wants to sell the land? The plot thickens with revelations about Roland's neighbors, provocative divorcée Melissa Carson and Melissa's financier fiancé, Alfred Cabot. The level of crime plaguing West Tisbury escalates from stalking to murder, leading to a resolution sure to satisfy loyal fans." Another nice installation in the JW Jackson series. I have been saving his books up (since his untimely passing).
	What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Kindle Edition From Amazon:" How did this happen? Georgie York, once the costar of America's favorite television sitcom, has been publicly abandoned by her famous husband, her film career has tanked, her father is driving her crazy, and her public image as a spunky heroine is taking a serious beating. What should a down-on-her-luck actress do? Not go to Vegas . . . not run into her detestable former costar, dreamboat-from-hell Bramwell Shepard . . . and not get caught up in an ugly incident that leads to a calamitous elopement. Before she knows it, Georgie has a fake marriage, a fake husband, and maybe (or not) a fake sex life. It's a paparazzi free-for-all, and Georgie's nonsupporting cast doesn't help. There's Bram's punk-nightmare housekeeper, Georgie's own pushy parent, a suck-up agent, an icy studio head with a private agenda, and her ex-husband's new wife, who can't get enough of doing good deeds and saving the world—the bitch. As for Georgie's leading man, Bram's giving the performance of his life, but he's never cared about anyone except himself, and it's not exactly clear why. Two enemies find themselves working without a script in a town where the spotlight shines bright . . . and where the strongest emotions can wear startling disguises. " I loved this book -- I thought it was great. I read it all on the plane on the way out to Phoenix.
	Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich Kindle Edition From Amazon: "The First Full Length Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers Novel from #1 Bestselling Author Janet Evanovich. Turn on all the lights and check under your bed. Things are about to get spooky in Trenton, New Jersey. According to legend, the Jersey Devil prowls the Pine Barrens and soars above the treetops in the dark of night. As eerie as this might seem, there are things in the Barrens that are even more frightening and dangerous. And there are monkeys. Lots of monkeys. Wulf Grimoire is a world wanderer and an opportunist who can kill without remorse and disappear like smoke. He’s chosen Martin Munch, boy genius, as his new business partner, and he’s chosen the Barrens as his new playground. Munch received his doctorate degree in quantum physics when he was twenty-two. He’s now twenty-four, and while his brain is large, his body hasn’t made it out of the boys’ department at Macy’s. Anyone who says good things come in small packages hasn’t met Munch. Wulf Grimoire is looking for world domination. Martin Munch would be happy if he could just get a woman naked and tied to a tree. Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has Munch on her most-wanted list for failure to appear in court. Plum is the all-American girl stuck in an uncomfortable job, succeeding on luck and tenacity. Usually she gets her man. This time she gets a monkey. She also gets a big guy named Diesel.  Diesel pops in and out of Plum’s life like birthday cake – delicious to look at and taste, not especially healthy as a steady diet, gone by the end of the week if not sooner. He’s an über bounty hunter with special skills when it comes to tracking men and pleasing women. He’s after Grimoire, and now he’s also after Munch. And if truth were told, he wouldn’t mind setting Stephanie Plum in his crosshairs. Diesel and Plum hunt down Munch and Grimoire, following them into the Barrens, surviving cranberry bogs, the Jersey Devil, a hair-raising experience, sand in their underwear, and, of course . . . monkeys." This was a pretty  typical Plum book. I am really tired of reading, but won't stop for some reason....
	The Shack by William P. Young  Kindle Edition From AudioFile: "Mac is a grief-stricken father in mid-life about to have an extraordinary experience with God. His great sadness began four years ago on a weekend camping trip, when his 6-year-old daughter, Missy, was murdered. What he couldn't know then, but is about to learn, was God's purpose for Missy's death. Roger Mueller's clear, gentle voice characterizes Mac's family with high-spirited joy and laughter. His portrayal of Missy's animated excitement makes her especially believable. His polished performance of grief-stricken Mac brings tears. With empathy and sensitivity, Mueller captures the mysterious voices of those who have invited him to the now abandoned, yet transformed, cabin in the wilderness. This compelling fantasy explores themes of love, loss, and blame."
	What Looks Like Crazy  by Charlotte Hughes Kindle Edition From Amazon: "Psychologist Kate Holly is about to get evicted from her office, and her best option may be to share space with her jacuzzi-loving ex-boyfriend, Dr. Thad Glazer. That’s not going to help her patch things up with her firefighter ex-husband. With her oddball patients, meddling mother, and eccentric secretary thrown into the mix—not to mention a spree of suspicious fires—will Kate put her life back together or wind up in a padded cell?" I really enjoyed this book. It was cute and lively, just like the Evanovich books used to book. I recommend it for a light read!
	Nuclear Jellyfish  by Tim Dorsey Kindle Edition From Publishers Weekly: "Fasten your seatbelts: Serge A. Storms, Florida's manic tour and history guide as well as its most inventive and prolific serial killer, cruises at warp(ed) speed through bestseller Dorsey's 11th thriller (after Atomic Lobster). Serge's primary target is a tattooed thug called Jellyfish (behind his back) or Eel (to his face), whose gang rips off diamond couriers. But along the frantic way, Serge and his pal, the always-buzzed Coleman, remove a variety of societal pests, including skinheads beating a homeless man, auto repair shysters preying on tourists and bargain motels that don't deliver on their bargains. Serge's instruments of vengeance include garden hoses, pigs, aerosol sprays and lots of duct tape. Dorsey's inspired insanity certainly won't appeal to everyone, but Serge's antics give vicarious satisfaction to those who too often see misdeeds go unpunished. In short, Serge continues to pummel convention and evildoers with exuberant abandon and wit. 9-city author tour. (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved." I have read Tim Dorsey in the past and hated his writing. I, apparently, forgot this when I paid $10 for this book. It was difficult to get through, and I didn't like it. Sorry, but a huge thumbs down.

On to March! Hopefully I choose better things to read...

Smiles

Amazon Releases Kindle 2

The much anticipated release of the new Kindle has come. Amazon officially released it today at 10 am Eastern Time.

Among the new features are better placed buttons, increased storage capacity, 16 shades of gray for added color depth, skinnier form, and increased battery life. Kindle 2 also has the ability to read books to you and to sync between Kindles. Pricing remains the same, $359. Kindle 1 owners get shipping priority (their orders ship first) on the February 24 release date.

I sure do love my Kindle. Kindle books comprise 10% of Amazon's book sales, so I am not alone in my opinion. The new features look great and would be enticing if you don't own a Kindle yet (I am happy and don't need to upgrade). Pretty cool!

What I'm Reading (January)

We're into February already! Here's what I read last month...

	Death Angel  by Linda Howard Kindle Edition From Amazon: "In Linda Howard’s gifted hands, second chances, unexpected romance, and unrelenting action combine into a riveting new novel of suspense. In Death Angel, bad girls can wake up and trust their hearts, bad guys can fight for what’s right... and dying just might be the only way to change one’s life. A striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men, Drea Rousseau is more than content to be arm candy for Rafael Salinas, a notorious crime lord who deals with betrayal through quick and treacherous means: a bullet to the back of the head, a blade across the neck, an incendiary device beneath a car. Eager to break with Rafael, Drea makes a fateful decision and a desperate move, stealing a mountain of cash from the malicious killer. After all, an escape needs to be financed. Though Drea runs, Salinas knows she can’t hide–and he dispatches a cold-blooded assassin in hot pursuit, resulting in a tragic turn of events. Or does it? Left for dead, Drea miraculously returns to the realm of the living a changed woman. She’s no longer shallow and selfish, no longer steals or cheats or sells herself short. Both humbled and thrilled with this unexpected second chance, Drea embraces her new life. But in order to feel safe and sound–and stop nervously looking over her shoulder–she will need to take down those who marked her for death. Joining forces with the FBI, supplying vital inside information that only she can provide, Drea finds herself working with the most dangerous man she’s ever known. Yet the closer they get to danger, the more intense their feelings for each other become, and the more Drea realizes that the cost of her new life may be her life itself–as well as her heart." I thought this was a [virtual] page turning thriller and loved it!
	The Brass Verdict  by Michael Connelly From Publishers Weekly: "Bestseller Connelly delivers one of his most intricate plots to date in his 20th book, a beautifully executed crime thriller. When L.A. lawyer Mickey Haller, last seen in The Lincoln Lawyer (2005), inherits the practice and caseload of a fellow defense attorney, Jerry Vincent, who's been murdered, the high-profile double-homicide case against famed Hollywood producer Walter Elliot, accused of shooting his wife and her alleged lover, takes top priority. As Haller scrambles to build a defense, he butts heads with LAPD Det. Harry Bosch, the stalwart hero of Connelly's long-running series (The Black Echo, etc.), who's working Vincent's murder. When Haller realizes that the Elliot affair is bigger than simply a jealous husband killing his cheating wife, he and Bosch grudgingly agree to work together to solve what could be the biggest case in both their careers. Bosch might have met his match in the wily Haller, and readers will delight in their sparring." I enjoyed this book (though I wished it were on the Kindle).
	Creation in Death  by JD Robb From Publishers Weekly: "At 27 books and counting, Nora Roberts is more prolific under her Robb pseudonym than most authors manage in a single career. Yet the latest in her not-so-near-future detective series featuring New York Police Det. Eve Dallas offers a satisfyingly novel mélange of suspense, sex, forensics and heroics. It's 2060, and the serial killer nicknamed The Groom is back in town after an absence of nine years, resuming his horrific run of kidnapping, torturing and killing young women. Dallas, who served as a detective in the frustrating first investigation, assumes lead role in this one. This time, not only do the killer's chosen victims have ties to Dallas's husband, Roarke, but Dallas herself may be the killer's ultimate target. Swiftly paced, the story cuts frequently from the investigation to the killer's progress with his victims. Dallas works to outplan, outfight and outsmart the killer; to keep her handsome, rich husband happy; and to be ready for the next round after a good night's sleep. Robb's latest is bound to please Dallas fans."
	Star Bright  by Catherine Anderson From Amazon: "Faking her own death to escape her murderous husband, Rainie Hall takes refuge in the rural community of Crystal Falls, where she finds work as a bookkeeper on a horse ranch run by dangerously good-looking Parker Harrigan. But as their initial attraction blossoms, Rainie fears she can never escape retribution from the man who has sworn to kill her—and that her mere presence could jeopardize everything the Harrigan family holds dear." I love Catherine Anderson and was thrilled to get this book after she took a 2 year hiatus for health reasons. It was a nice story, with her typical storyline (women involved with villain overcomes and falls in love).
	Fireside (The Lakeshore Chronicles)  by Susan Wiggs From Amazon: "Baseball hopeful Bo Crutcher is about to get his shot at the majors. That is, until life throws him a curveball. When AJ, the son he's never met, lands on his doorstep, Bo's life becomes a whole new ball game. He needs help—fast. Enter Kimberly van Dorn. Hired to smooth Bo's rough exterior for the media, she expects the kind of shallow pro athlete she's used to handling. But Bo is willing to sacrifice everything for his vulnerable son. Kim can train him to hit a home run with the press, but over a breathtaking winter on frozen Willow Lake, she realizes he has far more to teach her about the game of life…and putting love first."

It seems like there should be more. Hopefully next month!

Oooh...

One book on the Kindle and I am already spoiled. I finished Death Angel last night and switched to a standard hardback to read today. Boy I miss that Kindle. I keep thinking, "Hmm... I could just send this hardback on to the next bookswap person and buy the book for the Kindle..." It isn't going to happen (because I am too cheap) but the thought has crossed my mind. More than once.

On another topic, I don't know why I love these photos so much (they are pretty boring, actually), but I just think he's such a cutie...

Mattie snoozin' on the couch

He's so content

The only way he let me get away with taking his picture -- he usually runs to me when I get the camera out and try to take his photo -- is that I used my phone. He thought I was surfing the web, I guess.

Happy Day!

What I'm Reading (December)

Oops! January 7 already and I have not posted last month's books... Here you go!

	Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner Kimberly Quinn is an FBI agent who loves her job. Her husband Mac is also an agent, for the GBI. As Kimberly gets involved in a case with a man who kidnaps and murders prostitutes and young boys. I had a difficult time getting through this book. The content (sexual abuse of young boys) deeply disturbed me. It was ok.
	A Cedar Cove Christmas by Debbie Macomber This is a holiday installment in the Cedar Cove series. Mary Jo Wyse is pregnant by David Rhoades (son of Ben and Charlotte). After inital support of the pregnancy, David stops communicating with Mary Jo. On Christmas Eve, just two weeks before her due date, Mary Jo ventures to Cedar Cove so she can try to speak with David -- or at least tell his family about the baby. This heartwarming book is perfect for Christmas and a nice, quick read.
	A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas Hannah Anderson is the cousin and helpmaid to Lady Natalie Anderson. Lady Natalie is to marry American rake Rafe Bowman. That is, until true love is found in other places. This was a lovely story, timed perfectly for the Christmas season.
	Divine Justice by David Baldacci From Publisher's Weekly: Near the start of bestseller Baldacci's less than compelling fourth Camel Club thriller (after Stone Cold), former CIA assassin Oliver Stone (aka John Carr) boards a New Orleans–bound train at Washington's Union Station after shooting to death a well-known U.S. senator and the nation's intelligence chief, the two men responsible for his wife's murder. Ever the Good Samaritan, Stone intervenes in a fight on the train, but when the Amtrak conductor asks to see his ID, he gets off at the next station, knowing his fake ID won't withstand scrutiny. So much for Stone's vaunted ability as a resourceful planner. This sudden detour takes Stone to Divine, Va., a mining town where he becomes enmeshed in corruption and intrigue—and falls, in just one of several clichéd situations, for an attractive if beleaguered widow.
	Fast Track by Fern Michaels description
	Shooting Star: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery  by Cynthia Riggs From Booklist: "This lightly plotted mystery is full of the flora, fauna, and aroma of Martha's Vineyard. The owlish Victoria Trumbull, poet, police deputy, and playwright at age 92, is horrified when her version of Frankenstein, written for the local community theater, turns from social commentary to farce--and cast members keep dying. Everyone is depicted in colorful broad strokes--drunken director, amiable local police, bright-eyed teens--and Victoria manages to feed and house most of them as well as solve mayhem and heartbreak. A lot about the joys of community theater is tucked in among the soup, rescued puppies, and ugly divorces." A nice easy read. Victoria is a bit unbelievable, but how you'd like your grandmother to be.
	The Bodies Left Behind  by Jeffery Deaver From Amazon: "An off-duty cop who investigates an aborted 911 call from a secluded vacation home and ends up on the run. From the opening scene (that'll keep even the bravest of you at home with the doors locked and the shades drawn), Deaver delivers a clever page-turner that reads like one of his tightly plotted and fast-paced short stories (fans should check out Twisted). Endlessly surprising (there is more than one jaw-dropping plot twist) and supremely gripping (two hours after cracking this stand-alone thriller, I came up for air and took a moment to shake the cramp out of my fingers), The Bodies Left Behind is one of the most entertaining thrillers of the year. --Daphne Durham" I thought this was ok. The story could have been developed better and the end was very disappointing.

Happy Reading!