Thursday, March 8, 2012

After the Snow by S.D Crocket





Book Description
The oceans stopped working before Willo was born, so the world of ice and snow is all he's ever known. He lives with his family deep in the wilderness, far from the government's controlling grasp. Willo's survival skills are put to the test when he arrives home one day to find his family gone. It could be the government; it could be scavengers. All Willo knows is he has to find refuge and his family. It is a journey that will take him into the city he's always avoided, with a girl who needs his help more than he knows.
This story is told from the point of view of a survivor, a 15 year old named Willo who lives with his family high in the mountains in the unforgiving, frozen wilderness of Wales.
Unfortunately I was not able to get into this book and gave up after reading about half of it.
If you like post-apocalyptic tales you may like this book.
I received this book free from the Publisher as part of their Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Product Details
Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312641699
ISBN-13: 978-0312641696

Saturday, November 19, 2011

An Amish Wedding by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long



An Amish Wedding by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long

Book Description

Three Amish women yearn for the perfect wedding.

"A Perfect Plan" by Beth Wiseman

Priscilla King has been planning to marry Chester Lapp since she was sixteen years old, and when Chester proposes on Priscilla's nineteenth birthday, wedding plans begin immediately. What wasn't planned was all the problems the couple encounters as their big day approaches. A house disaster, a ruined wedding dress, and a sick attendant all make the couple wonder if God's sending them signs to call things off.


"The Perfect Match" by Kathleen Fuller

Naomi Fisher has had great success at matchmaking her family members and friends. Now with her sister's wedding right around the corner, Naomi wonders why she's able to find husbands for her friends and family, but not one for herself.


"The Perfect Secret" by Kelly Long

Rose Bender has recently become engaged to handsome but somber Luke Raber. She agrees out of a sense of duty and a willingness to settle for solid friendship as a basis for the engagement. But as she watches her friend's excitement over her soon-to-be wedding, Rose wonders if there shouldn't be more to her relationship with Luke. She begins to examine Luke and his life more closely and is amazed when she stumbles upon an exciting, secret side of him that engages her mind and heart.


This is the first time I read anything by this author and must say that I really enjoyed this novella. A great book for reading groups or anyone that enjoys a good touching Amish or Christian romance. I highly recommend this novella.

This book is a collection of three Amish novellas written by three different authors.

Each story is linked together in the same time period of about four weeks and involves the same three friends.

This book was a quick easy read, I loved the characters and especially enjoyed the interaction of the same people in each of the stories.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 



About the Author
Beth Wiseman is hailed as a top voice in Amish fiction. She is the author of numerous bestsellers including the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. She and her family live in Texas. Kelly Long is the author of Sarah's Garden, the first novel in the Patch of Heaven series. She was born and raised in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania. She’s been married for nearly 25 years and has five children.

 

Product Details

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 29, 2011)
Paperback: 384 pages
Language: English  
ISBN-10: 1595549218
ISBN-13: 978-1595549211

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton



Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton

Elliott Spence and his old college buddy Ross Craig meet at a bar after not seeing each other for a long time. When Elliot leaves the bar he gets run over by a car and killed.

Elliot’s wife Kathy is the main suspect after it is determined that it was her car that was used to kill her husband. Kathy turns to amateur sleuth Anne Marshall for help. Anne is convinced that Kathy is not the killer and starts an investigation. Anne must rely on the ghost of her dead father to solve this case before it is too late.

This is the first time I read a book by this author and I really enjoyed this detective mystery.

Revenge Served Cold is the follow-up to Piercing the Veil. Although I did not read the first novel in this series it was easy to follow the book. This book is a great fast read and I would highly recommend it to someone who likes a good mystery with a little twist of a ghost.

I was fortunate to receive this e-book from Cadence Marketing G
roup for free to provide a review.


Author Biography


Jackie Fullerton is a successful businesswoman and attorney who grew up in rural Ohio.

A mother of five, Fullerton returned to college when her last child was in grade school. She graduated summa cum laude from both Franklin University, where she earned her BS degree in business, and Dayton University, where she earned her MBA. Fullerton later attended Capital Law School, where she graduated cum laude. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1993, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, in 1995, and the Supreme Court of the United States in 1996. Although she is not in active practice, Fullerton volunteers her legal services at a local homeless shelter.

An active member of the Columbus, Ohio, community, Fullerton has served on several boards and commissions, including the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Franklin County ADAMH (Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health) Board; Community Shelter Board; Habitat for Humanity Board; and Court Appointed Special Advocates of Franklin County, Ohio (CASA).

Fullerton divides her time between Ohio and Florida, with her husband, Tom, and their dog, Flash.


Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 486 KB
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B004IWRD92
http://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Served-Cold-ebook/dp/B004IWRD92/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1306087843&sr=1-2

Paperback
Pub. Date: May 2010
Publisher: Thomas House Publishing
ISBN-13: 9780984381500
ISBN: 0984381503


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Night Season by Chelsea Cain



The Night Season by Chelsea Cain

Synopsis
With the Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell locked away behind bars once again, Archie Sheridan—a Portland police detective and nearly one of her victims—can finally rest a little easier. Meanwhile, the rest of the city of Portland is in crisis. Heavy rains have flooded the Willamette River, and several people have drowned in the quickly rising waters. Or at least that’s what they thought until the medical examiner discovers that the latest victim didn’t drown: She was poisoned before she went into the water. Soon after, three of those drownings are also proven to be murders. Portland has a new serial killer on its hands, and Archie and his task force have a new case.
Reporter Susan Ward is chasing this story of a new serial killer with gusto, but she’s also got another lead to follow for an entirely separate mystery: The flooding has unearthed a skeleton, a man who might have died more than sixty years ago, the last time Portland flooded this badly, when the water washed away an entire neighborhood and killed at least fifteen people.
With Archie following the bizarre trail of evidence and evil deeds to catch a killer and possibly regain his life, and Susan Ward close behind, Chelsea Cain—one of today’s most talented suspense writers—launches the next installment of her bestselling series with an electric thriller.

I really enjoyed this book, this is another great novel by a talented author and the fourth in this series. This novel grabbed me right from the start and just kept hold. I read all of the books in this series and this one did not disappoint. Although I really missed Gretchen Lowell in this book.
The characters are likable and interesting as always. The pace is fast with many twist and turns.


Author Biography
Chelsea Cain lived the first few years of her life on an Iowa commune, then grew up in Bellingham, Washington, where the infamous Green River killer was "the boogeyman" of her youth. Her first novel featuring Detective Archie Sheridan and killer Gretchen Lowell, Heartsick, was a New York Times bestseller. Also the author of Confessions of a Teenage Sleuth, a parody based on the life of Nancy Drew, several nonfiction titles, and a weekly column in The Oregonian, Chelsea Cain lives in Portland with her family. Visit her online at www.chelseacain.com.


Product Details
Pub. Date: March 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 9780312619763
ISBN: 0312619766

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tick Tock by James Patterson


Tick Tock by James Patterson

Synopsis
NYC's #1 detective, Michael Bennett, has a huge problem—the Son of Sam, the Werewolf of Wisteria and the Mad Bomber are all back. The city has never been more terrified!
Tick—a killer's countdown begins
A rash of horrifying crimes tears through the city, throwing it into complete chaos and terrorizing everyone living there. Immediately, it becomes clear that they are not the work of an amateur, but of a calculating, efficient, and deadly mastermind.
Tick—Michael Bennett is on the chase
The city calls on Detective Michael Bennett, pulling him away from a seaside retreat with his ten adopted children, his grandfather, and their beloved nanny, Mary Catherine. Not only does it tear apart their vacation, it leaves the entire family open to attack.
Tock—your time is up
Bennett enlists the help of a former colleague, FBI Agent Emily Parker. As his affection for Emily grows into something stronger, his relationship with Mary Catherine takes an unexpected turn. All too soon, another appalling crime leads Bennett to a shocking discovery that exposes the killer's pattern and the earth-shattering enormity of his plan. From the creator of the #1 New York detective series comes the most volatile and most explosive Michael Bennett novel ever.


This is another great novel by one of my favorite authors who never disappoints me. I love the Michael Bennett series. Tick Tock is an awesome easy read for anyone who likes a good mystery. I highly recommend this one.




Biography
Not making any bones about his bid for success, James Patterson once declared he wanted to be known as the king of the page-turners. While that may seem like a pretty grand ambition, Patterson is as worthy of that title as any author working today.


Pub. Date: August 2010
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Format: Hardcover , 423pp
ISBN-13: 9780316089517
ISBN: 0316089516

Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl




Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl

Synopsis
Outspoken radio talk show host Jim Fate dies tragically while on the air. Police evacuate downtown Portland, and the triple threat team begin piecing together what just happened.



This is a book you want to keep on reading. It was hard to put it down to get some sleep. .

As he is about to go on air, Controversial Radio talk show host Jim Fates life is cut short when he receives a padded envelope which contains poisonous gas. Was Jim Fate's death an act of terrorism or premeditated homicide? The Triple Threat Club friends, News journalist Cassidy, F.B.I. agent Nicole, and federal attorney Allison work together to get to the bottom of the crime.

The author grabbed my attention immediately with this novel. Hand of Fate is a great, fast-paced crime drama. It had me hooked from start to finish. A lot of action with lots of twists and turns and you can’t figure out who done it until the very end. I was very surprised by the killers identity and motive.

It is the perfect rainy day or beach read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good crime drama or thriller.

This book is the second one in this series but I did not read the first book in this series and it was easy for me to catch on.

The author did a wonderful job with this novel and I am looking forward to read some more of her work.


Author Biography
Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most prominent trial lawyers and highly regarded commentators. The author of Winning Every Time, she is also the legal analyst on the Fox News Channel and Bill O’Reilly’s co-host and sparring partner on Radio Factor. A graduate of Harvard Law, Wiehl has never lost a case. She lives with her husband and two children in Westchester County, New York.


Product Details
Pub. Date: February 2010
Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Format: NOOKbook (eBook)
Series: Triple Threat Series , #2
File Size: 800 KB
ISBN-13: 9781418554774
ISBN: 1418554774

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain



Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

Portland detective Archie Sheridan, the former head of the Beauty Killer Task Force, hunted Gretchen Lowell for years before she kidnapped him, tortured him, and then let him go. Now that she is behind bars, Archie is finally piecing his life back together. He’s returned home to his ex-wife and their two children. But no matter how hard Archie tries, he just can’t stop thinking about Gretchen…
Sweetheart
When the body of a young woman is discovered in Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the first corpse he discovered there a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer’s first victim, and Archie’s first case. Then, the unthinkable happens: Gretchen escapes from prison, and once the news breaks, all of Portland goes on high alert…but secretly, Archie is relieved. He knows he’s the only one who can capture Gretchen—and now he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all. Even if it means becoming her last victim.

This book is a great thriller. Its addictive and you want more. It was very hard to put this book down to get some chores done. I have not read the first book in this series but will make sure to get it and definitely will have to read the third book in this series.
If you like a good thriller with many twists and turns then this is one book you need to read.


Author Biography
Chelsea Cain lived the first few years of her life on an Iowa commune, then grew up in Bellingham, Washington, where the infamous Green River killer was "the boogeyman" of her youth. Her first novel featuring Detective Archie Sheridan and killer Gretchen Lowell, Heartsick, was a New York Times bestseller. Also the author of Confessions of a Teenage Sleuth, a parody based on the life of Nancy Drew, several nonfiction titles, and a weekly column in The Oregonian, Chelsea Cain lives in Portland with her family. Visit her online at www.chelseacain.com.


Pub. Date: September 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 338pp
Series: Gretchen Lowell Series, #2
ISBN-13: 9780312943837
ISBN: 0312943830

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams




The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams


13-year-old Kyra rebels against her close-knit, cult-like polygamist community when she is ordered to marry her 60-year-old uncle, who already has six wives.

This book touched my heart. It is an emotional, heartbreaking story of Kyra, a teenage girl who will break away from the cult after she finds out she will become the 7th wife of her uncle. Kyra will be beaten and has a lot to go through before she is finally able to leave.
This story will stay with me for a very long time.


Author Biography

CAROL LYNCH WILLIAMS, a four-time winner of the Utah Original Writing Competition and winner of Nebraska’s Golden Sower Award, grew up in Florida but now lives in Utah with her husband and seven children. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and helped develop the conference on Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers at Brigham Young University


Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition (May 12, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312555113
ISBN-13: 978-0312555115

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Truly, madly by Heather Webber





Lucy Valentine is as smart as can be, as single as you can get, and so not qualified to run a matchmaking service. But when her parents temporarily step down from the family business, Valentine, Inc., it’s Lucy’s turn to step up and help out—in the name of love.

Plus, her rent is due.

Here’s the problem: Lucy doesn’t have the knack for matchmaking. According to family legend, every Valentine has been blessed by Cupid with the ability to read “auras” and pair up perfect couples. But not Lucy. Her skills were zapped away years ago in an electrical surge, and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You’d be surprised. In a city like Boston, everyone’s looking for something. So when Lucy locates a missing wedding ring—on a dead body—she asks the sexy private eye who lives upstairs to help her solve the perfect crime. And who knows? Maybe she’ll find the perfect love while she’s at it…


This book is a quick fun read. This novel was delightful from start to end. It held my attention to the last page. Well written and charming. Wonderful chick lit, part romance, mystery and humor.

This is the first book in the new Lucy Valentine series by Heather Webber and I am trying to wait patiently for the next book in this series to come out.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Coming For Money by F.W. Scheidt



Coming For Money by F.W. Scheidt

How much money is too much? And how fast is too fast in life? Investment star Paris Smith steps onto the top rungs of the corporate ladder, only to discover he is caught between his need for fulfillment and his need for understanding, between his drive for power and his inability to cope with his growing emptiness where there was once love. When his wife disappears from the core of his life, Smith’s loneliness and sense of disconnection threaten to overwhelm him. When he tries to compensate by losing himself in his work, he stumbles off the treadmill of his own success, and is entangled in the web of a fraudulent bond deal that threatens to derail his career and his life. Forced to put his personal life on hold while he travels non-stop between Toronto, Singapore, and Bangkok to salvage his career, the embattled financier is deprived of the time and space he needs to mourn the absence of his wife and to objectively assess his future options. In the heat,
turmoil and fast money of Southeast Asia half a world from home and half a life from his last remembered smile Paris Smith finds duplicity, comradeship, and power. He also finds a special woman who might heal his heart.


This author is very talented. This book is fast paced, a page turner until the novel ends. The characters are believable, realistic and come to life. This book makes you still think after you finish reading it. This is a must read for anyone.


Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Blue Butterfly Books (October 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0978498283
ISBN-13: 978-0978498283