Book Nook Club: Crime

Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Crime. Show all posts

April 15, 2012

Defending Jacob by William Landay

Note: I listened to the audio version of this book.

Andrew Barber is a DA in a small New England town. He is meticulous with his job, a killer in the courtroom and confident about his abilities. When news of a murder comes in, it is his job to investigate and create a case from the state against a defendant.

One April morning, news of a murder came in, and Andrew began to do his job as he always did. Only this time, things were a little different... the victim was a 14 year old boy, Ben, who happened to be a classmate of his son's. Instead of passing the case onto another DA, Andrew became involved in unwinding this mystery.

Ben Riffcan, the victim, was walking to school that morning through Cold Springs Park, when he was confronted and stabbed three times in the chest. There are no clues as to who did it. No one saw anything. Only one person heard someone say "Stop, you're hurting me" but didn't actually see anything. The only lead the cops have is small and weak... one bloody fingerprint located on the inside of Ben's jacket. A fingerprint, belonging to none other than Andrew Barber's very own son, Jacob.

As the evidence begins to stack up against Jacob, it seems only Andrew truly believes in his son's innocence. The evidence, along with a particularly bloody family history, makes this situation completely hopeless.

This book is breathtakingly good! And, as I listened to it, rather than read it, it was even better! The narrator, Grover Gardner is truly spectacular. He makes you hold your breath! The thing is, you want to believe Jacob didn't do it, but even YOU begin to doubt. And it has an ending you NEVER EVER guess or believe.

5 stars!

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February 6, 2012

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens

Governments pay her. Criminals fear her. Nobody sees her coming. I sure didn't.

Vanessa Michael Munroe speaks 22 languages. She can blend into any crowd and pull information out of thin air. And she's been trained to get the job done, no matter what it takes. She's paid by governments and corporations to get information that is seemingly impossible to obtain. But this mission is different. She's hired by Texas oil billionaire Richard Burbank to find his daughter Emily who disappeared in Africa four years ago. Others have searched and others have failed. So far "Michael" has a perfect record, but is this where perfection ends?

I couldn't put this book down. Others compare Michael to Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series but other than the fact that they both had a troubled past and could obtain seemingly difficult information I didn't really see any other connections. And I personally liked Michael a heck of a lot more than I liked Lisbeth. Michael reminded me more of Jason Bourne mixed with Jennifer Garner on Alias - tough, sexy, and lethal while still allowing a hint of her personal life and emotions to play through. Maybe it's because it's everything I'm not, but I loved her character and I loved how she played different roles as part of the overall strategy to find out what happened to Emily.

On top of having a great main character, the story is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing within the first few chapters. A thriller that allowed me to share in the adrenaline as Michael fought for the missing information. And finally, I loved the supporting characters in the book and how Stevens developed them well enough to make you curious and intrigued without giving away too much. I for one will definitely be picking up Stevens second book, The Innocent, to see what dazzling adventure Michael takes us on next.

I would definitely recommend this book to any adult who likes a good thriller, especially ones with a fierce female lead. But be warned, while not over the top, the book does have quite a bit of language and has a couple of gruesome moments. 4 stars
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January 30, 2012

Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey

It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get readers' adrenaline pumping as they join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh country chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I was expected a fast-paced adventure story about finding the Mona Lisa and chasing it around the world to keep it safe. And that did happen, it just didn't happen until about 3/4 of the way through the book. The first 3/4 of the book was full of the character and plot development that worked its way nicely into the suspense and adventure at the end. I liked all of the characters and felt that the authors descriptions, especially of Switzerland, were right on and accurate and I really appreciated that.

So while I didn't love this book, it was still a good read. 3 stars.

Want to learn more about the book? Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more here or check out other stops on the blog tour for other reviews. And even better, the authors are hosting a giveaway that ends on 1/31 to celebrate the release for the book. Check out the giveaway here for a chance to win:

iTouch
Starbucks Gift Card
Moleskin Notebook
Invisible Ink Pen
Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest opinion.
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January 28, 2012

Superbia by Bernard Schaffer

Superbia by Bernard Schaffer is a super fast pasted, adrenaline laced story about the life of a cop.

Frank O'Brian is a newbie in a relatively small town that basically only handles misdemeanors. After only being on the job for a few short years, he was injured in a robbery gone wrong arrest. When he got back from recovery, he was placed in the unit's Detectives team... that consisted of just one lonely hard ass, Vic. Together Vic and Frank work on a few cases that come into the station... one a drug bust, the other a molestation charge. The cases wear down on them. It affects their personal lives, their family lives and their sanity.

This book goes into the dark, behind the scenes evils that cops have to deal with on a daily basis... and it's not pretty. I really appreciated how Vic and Frank were real people. They were't super hero cops... they weren't pompous or over righteous. They were messed up! The job got under their skin, as I'm sure it does in real life. It's clear that Schaffer is/was a cop... the details about the job and the politics within are too close to home to not be real.

I read this book in just 3 days... leisurely. I had no intention to rush, but it was too good to put down. Schaffer's writing is top notch. He is funny, dark and tortured throughout. I was laughing at one page and then crying at the very next. The dialogue and relationship that blossoms between Vic and Frank is both rich and deep. My only complaint would have to be that it ended too suddenly. I would have liked a little more... but maybe that's just me being greedy?

Overall, Superbia offers a very interesting look behind the dark and gory curtain of life as a cop.
4.5 stars

I was offered a complementary copy of this book in return for my honest review.

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January 24, 2012

Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger

Cork O'Connor is a detective who just wants to spend a fun and relaxing week with his family, away from his typical adventures, on a houseboat in the Lake of The Woods. And to teach his daughter, Jenny, how important children are by taking her to a small island where Native Americans used to hide their children from destruction.

On the way, disaster hits. Lake of the Woods is hit by a huge storm destroying everything in its path and leaving Jenny and Cork to struggle for survival on this small island. While searching the island for shelter Jenny comes across a cabin with a murdered young woman and a crying baby hidden not far away. And so begins another of Cork's adventures to catch the murderer without being caught himself.

Northwest Angle is the 11th book in the Cork O'Connor series. It is the first I've read in the series and probably won't be the last. Krueger's writing is easy to read while still being deep including numerous insightful comments and moments developing the relationships among his characters.

While this is a book in the Cork O'Connor series and yes another detective thriller, I felt like the supporting characters in this book, specifically his daughter Jenny, made it better than most I've read. I've never known a detective thriller to really leave me guessing and this was no different, but I did still enjoy figuring out the mystery with Cork and his family. Recommended for adults who want an enjoyable thriller without the need to be blown away. 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

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January 23, 2012

Reverb by J. Cafesin

Let me start off by apologizing to the author of this book. I received a copy of this to review a while ago haven't had a chance to read it until now. Once I finally started Reverb, I couldn't put it down.

James Wren is brilliant, beautiful, wealthy, and taken - with himself, or more precisely, his genius for creating music. But on the evening of his brother's funeral, his father turns James' life upside down.

All that happens in the first fifteen pages.

James escapes from the prison his father put him in and goes on the run to find money and disappear forever. While on the run, he crashes into new and old friends who don't recognize this James - a James with suicidal scars on his arms, wakes up with nightmares, and doesn't trust anyone. Despite his friends' wishes, James retrieves large amounts of money and disappears to a small island outside of Athens, Greece.

And that's where he meets recently widowed Elisabeth and her young son Cameron. Their story isn't a happy and optimistic one, it's a real one about facing your fears, learning from your past, and building a new future. Up until he met Elisabeth I didn't like James but Elisabeth brought out an completely different side of him both to her and to me as the reader, and I really appreciated the way the author did that. By the end of the book, I really liked the three main characters (Elisabeth, James, and Cameron) and wanted to just keep following their story.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I have two warnings for readers out there. First, don't judge a book by its cover. The cover is disturbing and not the James I imagined in the book at all. If I saw the book in a bookstore or library, there's no chance I would pick it up based on the cover. And second, this book has A LOT of language and a few disturbing scenes (James was tortured, raped, etc.). If you don't handle either of those things well, I do not recommend this book to you. Other than those two things, this book was great. 4 stars.

I receied a free copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.
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January 18, 2012

Chasing Amanda by Melissa Foster

Nine years ago, Molly Tanner witnessed a young girl's abduction in the busy city of Philadelphia, shifting her occasional clairvoyance into overdrive. Two days later, the girl's body was found, and Molly's life fell apart. Consumed by guilt for not acting upon her visions, and on the brink of losing her family, Molly escaped the torturous reminders in the city, fleeing to the safety of the close-knit rural community of Boyds, Maryland.

Molly's life is back on track, her son has begun college, and she and her husband have finally rekindled their relationship. Their fresh start is shattered when a seven-year-old girl disappears from a local park near Molly's home. Unable to turn her back on another child and troubled by memories of the past, Molly sets out to find her, jeopardizing the marriage she'd fought so hard to hold together. While unearthing clues and struggling to decipher her visions, Molly discovers another side of Boyds, where the residents--and the land itself--hold potentially lethal secrets, and exposes another side of her husband, one that threatens to tear them apart.

There were so many things that I liked about this book including the main plot, which was fascinating and mysterious all at the same time. Melissa did an excellent job with character development as well as representing the strain on familial relationships during hardships. She also did an excellent job of demonstrating both sides of the crime and helping the reader understand the confusion and fear felt by all sides.

So while I really enjoyed Chasing Amanda, there was one element that I just couldn't get past - the ending. Melissa did a good job of tying up all loose ends except for the one that was central to the entire plot - how the 7-year old girl was abducted and kept in the first place. Other questions were answered but the main one was left wide open and that frustrated me. I may have missed something somewhere but I just didn't feel like the case was as resolved as it was written to be. 4 stars.

*I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
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December 24, 2011

The First Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery- By Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay

Usually books with co-authors completely turn me off, their disjointed thoughts trying to come together to create one cohesive story that usually falls short of anything creative and interesting. Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay elevate this writing concept to the level where it was intended to reside. Combining Lindsay’s screenwriting talents and love of yoga and meditation with Hendricks’ contributions in the body-mind therapy field, the Tenzing Norbu mystery novels were born.

The first book in this series, “The First Rule of Ten” introduces the reader to the main protagonist, Tenzing Norbu. With a background ranging from a former Tibetan Buddhist monk to a LAPD police officer in the Robbery/Homicide division, Tenzing is not your normal private detective. After quitting his job as a police officer, Tenzing begins to ponder where his life is headed. Enter Barbara, the drug-reformed ex-girlfriend of Tenzing’s former landlord. After a bizarre conversation where she reveals she escaped a religious cult, Barbara turns up in a park dead, and Tenzing gains his first client as a detective, even though she cannot pay him.

While investigating Barbara’s murder, Tenzing meets a host of characters including a sexy chef who he cannot get enough of, a group of religious cult members, shady insurance salesmen, and John D, an almond farmer. Discovering connections between all of these characters, Tenzing slowly begins to uncover a plot that involves more than just Barbara’s murder.

“The First Rule of Ten” starts off a bit slow, as Hendricks and Lindsay develop Tenzing’s persona, which proves crucial toward the end of the novel. Tenzing is a flawed character, in that he clearly has issues with his parents and analyzes his issues with intimacy after one date. However, these flaws, while some seem unrealistic and forced, add to the bizarreness of this character. How often do you find a Buddhist monk who owns a Wilson Combat .38 Supergrade gun and drives a 1965 Shelby Mustang? Tenzing holds on to his spirituality and love for simplicity as his navigates through this labyrinth.

As a lover of mystery novels, this book certainly had some twists that had me speeding through the pages. I was waiting for the different aspects of the story to connect, and I felt that Tenzing was waiting for the same thing. Combining spiritual faith with logic, he serves as the modern Sherlock Holmes. Quirky and a loner, Tenzing takes the reader on a journey as the clues start to fit together, revealing an intricate web of lies, corruption, and death.

Released in January 2012, “The First Rule of Ten” will have you waiting for Hendricks and Lindsay’s sequel, “The Second Rule of Ten.” I recommend this book to readers who want a detective novel that brings Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s hero to the modern age.

4.5 stars

**I received a free copy of this book from Hay House Publishers.

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December 11, 2011

Outlawed Love by J.M. Krumbine

Kate Sharpe, US Marshal, is a woman on a mission with no time for love or romance. Her prisoner, the handcuffed hottie, Kyle Archer, just turned State’s evidence on notorious mobster Jonathon Bragan. Kate’s responsible for getting him from the courthouse to the jailhouse, but can she do it without losing her heart?

I wanted to like this book. I thought the idea behind it was a good one and even the plot was okay, it just fell short for way too many reasons. Maybe it's because I didn't like the main character Kate and her judgmental assuming ways. Or maybe it's because the story was way too predictable. I figured out the main twist in the book within the first couple of chapters and was never surprised again. And my biggest pet peeve was that somehow Kate and Archer think they're in love within the space of what three days where neither of them are truly honest with each other. Lust maybe, but love, I wasn't buying it. And I have to say it, I found the cover of the book to be pretty cheesy.

The book did have one bright spot for me - I really liked Archer. Even though he was a little tough, he still had a tender heart and I liked his muscled vulnerability. If you're looking for a quick read that doesn't keep you guessing, this book might be for you. But unfortunately it wasn't for me. 2 stars.

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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December 10, 2011

The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi

The opening chapter of Donato Carrisi’s novel The Whisperer describes a hideous scene where the severed arms of young girls are found in a clearing. Enter Dr. Goran Gavila and his team of special agents: Klaus Boris, Sarah Rosa, and Stern. As they attempt to find five missing girls, the discovery of their arms does not leave the agents with much hope. Plus, the fact that they found the arm of a sixth unidentified girl sends this team into a whirlwind, as they attempt to predict what this monster will reveal next.

Officer Mila Vasquez specializes in finding missing children. Having a sixth sense about the men and women who abduct the young individuals, she successfully rescues hundreds of children, yet shies away from the limelight. While harboring a secret of her own, she is called in to help Dr. Gavila and his team solve the missing girl case. Named Albert by the team, the abductor begins to leave the little girls’ bodies in places that reveal a previous horrendous crime not discovered by officials. Battling time, Mila rushes to discover the identity of the sixth girl while uncovering horrible secrets including murder and rape.

Donato Carrisi studied law and criminology and it certainly shows when reading this gripping novel. The beginning is a bit disjointed since I didn’t realize how he was going to connect the two storylines, but once the connection was made, the novel took unexpected turns.

I felt as if the novel was detailing a real police case and enjoyed the scientific and logical explanations given by Gavila, which never seemed farfetched. He carefully explained the thought process of Albert, the serial killer, and motives behind his actions. I also instantly bonded with Mila who through her personal pain and insecurities put the case in the foreground. While the rest of the team caught my attention, she seemed to view the case in a different light, allowing the reader to compare her viewpoint to the rest of the team.

Also, when I thought I had everything figured out, Carrisi throws another curveball, disrupting my sense of calm and accomplishment at outsmarting the perpetrator. You feel as if you are alongside Mila and Gavila, attempting to solve this mystery before the sixth girl is killed.

Carrisi also infused the novel with grotesque horror scenes, leaving the reader wondering if such crimes were even possible for a human being to commit. Combining mystery, intrigue, horror, and hope, The Whisperer is certainly one of best novels that I have read this year. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a thrilling story and wants to get lost in a disturbingly realistic plot.

5 stars

**I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher to review. This novel will be released in the US in January 2012.

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November 6, 2011

Columbine by Dave Cullen

How do you even begin to review a book like this one? To put your thoughts down in words about a book so real, so disturbing, and so well written? It's hard to figure out my own thoughts, let alone write them for you to read and analyze. But I'm going to try because this is a book that should be read and a story that should be understood.

Columbine by Dave Cullen is a non-fiction book that explains not only the how, and what happened during the Columbine High School shootings on April 20, 1999, but the why. It delves into the lives of not only the victims of the shooting but the shooters themselves, and I think that's why this book is so necessary. While the book is factual and based on years of research and interviews, it reads like fiction and at times you forget and are incredulous that this tragedy actually happened.

Cullen jumps around from the years leading up to the shooting, to the day of the shooting, to the days and years following the shooting. This type of writing structure can be dizzying and confusing in other books, but in Columbine it works in a way that allows Cullen to fit together all of pieces of this confusing puzzle. The other thing that I loved about this book was that it presented the evidence without assumptions and without placing or avoiding blame. When a tragedy occurs, people always want to know who's at fault. Cullen presents the facts in a way that they are really just that, facts. At no point in the book did I think, oh Cullen thinks that it's the fault of this person. Or that if this person did this, Columbine wouldn't have happened. Because really, you never know. No matter what anyone did, it still might've happened and I appreciate that he didn't dwell on the "what if," but rather focused on the reality.

In short, while difficult to read because of the disturbing nature of the subject, this book was one of the best I've read in a long time and I recommend it to anyone, again with the caveat that Cullen is transparent in his knowledge. He presents the facts and tells things like they are, which at times is tough to handle. But in the end, when tragedy occurs, people want to know why. And through Columbine, Dave Cullen helps readers understand why. 5 stars

Check out Sarah's thoughts on the book in her review from September 2010 here.

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October 18, 2011

A Critical Loss of Balance by Mark Shaver

A Critical Loss of Balance by Mark E. Shaver tells the story of a father's need to restore the balance in his life after the kidnapping of his daughter.

Cliff Elliott is a kind man. A gentle man. A hard working man. He's a good and responsible husband and father. He works as a construction site manager and does not have much money. That's why he's shocked when his daughter is targeted in a kidnapping. He knew there had been a string of kidnappings occurring around town but he never thought his family would be involved because they did not have the means to deliver a healthy ransom.

Despite their financial situation, Cliff's daughter was returned safely. But the circumstances caused a change in Cliff... a loss of balance. He was no longer the kind and gentle man that everyone knew and loved. He was fueled with rage and thought only of having his revenge. It wasn't enough to let the police do their job... he had to become involved and see to it that these kidnappers got what they deserved. That was the only way Cliff could restore his balance and become himself again.

For me, this book had it's goods and bads. The book was great in the beginning, the middle dragged, then the last 100 pages were great again. I enjoyed the emotional roller coaster. I could feel Cliff's anger, sadness and desperation. The other characters were also well developed. You loved the right people, and you loved to hate the others.

The flaws... all the typos. There were many missing end quotes. There were several spelling errors. There were times when the author wanted to say something and then must have backtracked to word it differently, and so it read wrong... like: "leaning against the front of Arthur's car with Max was standing next to him." (taken from page 460). With Max was standing? Should be "with Max standing" or "Max was standing"... but not both. There are a few of those mistakes throughout. I'm no editor, but I found plenty of mistakes.

Overall, a satisfying amount of nail biting suspense. A good read.
3 stars.
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September 28, 2011

The Platinum Loop by Austin Williams

Set in 1973, The Platinum Loop by Austin Williams is a new novel scheduled for release in November 2011. Desperate and broke, low-class film producer Gene saves celebrity paraphernalia hustler Floyd in Vegas as he's getting beat up for a deal gone sour. Floyd talks Gene into returning to his Hollywood accommodations to see the best item in his collection - the platinum loop, a raunchy home movie of Marilyn Monroe with some unknown man. Unfortunately the platinum loop isn't all that Floyd made it out to be and Gene and Floyd spend the next few weeks trying to put together something that their rich buyer will purchase.

And that's your story. Two not so great guys get together to fake a home movie of one of the world's biggest stars doing unspeakable things so that they can sell it to an abusive and perverted man in Tijuana. Not only didn't like the idea behind the plot, I didn't like any of the characters. At no point while I was reading did I think, oh I want these guys to succeed. It was more like, I hate people that lie and scam others. This book may be right for someone, but it wasn't for me. 2 stars.

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July 14, 2011

Flesh & Bones, by Paul Levine

I was excited to read Flesh and Bones for a couple reasons: I always like starting new books (duh!) and it was the first book I would read on my brand new Nook e-reader.

This new novel is seventh in the Jake Lassiter series, chronicling a former NFL player turned attorney in Miami. I’m always a fan of a good series but I don’t know that I’d put this at the top of my all-time favorites.

Plot: We meet Jake in a bar catching up with an old friend. A woman walks in and shoots her father before fainting in Jake’s lap. Chrissy becomes Jake’s newest client and the reader follows him as he tries to clear Chrissy of what, on first glance, appears to be a fairly black and white crime.

For me, the plot was a bit predictable and there were points throughout the novel where I questioned actions the characters took, or perhaps didn't take. However, when Chrissy’s trial came up, I enjoyed the depth of legal knowledge and description that the author brings to his books. As a lawyer, he has an expertise that really comes through and makes the courtroom scenes shine in the novel. I also appreciated the final pages where the truth comes out. It wasn't entirely predictable and helped everything fall into place.

Characters: I think this is where the book fell short for me. I just couldn’t get down with the main characters. There were times when I thought Jake was the noble lawyer and other times when I felt he was lazy and ever so slightly smarmy. I can’t exactly pinpoint what it was about him, but for whatever reason he wasn’t 100% endearing.

I also couldn’t figure out whether I wanted to root for Chrissy or not. Sure she killed her father, but you soon learn there's more to the story. But that "more to the story" didn't become clear until the end, so I spent much of the book being skeptical of her. The author may have intended this because Jake spends most of the novel trying to figure out the same thing as he delves into the private life of his client. Chrissy would seem like the victim one minute and then shady three pages later. It was hard to root for someone who I just couldn't figure out.

Structure: The book is a breezy read, easy to get into and easy to follow.

Overall a fine read, but not a lot of depth for me aside from the quality courtroom drama. 3 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy for review purposes, but my comments are my own!

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June 18, 2011

Shattered by Melody Carlson

I feel like every time I read a book or see a review by Melody Carlson I have to double-check to make sure it's the same Melody Carlson. All of her books are so different from each other that I would never know it's the same author. She's written a ton of books including ones for teens, tweens, women, and children. All of those books are listed on her website. Two years ago Jacki enthusiastically reviewed three of her adult novels that she loved. I've only ever read one of her book's previously - Let Them Eat Fruitcake, which was just okay. For me her newest young-adult novel Shattered fell into the latter category of being just okay.

Cleo's mom is overprotective. And since Cleo is almost eighteen, she of course knows better than her mom and sneaks out of the house to go to a concert with her best friend Lola. That night something happens that will change Cleo's life forever. What happened is not at all what I was expecting so I don't want to ruin it for you, but it was definitely a game changer for a teenage girl. After the incident Cleo turns to drugs to try and forget that night and would succeed in forgetting and probably becoming addicted for good if not for some caring people in her life.

This book dealt with a number of issues like drug use and depression, but I felt like the book stuck to the surface of these issues rather than really getting into them. Written for teens, the book was short and just didn't suck me in enough to really care about the characters. It is a good length for teens though and touches on those issues enough as it needs to for the audience. I think based on Jacki's reviews that I'm going to have to check out one of Carlson's adult novels.

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May 29, 2011

Like Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury

What would you do if your child, one that you'd adopted years ago, was now being taken away from you to be returned to his biological parents? What would you do if the law said you had no choice because the adoption was a fraud? What would you do if you knew the biological father was just released from prison for physical abuse? Would you just turn your child over for possible harm....or would you run to save your little family?

These are the questions facing the Campbell family in Like Dandelion Dust. Joey Campbell is the pride of his parents, the perfect child even. When his biological father gets out of prison and declares Joey's adoption a fraud, the proceedings begin to get Joey returned to his biological parents. After a series of visits with his biological parents where Joey returns scared to death, the Campbells take matters into their own hands since the law is no longer on their side.

Another one of Karen Kingsbury's novels with captivating characters and a quick-moving plot, I couldn't put this one down after I picked it up. And while I couldn't imagine being in the same position as the Campbells, I could imagine making the same decision if I was. I've never read one of Karen's stand-alone books (but I've read almost all of her series), but I'm glad I did. She develops the characters enough and allows the plot to run its course and ties it up into what I'd say is a pretty but nowhere near perfect package. 4 stars.

This book has also been made into a movie, which I'll be renting this week.

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May 8, 2011

Giveaway: Rock Bottom by Erin Brockovich

I love a good legal thriller. And a fiesty heroine. And unexpected romance. Rock Bottom was a combination of all three of these things that I love, which is probably why I couldn't put it down. Not to mention it's by Erin Brockovich, whose movie I haven't actually seen, but whose story I've heard and greatly admire.

In her newest novel, Erin Brockovich tells the story of a young mom named AJ who has spent her life fighting - fighting for her life, fighting for her handicapped son, and fighting for people's rights. After things fall apart in her current life, she returns to the small town where she grew up to take a job fighting for environmental issues. When she returns home, the secrets about her past begin to unfold, and she quickly begins putting the pieces of her life back together again. Just when it seems like things may actually go right for the first time in her life, it all comes crashing down again.

Rock Bottom takes you on a thrilling adventure filled with suspense, action, and characters you can't help but root for. And unlike a lot of books in its genre, it's not as predictable as I originally thought it might be. AJ definitely won me over, and I'm excited to see what happens to her in the next book in this series. If you like any of the things I mentioned above - legal thrillers, fiesty heroines, or unexpected romances - this is definitely a book worth reading.

And lucky for all of you, I've been given an extra copy of Rock Bottom to giveaway. All you have to do is live in the continental US and leave a comment on this blog by midnight EST on Wednesday, May 11th. I'll pick one lucky reader to win a copy.

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May 5, 2011

Holy Guacamole by Dan and Denise Harmer

What do you get when you cross a washed-up sports writer, the queen of cuisine, and a couple of Mexican thugs? A great read for Cinco De Mayo - Holy Guacamole by Dan and Denise Harmer.

The story is set in Baja California and stars washed-up sports writer, Trace, as he enters into Bonnie Miller's culinary boot camp. The boot camp days are short-lived as Trace helps Bonnie to clear up something in her past, and they both get caught in a quick and crazy Mexican adventure full of mud, murder, and mischief.

This is a quick read, and a fun one for foodies, who will enjoy all of culinary references. However, that was one of the only bright spots I found in the novel. The plot was low-caliber, the characters weren't particularly exciting to me, and the romance just wasn't believable. The story did move along quickly and kept you guessing for the most part, but I found that even at the end of the novel I really didn't care a ton about what happened to anyone.

The only other bright spot that was kind of haphazardly thrown in at the end of the book was the idea of redemption, forgiveness, and living our lives for other people rather than getting sucked into the vanity of fame and fortune. Always a good theme, even if a little misplaced. An okay debut novel for the authors but if you're looking for a culinary adventure, I would stick to Josi Kilpatrick's Devil's Food Cake and other culinary mysteries.

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April 29, 2011

So Much Pretty by Cara Hoffman

I'm really struggling to find the words for how I feel about this book. I'm also struggling to write a review without first going back and reading the book a second time, but I'm going to try to give you an honest review from my first read because I may feel different after I've put the story all together.

A key to this book is that it is contemporary fiction. It's written in a style that I can only relate back to the movie Momento, except the story is being told from the point of view of dozens of people instead of one. The story is told in small pieces that take you forward and backward, up and down, as you try to piece together where each individual piece fits into the bigger puzzle. The book is divided into small "chapters," that skip among numerous characters in the book. Some characters who seemingly don't add a thing, but I'm sure again on my second read, I'd find those characters were actually game-changers. Some of the chapters have years, some of them don't. Some of them are supposed audio recordings where you can only hear one side of the conversation, some are letters, and some are third-person narratives recounting memories. And though at times it doesn't seem like it, all of those pieces somehow add up to one thrilling story.

The only thing I can tell you about the plot without giving anything away is that the story overall is centered around three girls - Wendy, Alice, and Stacy Flynn. The three lived in the same community and were physically just acquaintances but emotionally, somehow connected on a deeper level. And all three in their own way stood for and did what they thought was right, even if society would have chosen a different path.

I will say that this book was one of the most surprising, thrilling, and unique that I've read in a really long time. As many of the reviews on Amazon put it, it was one of the ugliest books I've ever read but incredible at the same time. I wish I could give it five stars and would except for the ugly "F" word that kept coming up throughout the book. For that one reason I can't recommend it to everyone but if you like contemporary lit and that's not something that bothers you, So Much Pretty is definitely a book to read. If for no other reason, to remember the beauty of being truly and utterly surprised and shocked by a book.

This is Cara Hoffman's debut novel, and I will definitely be picking up whatever she decides to write next.

I was provided with a free copy of this book for review purposes. This review is my honest opinion.

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April 12, 2011

Tree Huggers by Judy Nichols

Tree Huggers by Judy Nichols is a story that will keep you guessing. It all begins when environmentalist John Cochran and real estate agent Warren Owens are trapped inside a burning house with no way to escape. Questions arrise around the town of Wilmington, NC. Was this arson? Did the arsonist know there were 2 men inside? Was it murder?

All of this happens on Kate Dennison's first day on the job. She is the new journalist of the Winslow Beach Beacon. When she is assigned to dig into the arsonist story, she uncovers more than she bargained for. Suddenly, she finds her own life in danger.

This book is really great. It keeps you guessing the entire time... completely unpredictable. The writing is also great. It's very fast moving with lots of dialogue. The chapters are divided with small newspaper clippings, to preview what's coming up. I laughed and cried and bit my nails to nubs as I was rooting for Kate. 4 Stars.

Another great reason to pick up this book: All the royalties from the sale of Judy Nichols' books are donated to the Phoenix Employment Ministry, a faith based non profit organization that helps people in homeless shelters find meaningful work.

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