Until Now…, but Denise Skelton

December 3, 20097 Comments

Finished 12-2-09, rating 3.5/5, romance, pub. 2009

It was only 7:30 am, but if today was going to be anything like yesterday, she knew that her Saturday was not going to be good. If finding only ninety-eight cents when she needed almost three dollars in order to get a half-gallon of milk was any indication, she knew that this was going to be a great start to another shitty day.

Chapter 4

Terry is having a tough time. Her ex-husband has knocked up his new wife for the third time while completely ignoring their two sons and bills are past due, basics like electricity and telephone are in danger of being shut off. Terry is desperate to provide for her kids without resorting to taking her ex to court for money, and decides that starting a day care at her house would pay the bills.

Wade is an undercover FBI agent moving back to Chicago to work as a teacher while investigating a drug problem at the school. He must also confront his abusive father while still maintaining a relationship with his saintly mother. And then he keeps running into Terry in the most unfortunate situations and he starts to appreciate this brash and sexy mom.

Terry is a main character that I in turn was exasperated with and in love with. She seems to always do the wrong thing, but she is a loving mother. She does things that make me understand why she found herself in a bad situation, like smashing her phones when she doesn’t even have enough money for a carton of milk and I just wanted to shake her (and tell her to quit using the word ass in so many creative ways)I like a character who isn’t perfect and Terry is definitely that. Wade is pretty much a saint and I figure that he’ll tame her a bit. Eventually.

The story and writing kept me reading and I finished it in a day. It isn’t so much a romance as a family drama with two people who need to find each other. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not really like the cover, but that certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. Skelton wrote two other books with characters from this story and I would certainly read them.

I received this book from the author.

Bridget Jones’s Diary, by Helen Fielding

November 12, 20098 Comments

Finished 10-31-09, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 1996

completely exhausted by entire day of date-preparation. Being a woman is worse than being a farmer–there is so much harvesting and crop spraying to be done: legs to be waxed, underarms shaved, eyebrows plucked, feet pumiced, skin exfoliated and moisturized, spots cleansed, roots dyed, eyelashes tinted, nails filed, cellulite massaged, stomach muscles exercised. The whole performance is so highly tuned you only need to neglect it for a few days for the whole thing to go to seed.

Sunday 15 January

Bridget is a single thirty-something Londoner in a dead-end job who is shagging her boss. This is her diary of a year that details her weight, alcohol intake, cigarettes smoked and is an irreverent look at a woman not sure who she is or what she wants. Well, besides shagging her boss. She’s barely able to run her own life. let alone those of her parents, who are splitting up. Bridget is helpless, funny, and charming.

I was shocked to realize as I finished this book that I actually preferred the movie. Granted it is a favorite of mine, so expectations were high, but I really thought the movie was more fun and more romantic. The book had a harder edge and while I usually like that, the movie had already won me over. The mother in this movie was horrible and I was surprised that the movie did not really include the character of Tom, who I really liked.

This book was good and I liked it. Bridget is a character was easy to fall in love with and hard to forget. I think I’m going to watch the movie tonight and relive the laughs. Look for my review of the movie tomorrow.

This was from my personal library.

The Mist, by Carla Neggers

November 11, 2009January 18, 20136 Comments

The Mist. Finished 11-07-09, rating 3.5/5, romantic suspense, pub. 2009

This is Book 3 in the Boston PD/FBI series

“What brings you to the Beara Peninsula? Davenport asked.

“I’m hiking the Beara Way.” She wasn’t, and she didn’t like to lie, but it was easier–and possibly safer for all concerned–than telling the truth. “Not start to finish. It’s almost two hundred kilometers. I don’t have that much time to spare.”

“You’re on your own?”

She gave him a bright smile. “Now, that’s a bold question to ask a woman having coffee and crumble by herself.”

Chapter 1

The story starts in Ireland where Lizzie rescues Keira from a man trying to kill her and then to Boston as Lizzie races to save another woman’s life while still retaining her anonymity. Keira’s father is a spy and he taught her the tricks of the trade, but she is still only a hotelier and getting involved with a money laundering psycho may have been more than she could handle.

As a British spy himself, Will, was keeping his eye on Lizzie. She knew more than she let on and he was intrigued by the mystery of her. Back in Boston he was able to reconnect with his old friend and FBI agent, Simon, and get involved in the search for a man he thought was long dead.

I reviewed the first two books in this series and enjoyed them, but I would not recommend this one unless you have read them. I’m sure that it is intended as a stand-alone novel, but there is a large cast of characters and they all have their own storylines and histories. Even I had to pause once or twice to remember who was who and I’ d read the first two books! That is a part of my biggest complaint with the book. It was supposed to be Will and Lizzie’s story, but they did not seem like the focus. There was just too much going on to invest much in them.

I liked the story and revisiting with old friends. I recommend this series for anyone who likes romantic suspense.

This was a library book.

My review of Book 1 and Book 2

The Postman Always Rings Twice, by James M. Cain

November 8, 2009June 30, 20127 Comments

Finished 10-25-09, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 1934

“I’m not what you think I am, Frank. I want to work and be something, that’s all. But you can’t do it without love. Do you know that, Frank? Anyway, a woman can’t. Well, I’ve made one mistake. And I’ve got to be a hell cat, just once, to fix it. But I’m not really a hell cat, Frank.”

“They hang you for that.”

“Not if you do it right. You’re smart, Frank. I never fooled you for a minute. You’ll think of a way.”

Chapter 3

Frank is not the first man to fall for the damsel in distress and do things that he never would have though of on his own and he probably won’t be the last. Frank is a drifter, catching rides when he can, and picking up jobs until he moves on and Cora is married to the Greek, Nick, who owns a roadside diner and auto shop. It doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly and a plan of murder to be hatched. When things go wrong the lies and double crosses make it hard to know how this short novel will end.

This is noir (“crime fiction featuring hard-boiled cynical characters and bleak sleazy settings“) at it’s best. Cynical and bleak mark the setting, plot, and dialogue. I loved that the dialogue showcased the feeling of the character rather that just putting words in their mouth to move the story along. I had to read between the lines to figure out what was going on much of the time and I loved that.

That being said, I’m not sure that noir is something I can ever quite love. I appreciate the fact that it was well done, but it is a little too dark for me. I have the movie on my DVR and I’ll have see if that gives a different view of the book.

This was from my personal library.

The Funny Thing Is…, by Ellen Degeneres

November 4, 200915 Comments

Finished 10-24-09, rating 3.5/5, Humor, pub. 2003

There is also the fact that the food is free and I always think free food tastes the best. Like when you go to those hotel manager’s receptions. Even though the food is taquitos and Swedish meatballs, they’re free and actually pretty good. The thing with prison food that might worry me is that someone might try to poison a prisoner and I might accidentally get the plate that was meant for the intended victim. That would be bad. But let’s just say I lived through that. Well then, I could probably live through just about anything! Think what a strong constitution I would have. And probably a new zest for life. What’s so bad about prison? That’s what I wanna know.

That’s why prison wouldn’t be so bad chapter

If you enjoy Ellen’s talk show, you will enjoy this book. It features her charming style of conversation, hilarious insights and crazy dinner party stories, which I believe are pure fiction or Gloria Estefan has some explaining to do. I included the excerpt from the prison chapter because it was my favorite and made me laugh out loud, but there were other chapters that made me laugh too.

Most of her observations made me smile more than laugh. I didn’t love every chapter, but I finished the book happy and feeling like I’d just spent some time with Ellen, so the book was a success.

I read this during the 24 hour read-a-thon and it was perfect for it. It lightened my mood after so many hours spent reading.

This book was from my own personal library.

Rough Country, by John Sandford

October 21, 2009October 21, 20092 Comments

Finished 10-21-09, rating 3.5/5, mystery, pub. 2009

Book #3 in the Virgil Flowers series.

Walking out to the dock, Johnson said, “The old bag kinda climbed my tree.”

“One rule when you’re dealing with people close to a murder victim,” Virgil said. “Try not to laugh.”

Chapter 2

Virgil Flowers works with Lucas Davenport (the Prey series) in the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, investigating high profile crimes. When Lucas sends him to solve a crime at a women’s retreat in northern Minnesota, single and always available Virgil, is happily surrounded by women. But most of them aren’t looking twice at Virgil, they are too busy eyeing each other.

A successful businesswoman is shot while canoeing and her love life leads him to an all-girl band with a talented singer going places. The singer, Wendy, has an active love life and a crazy brother and dad, leading Virgil to link another murder to the one of the businesswoman.

Virgil is a laid back, good looking man who exudes charm and cool and he is also the most successful closer in the Bureau. The contrast between his humor and sexuality to his quoting Bible verses when the situation fits makes for an interesting character. I like Virgil and would love to hang out at a bar listening to music with him (and my husband, of course)

This is another solid mystery by Sandford, but I did have an issue with the heavy handed way he dealt with gay women in this one. I know people use derogatory language for many different groups and it usually doesn’t bother me if it defines the character, but in this case a few too many characters had issues. And some of the storylines involving gay women seemed stereotypical.

And for some reason there were numerous breaks in book, the kind that usually tell you the action has ended and you’re going somewhere else. Except after the break you were back at the same place, with the same people, and still in the middle of conversation. This didn’t really take enjoyment away from the story, but it did make me wonder what the point was.

This was a library book.

Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason, by Nancy Pearl

September 9, 2009September 13, 200911 Comments

Finished 9-3-09, rating 3.5/5, non-fiction/reference, pub. 2003

Whenever I begin reading a new book, I am embarking on a new, uncharted journey with an unmarked destination. I never know where a particular book will take me, toward what other books I will be led.

from the Introduction

I love lists and I love books, so this book with it’s very cool title made me check it out of the library. Librarian and author, Nancy Pearl, has compiled lists of books that range from Southern fiction to bicycling. Each of the more than 175 categories has a page or so written about it with her experiences and book recommendations. She has also thrown in authors who she thinks are ‘too good to miss’.

There are many things I liked about this book. Nancy obviously has a passion for reading and books and knows what she’s talking about. Too her credit I hadn’t heard of many of these books and a few made it onto my wish list. As a romance reader I loved her recommendations in the area, they are some of my favorites.The writing style is very friendly and accessible.

There are a few things that kept me from loving this book. For me, I was disappointed in how few fiction categories there were. She spent a lot of time on non-fiction topics and I think it may have been nice to do one book for each fiction and non-fiction. And writing a book of lists is essentially an impossible task. There are just too many books out there! So, one person trying to do it is hit or miss. It did get me thinking that I could compile my own lists and how much fun it would be to try.

I think this would be a great book for booksellers or librarians. And I recommend all others who lust after books to go and check this out of their library. There is also a sequel, More Book Lust.

The Xibalba Murders, by Lyn Hamilton

September 6, 20099 Comments

Finished 9-4-09, rating 3.5/5, mystery, pub.1997

Book 1 of An Archaeological Mystery series

“I cannot tell you more about it right now, but I can assure you that it is – – what is that American expression? — right up your alley, and that it will interest and possibly even excite you?”

“You’ll have to tell me more than that!” I laughed.

“This is not a subject for discussion over the telephone,” he replied. “The risk is too great.”

And then, perhaps fearing I wouldn’t come on the strength of so little information, he relented a little.

“I will give you a hint, then, since you are a student of the Maya. We seek what the rabbit writes.” And that was all he would say.

It was a ludicrous request, so of course I went.

IMIX chapter

Lara McClintoch is fresh off a bad divorce that left her jobless and a student once again. An old friend and museum expert on the Maya, Dr. Hernan Castillo, asks her to fly down from Toronto to Merida, Mexico, to aid him in a new project. She jumps at the chance to work with him and visit old family friends in the city and is soon in Merida. Only Dr. Castillo is nowhere to be found and Lara finds his dead body, casting suspicion on her in his murder. With her passport confiscated, Lara thinks the only way to clear herself is to find the killer. Instead she finds another dead body and is now under house arrest.

This is mystery is heavy into the Mayan history and the current struggles of the people trying to retain their culture. It was a little too detailed for my taste, but I did appreciate learning more about a culture I know little about. The mystery was very good. Although I suspected who might be behind the murders I did not know for sure and there were enough suspects to keep me guessing.

Lara was an interesting main character and this is the first in a series of archaeological mysteries that take her all over the world. I wouldn’t mind reading the next in the series, but I won’t be rushing out to get it.

The Second Son, by Charles Sailor

August 5, 2009February 23, 201422 Comments

Finished 7-31-09, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 1979

“I see the blood, officer. But this body’s healing.”

The cops looked at one another and then moved in for a closer look at Carlos’s stomach. A large purple bruise spread across the skin, but the wound was closed.

“See?” said the examining paremedic. “Nothing.”

The team leader looked at Joseph, who stared blankly at Carlos. “You saw it! Tell them!”

“Yes, it was there when I…” Joseph stopped and the officer finished the sentence for him.

“When you put your hand on it.” The officer looked scared. He stepped back from Joseph and asked, slowly. “What’d you do anyway? What are you–some kind of magician?”

Chapter 8

Joseph Turner is a n ordinary man working construction on high-rise buildings in Manhattan. One day, while saving his friend, he falls 24 stories. Joseph walks away without a scratch much to the surprise of the onlookers on the street and he becomes a media sensation. Just as the attention starts to die down Joseph feels compelled to run into a burning building after the firemen have pulled out to rescue two children. All three are completely unharmed. Then he heals a gunshot wound and the world takes notice. Politicians and church leaders all clamor to gain the support of the cult hero and one organization takes proactive measures by kidnapping him.

I loved the premise. Who is Joseph Turner and what was happening to him? Was it real or all a dream? Joseph was a great hero – strong of heart and mind, generous, open, kind, and non-judgemental. I really wanted to know what would become of him.

But, as much as I liked the premise and first half of the book, I was equally disappointed with the rest. It became so glaringly obvious in its intent that it turned me off. It became very heavy handed and the author’s problem with religion and authority was on display.

I thought the first half was original and fresh and the perfect set-up. I was caught up in the excitement and the questions, but the second half was all over the place. It completely lost its focus with its wide range of politics, hit men, the Catholic Church, healings, betrayals, the message of personal healing. It lost the heart of Joseph’s story, which is what I cared about.

It was a good book and I gave it an extra half a point for originality. This book was loaned to me by a friend who told me I had to read it. I’m glad I did.

House of Many Shadows, by Barbara Michaels

July 30, 2009July 30, 20099 Comments

Finished 7-27-09, rating 3.5/5, pub. 1974

“What period is the house? Colonial?”

“No, it’s a perfect monstrosity of a Victorian mansion-Gothic revival, I think they call it, with stained glass and the rest. I think it’s perfectly awful, but apparently that sort of thing is now considered amusing, and it’s an excellent example of it’s type.”

“Good heavens,” Meg said, as the image took shape in her mind. “It sounds overpowering. Are you sure it isn’t haunted? I don’t think I could stand living with a ghost just now.”

“Why should it be haunted?” Sylvia asked reasonably.

“I was joking.”

Chapter 1

Meg thinks she’s going crazy. She had an accident and now she suffers from hallucinations that her doctors say are temporary. But they don’t feel temporary to Meg and she asks her very rich cousin, Sylvia, to help her out since she has had to leave her job. Sylvia offers her a place to stay in the Pennsylvania country and Meg is appreciative of the generosity.

Meg arrives at the house and is greeted by an old childhood nemesis in Andy and the two must learn to play nice since he is the only other person living on the secluded 20 acre property. After a few physical encounters the two realize that just by touching they both have the same hallucination. Are they seeing ghosts or visions, or a reenactment of the past? The two begin to investigate the history of the house to get answers.

The book was a spooky page turner. The visions combined with the history and geneology made this a great read for me. The real relationship between Meg and Andy was prickly and I enjoyed the references to Andy being a coward. Meg was the tough one and I loved reading about a strong woman – even if she was seeing things that weren’t there.

Michaels did a great job of wrapping up the mystery of the house and visions in a satisfying way, but there were a few loose ends about the characters that I would have liked knowing about. It left me thinking the book wasn’t quite done even after I’d turned the last page. All in all it was a good spooky mystery and I would read another by Michaels.

For those who don’t know, Barabara Michaels is really Elizabeth Peters.

Stacy's Books

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Category: 3 1/2 Star Books