Blood Memory, by Greg Iles

April 14, 201011 Comments

Finished 4-13-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2005

When does murder begin?

With the pull of a trigger? With the formation of a motive? Or dies it begin long before, when a child swallows more pain than love and is forever changed?

Perhaps it doesn’t matter.

Or perhaps it matters more than everything else.

(Beginning of novel)

Cat Ferry is an expert odontologist, the study of teeth, as well as a personal train wreck. She has gotten herself pregnant by a married man and is a lifelong alcoholic and the drinks and pills don’t stop with the pregnancy, at least at first. When she is helping the FBI in a series of serial murders she begins to experience panic attacks and that coupled with the discovery of her affair sends her running back home to Natchez, Mississippi. Cat is from a wealthy and well-respected family, but the death of Cat’s beloved father over 20 years before had scarred her and left her distant from her mother and grandfather. Once home Cat becomes convinced that the serial murders are somehow connected to the death of her father.

The prevailing theme of this thriller is incest and molestation. If this had been on the back of the book I don’t know if I would have picked it up, but I’m glad I did because it was excellent. It doesn’t dwell so much on the act, but on the effect on the lives of those harmed and what happens to them after the they’ve escaped the abuse.

I did have a major problem with Cat’s pregnancy. She popped pills, drank, almost drowned, was raped, and shot in the stomach and still managed to stay pregnant. That just passed the point of credibility to me. But that being said, I loved this book. It is over 700 pages, but it only took me 3 days to read because it read so fast and I didn’t want to stop reading. It is exciting and thought-provoking at the same time. This is my second Iles book and it won’t be my last.

This is from my personal library and was chosen by Jennifer, Kristie, Carol, Jenners, and Angie. Here’s what they had to say…

“Love his books and they always have a great twist in them.” Angie

“I really love his books. They aren’t “great” literature or anything but he knows how to write a thriller. I have his latest to on my 2010 TBR pile.” Jenners

“I have really liked everything I’ve read by Iles.” Carol

“I fell in love with his descriptive prose, laid back approach and brilliant twisty plots.” Jennifer

“Love all of his!” Kristie

Caught, by Harlan Coben

April 4, 201030 Comments

Finished 4-2-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2010

I knew opening that read door would destroy my life.

First line of book

Dan Mercer is a social worker who spends his time helping neighborhood kids. One day, just like any other, he walks into a house to aid a teen and is stunned by the cameras and Wendy Tynes’s accusation of pedophilia. He escapes, but his life is shattered. When Wendy finds him after his court case is thrown out because of her, she is shocked to find that she believes he’s innocent. This is just where the craziness begins. There is also a missing teenaged girl who leaves a grieving family and community behind. When these two cases seem to connect things become only more confusing.

Wendy was a character easy to dislike at first, but she also grew on me until I was completely rooting for her to find out the truth. Not just for herself, but for me too 🙂

Harlan Coben has done it again. I’ve read all of his books and this is up there with his best. I know when I start reading I’m not going to want to stop til I’m done and this was no exception, I finished it in a day. He’s a master at twists and turns and even when you get to the end there always seems to be something there to surprise you.

I also find that he is very timely. As a book blogger I can appreciate the importance that blogging and social media played in this book. It will make you think twice about things you might read online. And the role parents play in their kids lives. This is definitely one that you shouldn’t miss.

This is a great thriller that I paid for with my very own money.

This One is Mine, by Maria Semple

March 28, 201016 Comments

Finished 3-28-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2008

He spotted Violet – she had said she’d be the one wearing red plastic sandals – sitting on the sidewalk in the ticket holders’ line, engrossed in the New York Times, and listening to a Walkman. Two movie were tucked under her leg. She wasn’t a knockout, but wasn’t fat either, and had a face you wanted to look into. She turned the page of the business section and folded it, then folded it again. An artsy chick who read the business section? Who was responsible enough to have arrived early and bought tickets? With enough Ivy League pluck to sit on a dirty sidewalk and not care who saw her? It was done and done. He had to have her. As he stepped forward, she absent mindedly twisted her long hair off her neck. That’s when he first glimpsed the tatoo behind her ear, teasing him from the edge of her hairline. He found it wildly sexy. But something inside him sank. He knew then there’d be a part of her he’d never possess.

Chapter One

Violet has what most women dream of, a rich and important husband, a child, no job, and people she pays to make her life easier. So, when Violet has a chance encounter in a bathroom with a down on his luck musician, her life takes a surprising turn. She becomes a bit obsessed with the sex-addicted, alcoholic and life at home becomes more unbearable for her. Teddy awakes a spark in her that had been missing.

Violet’s husband David is real jerk. He treats her badly and is a self-proclaimed asshole, but when it becomes clear that Violet may be cheating on him he manages to show another side, one with feelings and regrets. David’s sister Sally, is the third messed up person in this story who only cares about landing a rich husband, no matter the consequences.

I really loved this book. For the better part of the book these people are easy to dislike. Violet is a whiner, David is a jerk, and Sally is only concerned with herself. But somehow as we learn their motivations and see the way they react to life you realize they are wonderfully flawed. In most people you start with the perfect image and the more you learn the less there is to like, but it worked the opposite way in this book. I was hoping that by the end I might grow to love or appreciate Teddy too, but that didn’t happen for me, but that didn’t take any of the enjoyment away. The writing was superb and I look forward to more from this debut author.

This book was sent to me by the publisher. Come back on Friday for my interview with Maria.

Deadly Kisses, by Brenda Joyce

March 21, 20108 Comments

Finished 3-20-10, rating 4.5/5, romance, pub. 2006

Book 8 of the Deadly series (Book 1) (Book 2) (Book 3) (Book 4) (Book 5) (Book 6) (Book 7)

Her grip on the paperweight tightened. She debated turning to flee, but in a moment whoever was beyond her would appear and see her. Instead, she pressed against the wall, waiting. The shadowy form of a man appeared, carrying a candle. He saw her against the wall, halted in midstride and lifted the candle higher.

Francesca was illuminated-but so was he.

Chapter 2

If you have been following along as I have been reading this series, you know that Francesca is a modern gal caught in 1902 New York City. She is headstrong reformer and a brave sleuth in a time that a lady, especially one as well-to-do as she, is not looked upon favorably by most. Even her family is against he working with the police to solve crimes that put her in the direct path of dangerous criminals. She does seem to get injured in every book so I understand their concern.

Francesca begins this story being called to the home of her fiance’s ex-mistress and finding her stabbed to death. Calder is the main suspect, but not the only one and Francesca takes it upon herself to find the real killer. When Calder is arrested he breaks off their engagement to save her from scandal and Francesca is devastated.

This is also the continuation of Rick and Leann’s reconciliation and Evan’s downward spiral into gambling debt and ill-chosen mistresses.

I have now re-read the series that I have always thought to be a favorite and was not disappointed. The romance could sometimes get a little melodramatic, but the mystery was always spot on and not always easy to figure out. I love Calder and Francesca and look forward to next year when the next in the series comes out after five long years.

This was from my personal library.

Deadly Affairs, by Brenda Joyce

February 7, 2010February 8, 201014 Comments

Finished 1-29-10, rating 4.5/5, romance, pub. 2002

Book 3 in the Deadly series (Book 1 review) (Book 2 review)

Things are heating up for Francesca and the married, but informally separated police commissioner, Rick Bragg. They are barely fighting their attraction to each other, there is a murderer on the loose and, of course, Francesca is vital to the investigation. Two women have been brutally slain and Joel’s mother, Maggie, is in grave danger. Francesca’s mother agrees to let Maggie and her four children move into the mansion, but only if Francesca agrees to be set up by her mother. Calder, Rick’s cad of a brother, is the intended target of this matchmaking and Rick doesn’t like it. Francesca’s sister is having her own man troubles after confronting her husband over an affair with a neighbor.

There is romance, mystery and a wonderful sense of New York City in 1902. The mystery was solid and it wasn’t until all was revealed that it made complete sense, which is a good thing! And while I like Rick, he does have a wife and in 1902 he is really bringing scandal on Francesca by continuing to encourage her. They are perfectly suited, but he is not available. That is the interest in this series for me because it is so true to life. Sometimes there is just no perfect choice and the journey to making a decision reveals so much about your character.

There is so much to like about this series, but I will say the same thing I said last week about the heavy-handed way men sometimes act toward the women, if it bothers you, read something else. And you really do want to read this series in order.

This book came from my personal library.

The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver

February 3, 201027 Comments

Finished 1-20-10, rating 4.5/5. fiction, pub. 1988

The first was that I would get myself a new name. I wasn’t crazy about anything I had been called up to that point in life, and this seemed like the time to make a clean break. I didn’t have any special name in mind, but just wanted a change. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that a name is not something a person really had the right to pick out, but is something you’re provided with more or less by chance. I decided to let the gas tank decide. Wherever it ran out, I’d look for a sign.

I can pretty close to being named after Homer, Illinois, but kept pushing it.

Chapter 1

Missy was anxious to escape her dead-end life in her small Kentucky town without a baby or a man. Soon after graduation she headed west and made it as far as Tuscan, but somewhere along the way she changed her name to Taylor and was given a toddler in a diner parking lot. In Tuscan she makes a life for herself and baby Turtle with a few close friends, a job at Jesus is Lord Used Tires, and a respect for the desert.

This was told mostly from the eyes of Taylor and while I appreciated her spunk it took awhile for her to grown on me. I did not understand her accepting the baby in the parking lot and then keeping her when she had no home, no job, and no money. One her main points of pride was getting out of Kentucky without getting pregnant so the decision made no sense to me.

I was much more drawn to the insecure Lu Ann whose motivations I could at least understand. Hers is the story that kept me interested until about halfway through. And then a great thing happened. I couldn’t read fast enough. As much as Taylor had a few too many sharp edges for me at the beginning it was exciting to watch her grow as a character and I was surprised to find that she had grown on me. The friends that surrounded her were just as important to the story as she was.

This was beautifully written and a story that will stay with me. I was totally captivated by its honesty and sense of friendship and family. What makes a family? This delightful novel will help you decide.

This is from my personal library and was chosen by Golda and Amanda. Here’s what Golda had to say…”I loved that book.”

Deadly Love, by BD Joyce (Brenda Joyce)

January 24, 2010January 24, 201012 Comments

Finished 1-17-10, rating 4.5/5, romance, pub. 2001

Book 1 in the Deadly series

Francesca saw nothing amusing about the fact that her mother was determined to marry her off, sooner rather than later. “How can you make fun of reform? When there is so much poverty and injustice in our midst?”

“Connie ceased pulling on the corset. She turned Francesca around. “I am not making fun of reform, Fran. I would never be so callous. But you are so serious! Study, reform, study, reform, study, reform. It is funny. You are funny!”

Chapter 1

It’s 1902 in New York City and Francesca, a 20-year-old bluestocking, openly works for reform while secretly attending Brainard College. She is the youngest of three and still lives at home with her parents in what is called the Marble Palace because of its opulence. Francesca is determined to get a journalism degree and become the first woman reporter for a major New York newspaper and her mother is just as determined to see her marry well. Francesca is beautiful and wealthy and suitors have never been a problem, but she is known to be different from other girls her age, so her best friends are her sister Connie and her brother Evan.

Rick Bragg is the new police commissioner, appointed to clean up the city’s police department. When Francesca becomes involved in a case he is working on, involving a missing boy, an interest is sparked on both sides. Francesca has a lot going on, but it doesn’t stop her from dreaming of a future with Rick, although her mother has labeled him a bastard and unacceptable as a suitor.

Francesca puts herself in danger to try and save the neighbor boy and proves herself to be brave, smart, and vulnerable. She struggles to become the independent woman she wants to be, while her family tries to make her the conventional girl they’d like her to be.

This book is a fun start to a series that goes in a direction that I never expected. I think this one is the calm before the storm.

If you like romances, especially historicals, don’t miss this one. I won an autographed copy of this on writerspace.com years ago and it was the first Brenda Joyce book I read and now, countless books later, consider myself a big fan.

Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen

January 21, 2010July 5, 201022 Comments

Finished 1-12-09, rating 4.75/5, fiction, pub. 2007

She’d learned the hard way to avoid hiring anyone local if she could help it. Most of them expected to learn something magic or, at the very least, get to the apple tree in the backyard, hoping to find out if the local legend was true, that its apples would tell them what the biggest event in their lives would be.

Chapter 1

Claire Waverly and her sister Sydney, were part of the Waverly’s of Bascom, North Carolina. The family that was just a bit off, strange, and they had that magic apple tree in the back yard. Claire stayed in the family home after her mother and grandmother died, but Sydney had escaped to New York and beyond as soon as she could. The sisters had never been close, so when Sydney returned to Bascom with her 5 year old daughter in tow, Claire was surprised.

Claire’s gift was affecting people’s mood and feelings through food. The garden was always in bloom, even if she had to put up with the trouble-making apple tree. Sydney had spent most of her life denying her Waverly roots, but even she found her special gift when she returned home. The only other family still around was a great-aunt who had the gift of giving people, even complete strangers, trinkets that they would soon need.

I loved this book. Loved it. It had romance, charm, and drama. The relationship between the sisters was compelling and the magical elements made it very light and fun. The reason that drew Sydney back to Bascom was a shadow hovering over the Waverlys and it provided a grounding effect for this magical story. I was drawn into their world and didn’t want to leave.

In my first two years of blogging I gave out a total of five 5 star ratings. This was very, very close, but I’m giving out my first 4.75 rating. I think this means that I’m going to have a year of reading great books 🙂

This came from my personal library and I want to thank Debbie, Mary, Amanda, Allesandra, Soft Drink, Bonnie, and Melissa for recommending it. Here’s what they had to say…

“Easy read, nice story.” Debbie

“I loved this short novel and will probably read anything the author writes.” Mary

“Magical realism. A bit of fluff.” Allesandra

“Spellbinding story with a twist of magic, loved it.” Bonnie

“You’ll like it.” Amanda

“Cute magical realism story.” Soft Drink

The Awakening, by Kate Chopin

December 16, 2009December 17, 200911 Comments

Finished 12-14-09, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 1899

In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother-women seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy priviledge to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels

Chapter IV

Edna Pontellier is a young woman living in New Orleans in the late 1880’s, Her life, like that of most ladies at that time, revolves around her husband, children, and social calls. Then one summer while she and her family were on Grand Isle, she becomes enamoured with Robert Lebrun, who returns the interest in kind. As Edna feels propriety fall away, her new way of looking at her life makes her a changed woman and unhappy. Edna is a woman who is stuck in a box and she longs to break free.

This is a re-read for me. I read it in college and loved it. It’s on my Top 100 list and it will likely be there for quite some time. There is a profound beauty in the writing and with Edna’s awakening that left much for thought. There were passages that moved me, made me think, and defined the times. I cannot get into too much discussion without ruining the end, but I would recommend this book as a thoughtful classic.

Kate Chopin was very sensitive to criticism and the harshness of her detractors over this book forced her to stop writing altogether. This was her last novel and it is a shame she never got the recognition she deserved when she was alive. People seem to think you need to agree with Edna’s decisions to appreciate the book. I think that is missing the point. But that’s just me.

I chose to read this as part of a book group that Em at The Many Thoughts of a Reader is hosting. Feel free to stop by her blog as she and others discuss it. I think I may be the only one who loves it 🙂

This book was from my personal library.

You will choose 50 of the books I will read next year. If you help me you could win a $20 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Go here to vote. (Right now the top vote getter is A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving)

The Russian Hill Murders, by Shirley Tallman

November 15, 2009November 15, 20098 Comments

Finished 11-9-09, rating 4.5/5, mystery, pub. 2005

Book 2 in the Sarah Woolson series

I had long since grown weary of these tantrums. “So, you see, Mr. Shepard, you need not trouble yourself,” I continued, doing my best to ignore this outbreak. “Mrs. Mankin will be my responsibility.”

“She will be no such thing! Under no circumstances are you to take that woman’s case. Do you understand me?”

I was dismayed to feel my own temper rising; above all, I was determined to maintain my composure. “As you are fond of pointing out, Mr. Shepard, I am a mere woman. Nevertheless, you have made yourself perfectly clear.” I didn’t think it expedient to add that, despite its clarity, I had no intention of obeying his edict.

Chapter 2

Sarah Woolson is one of three women attorneys in California in the 1880’s and the only way she was able to get a job in a San Fransisco law firm was through boldness and a little luck. She is stuck in a closet-sized office doing work for the men in the office when a woman walks in asking for her assistance. As Sarah goes against her boss, with the help of fellow attorney Robert, she also becomes the focus of a sexy man who she later fears could be a murderer. There are two mysteries to solve, one involving the horrible sweatshops of the day, and a little romance for Sarah, who wants no part of it. And Sarah finally gets her day in court defending a Chinese man accused of murder.

I read the first book last month and loved it so much that I had to read the next as soon as my library could get it for me. I liked this one even more than the first. Sarah is a tough cookie, maybe a little too tough to identify with in the first book, but in this one we get to see a bit of her vulnerability. I loved seeing her family again and the mystery was great. I did figure it out before the end, but I really didn’t care.

I’ve already put the third one on hold at the library. This was a library copy.

My review of Book 1.

Stacy's Books

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Category: 4 1/2 Star Books