With Love From The Inside

Grace Bradshaw knows the exact minute she will die.

On death row for murdering her infant son, her last breath will be taken on February 15 at 12:01 a.m. Eleven years, five months, and twenty-seven days separate her from the last time she heard her precious daughter’s voice and the final moment she’d heard anyone call her Mom. Out of appeals, she can focus on only one thing—reconnecting with her daughter and making sure she knows the truth.

Secrets lurk behind Sophie Logan’s big house and even bigger bank account. Every day when she kisses her husband good-bye, she worries her fabricated life is about to come crumbling down. No one knows the unforgivable things her mother did to tear her family apart—not her husband, who is a prominent plastic surgeon, or her “synthetic” friends who live in her upscale neighborhood.

Grace’s looming execution date forces Sophie to revisit the traumatic events that haunted her childhood. When she returns to her hometown, she discovers new evidence about her baby brother William’s death seventeen years ago—proof that might set her mother free but shatter her marriage forever.

Sophie must quickly decide if her mother is the monster the prosecutor made her out to be or the loving mother she remembers—the one who painted her toenails glittery pink and plastered Post-it notes with inspiring quotes (“100 percent failure rate if you don’t try”) all over Sophie’s bathroom mirror—before their time runs out.

I love mother/daughter relationships - thankfully I have happy/healthy ones as a daughter and as a mother. The ones that are told in books-  ugly, heartbreaking, non-existent, competitive and even good intrigue me.  This one had a separation, unknown truths and un-acknowledgement, but was still there for both Grace and Sophie. This is their story more than a story about what Grace has been convicted of, although it does have a profound impact on the story. It was easy to care for these characters and I was very invested in the outcome. A stellar debut novel that would make for a great book club selection.

* Thank to Penguin Group via NetGalley for this review copy*

Target Engaged and Giveaway

DELTA FORCE

The most dangerous elite counter-terrorism force on the planet :

The deadliest shooters
The most out-of-the-box thinkers in any military
Will die to get the mission done

SERGEANT KYLE REEVES
The premier soldier of the new recruits

SERGEANT CARLA ANDERSON
The first woman of Delta Force

If the training doesn’t kill them, their passion may. Show no fear. Have no fear. Kyle Reeves and Carla Anderson blast right in. Then they get the call. The most powerful drug-smuggling ring in Venezuela needs a takedown, and Delta’s newest team leaps into the deep jungle to deliver. Giving their all? Not a problem. Giving their hearts? That takes a new level of courage.

This is the first book in the Delta Force series featuring strong, independent, ready to serve women (and men).  I loved the training part of the novel, right away I was rooting for Carla and impressed at how believable her training and successes were. During training Kyle and Carla are not only impressed by each other, they are attracted to each other, but don't act on it until training and selection is finished. Their mutual respect works well for them especially when they are on the same team and assigned their first mission. M.L. Buchman is one of my favorite romantic military suspense writers.  I know that when I begin one of his books, it will be full of action, adventure and easy to understand military jargon.  I look forward to the next book.

A Note from M.L. Buchman:

Dear Reader,

Welcome to my newest series: the first women of Delta Force. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun this was to write.

Most of us know little more about Delta Force than the Chuck Norris movies (which leave a lot to be desired) or perhaps we only know the name. In researching my Night Stalkers series, I kept running into these guys. They are the elite of Special Operations Forces. They are at a level of SEAL Team 6, and most would argue they were even beyond that. They are the ghost and shadow warriors who helped take down drug lord Pablo Escobar, capture Noriega, were undoubtedly behind the locating of Saddam Hussein, and are the main reason that Al-Qaeda abruptly stopped being a topic in the Iraq War when over three thousand of their leaders were swept off the board.

Yet the Pentagon states that they don’t exist. Fascinating.

And while they often work with undercover female operatives, no woman has yet managed to kick in the front door on one of the most arduous selection programs in the military.

I decided to change that.

Carla Anderson stepped forward to take the challenge. She is a not a woman out to prove she can match any man, she’s out to prove that she can beat them at their own game. And that was the first thing that I loved about writing this series. In the Night Stalkers, the women were strong, excellent, and determined.

To be a Delta Force woman, Carla had to add enough attitude and drive to plow through all obstacles which just made her so much fun. Nothing was off the table when it came to her attitude or her actions.

And that was the second thing I came to love about this series launcher, Target Engaged. Being Delta Force, they really do operate outside so many bounds. They are sent to do the tasks that no one else can. To that I added the additional challenge that Robert Ludlum gave to Jason Bourne (though I’m quoting the movie): “I don't send you to kill. I send you to be invisible. I send you because you don't exist.” I’m pretty convinced that this is part of Delta’s mission.

It is occasionally said by retired Delta Force operators (as the on-duty ones never speak): “If we’d been sent in to take down bin Laden, you still wouldn’t know how it was done.” To bring that to life gave me a permission as a writer to run my characters into hard and strange places and be just a little gonzo doing it.

But writing is a give and take, and I can’t begin to tell you how much the characters I created shaped my telling of this story. I like to think that they had as much fun as I did bringing this story to life.

I hope that you enjoy the reading even half as much as I enjoyed the writing!

M.L. Buchman (the Oregon Coast, November 2015)

M. L. Buchman has over 40 novels in print. His military romantic suspense books have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR “Top 5 of the Year,” nominated for the Reviewer’s Choice Award for “Top 10 Romantic Suspense of 2014” by RT Book Reviews, and twice Booklist “Top 10 of the Year” placing two of his titles on their “The 101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” In addition to romance, he also writes thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction.

In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.

He is now making his living as a full-time writer on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife. He is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing by subscribing to his newsletter at www.mlbuchman.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get to know the Carla, and the entire Delta Force team by reading the first SIX chapters of TARGET ENGAGED for free! Just click here to download them! To get you started, we’ve included the first few pages below:




This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Sourcebooks/via NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Doctor Death

Strong-minded and ambitious, Madeleine Karno is eager to shatter the constraints of her provincial French upbringing. She wants to become a pathologist like her father, whose assistant she is, but this is 1894, and autopsies are considered unseemly and ungodly, even when performed by a man—hence his odious nickname, Doctor Death. That a young woman should wish to spend her time dissecting corpses is too scandalous for words.

Thus, when seventeen-year-old Cecile Montaine is found dead in the snowy streets of Varbourg, her family will not permit a full post-mortem autopsy, and Madeleine and her father are left with a single mysterious clue: in the dead girl’s nostrils they find a type of parasite normally seen only in dogs. Soon after, the priest who held vigil by the dead girl’s corpse is brutally murdered. The thread that connects these two events is a tangled one, and as the death toll mounts, Madeleine must seek knowledge in odd places: behind convent walls, in secret diaries, and in the yellow stare of an aging wolf

Once I got into the story I could not put it down. Madeline is such a smart and determined character and takes advantage of every opportunity she is given in the murder investigations. There were quite a few twists, and I was completely surprised when all was revealed.  Well written and I look forward to the next book in the series.

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Atria Books vis NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Covent Garden Cub Series

Whispers and secrets are no match for love... Henry Flynn, the new Lord Chesham, still blames himself for the disappearance of his younger brother when they were children. That incident destroyed his family, and now he's on a path of self-destruction that no one can interrupt...

Lady Emma Talbot can't stand watching the man she secretly loves destroy himself little by little. She's determined to show him that no one holds him culpable, before it's too late. But Emma doesn't know what really happened to Flynn on that fateful day long ago, so what chance does she have of saving him from himself?

This novella introduces a new series. Emma has loved Flynn forever. Her brother will do whatever it takes to keep them apart, which is okay with Flynn as he want nothing to do with her. So how come he can't take his eyes off her and she is everywhere he goes? When Flynn learns that his long lost brother has been found, both of them are swept up in the intrigue and mystery. I liked both characters and look forward to this series.

A master thief...
Marlowe runs with the Covent Garden Cubs, a gang of thieves living in the slums of Seven Dials. It's a fierce life, and Marlowe has a hard outer shell. But when she's alone, she allows herself to remember a forbidden time and name.

A lord suffering from ennui...
Maxwell, Lord Dane, is bored with the same balls, the same debutantes, and the same demands from his mother. When an investigator locates the lost daughter of the Marquess of Lyndon, Dane is intrigued. He agrees to introduce the girl to Society and assist in tutoring her in etiquette, but the lady is a less than agreeable pupil.

Descent into a criminal underworld...
Marlowe knows she'll never escape the Covent Garden Cubs. She's not safe, even among the diamonds and silks gracing the new King's ballroom. Satin, the gang's leader, plans a major racket and needs Marlowe's talents to succeed. When Dane stands in Satin's way, the earl enters a world of danger and violence, where the student has become the teacher and love is the greatest danger of all.

Both characters were difficult to like at first, but the fun was in watching them each change. Marlowe decides to stay with Maxwell's family as a means to get a break from Satin. She is street-smart, savvy and her introduction to society is hilarious. Lord Dane is pompous, ridiculously snobbish, but it put in his place by Marlowe. A good start to the series.  I hope Gideon gets a story.

Against the Sky

In America’s last wilderness, there are no limits to what a man can do.

For detective Nick Brodie, that means keeping the perps off the streets of Anchorage 24/7. Nick has never backed down from danger, but after the horrors he’s seen, he’s definitely in need of a break.

Samantha Hollis never thought she’d meet anyone like Nick, especially in a place like Las Vegas. But after one reckless, passionate night, she discovers the charismatic stranger is everything she wants in a man. But can he ever be anything more than a one-night stand?

When Nick invites her to Alaska, Samantha decides to find out, never guessing the depths she’ll discover in him or the tangle of murder, kidnapping, and danger about to engulf them both…

This is book number two in the Brodies of Alaska series. I read the first book because it took place close to the town my mom and brother live in and I wanted to see how familiar it would be. I really enjoyed Dylan and Lane's story and was looking forward to Nick's. I did not like the plot device that got them together, but overlooked it to see where the story would go. Nick is taking a break for his former profession, but when his young neighbor asks for help in figuring out what really happened to his father, Nick can't resist helping. Samantha comes for a visit and is drawn into the intrigue and suspense. As it turns out she is very computer savvy and is a big help in the investigation.  I enjoyed the mystery and action of the story more than their romance, but was rooting for them  to work out their differences.  Looking forward to Rafe's book.

*Thanks to Kensington Books via NetGalley for this review copy*

Bones Never Lie

Unexpectedly called in to the Charlotte PD’s Cold Case Unit, Dr. Temperance Brennan wonders why she’s been asked to meet with a homicide cop who’s a long way from his own jurisdiction. The shocking answer: Two child murders, separated by thousands of miles, have one thing in common—the killer. Years ago, Anique Pomerleau kidnapped and murdered a string of girls in Canada, then narrowly eluded capture. It was a devastating defeat for her pursuers, Brennan and police detective Andrew Ryan. Now, as if summoned from their nightmares, Pomerleau has resurfaced in the United States, linked to victims in Vermont and North Carolina. When another child is snatched, the reign of terror promises to continue—unless Brennan can rise to the challenge and make good on her second chance to stop a psychopath.

But Brennan will have to draw her bitter ex-partner out of exile, keep the local police and feds from one another’s throats, and face more than just her own demons as she stalks the deadliest of predators into the darkest depths of madness.

Seventeen years ago I grabbed a book to take along with me  to read while the kids were playing.  The title was Deja Dead. Sixteen books later I still love Temperance Brennan. She is smart and savvy, has her flaws but still gets the job done.  It was nice to have Ryan return in this book, and I liked the dynamic of them both dealing with life changing losses. I did miss an update on her daughter.  The secondary story involving her mother is excellent.  I appreciate that the forensic information is easy to understand and the humor comes at the right moments. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

Author: Kathy Reichs
Published: Sept. 2014
Pages: 337
Genre: Suspense Series
Source: Random House/NetGalley
Finished: 9/15/14


This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Random House via NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Runner

Sam Dryden, retired special forces, lives a quiet life in a small town on the coast of Southern California. While out on a run in the middle of the night, a young girl runs into him on the seaside boardwalk. Barefoot and terrified, she's running from a group of heavily armed men with one clear goal—to kill the fleeing child. After Dryden helps her evade her pursuers, he learns that the eleven year old, for as long as she can remember, has been kept in a secret prison by forces within the government. But she doesn't know much beyond her own name, Rachel. She only remembers the past two months of her life—and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous to these men and the hidden men in charge.

Dryden, who lost his wife and young daughter in an accident five years ago, agrees to help her try to unravel her own past and make sense of it, to protect her from the people who are moving heaven and earth to find them both. Although Dryden is only one man, he's a man with the extraordinary skills and experience—as a Ranger, a Delta, and five years doing off-the-book black ops with an elite team. But, as he slowly begins to discover, the highly trained paramilitary forces on their heels is the only part of the danger they must face. Will Rachel's own unremembered past be the most deadly of them all.

This book grabs you right from the beginning and the action and suspense keep up right to the end.  Rachel's memory slowly comes back which helps with the tension as well as hoping they outsmart those that are after them. This was my first Patrick Lee novel and definitely will not be my last. I look forward to the next Sam Dryden novel.   

Author: Patrick Lee
Published: February 2014
Pages: 336
Genre:  Suspense/Thriller/Series
Source:  NetGalley/St. Martin's Press
Finished: 1/25/14



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Don't Want To Miss A Thing

Dexter Yates loves his fun, care-free London life; he has money, looks and girlfriends galore. But everything changes overnight when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. How is he ever going to cope?

Comic-strip artist Molly Hayes lives in the beautiful Cotswold village of Briarwood. When it comes to relationships, she has a history of choosing all the wrong men. Leaving the city behind, Dex moves to Briarwood - a much better place to work on his parenting skills - and he and Molly become neighbours. There's an undeniable connection between them. But if Dexter's going to adapt, he first has a lot to learn about Molly, about other people's secrets...and about himself..

This was a good choice to read after finishing a couple of dark, twisty, suspenseful novels. Last year I quickly became a fan of Jill, but this will not be my favorite book of hers. It wasn't bad, it was nice. I did not find it as funny as her previous books.  There is a lot more going on than Molly and Dex's story, which was a bit of a distraction for me, it was nice that everyone got a happy ending. 

Author: Jill Mansell
Published: November 2013
Pages: 434
Genre: Chick-Lit
Source:  Sourcebooks
Finished: 11/12/13



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Danielle and Sourcebooks and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

 

The Blackstone Affair Series

Naked (Book 1)

Brynne Bennett has left scandal in her past and is living the good life. An American grad student at the University of London and part-time photographic model, she’s getting back on track with lots of hard work and focus on a career in art conservation. When successful and charismatic London businessman Ethan Blackstone buys her nude portrait, he wants to possess more than just her image. He wants Brynne in his bed, serving him in every way possible. He has no trouble voicing his desires, and he isn’t taking “no” for an answer. At first, his dominant nature captivates her, but it isn’t clear if the force of his powerful desire will ultimately awaken or dispel the demons Brynne is carrying inside. There are secrets on both sides of this relationship—huge ones. Can Ethan erase the scars of Brynne’s past so that she can reveal her true self to him? Or will the shadows cast by Ethan’s own mysterious former life destroy their chance at happiness?

Book 1 in the series. Ethan is hired to protect Brynne, for a reason that is not made clear right away. I was hooked by the storyline and finished this short book quickly. This is not my usual genre and I thought there was a bit too much sex, without much tension.  Because of the cliffhanger, I want to know what happens and will read the second book.  

All In (Book 2)

Ethan Blackstone has a problem on his hands. He’s broken Brynne’s trust and she’s left him. He’s unwilling to live without her and isn’t giving up—he’s dead-set on getting his beautiful American girl back. The passion between them was explosive, but the secrets they hid from each other are dark and chilling and are powerful enough to destroy their shot at a life together. With political threats now directed at Brynne, Ethan is running out of time and he’ll need to gather all his strength and agility to protect her from the dangers that could take her away from him forever. Will Ethan be able to save Brynne from a past that keeps her locked in fear? Will he ever feel the warmth of her touch, the solidity of her trust again? This is a love-struck man who is willing to do whatever it takes to possess the heart of the woman he loves. He’ll go to any lengths to protect her. He’ll go all in.

 The first book's cliffhanger had me reaching for the second books as well as learning it was told in Ethan's POV.  We are given more of both Brynne and Ethan's background alluded to in book one, with more to be revealed in book three.  Ethan's POV was not as intriguing as I expected.  I really got tired of the slang used and still thought the romantic tension was lacking. I want to know what happens and will read the third book.

Eyes Wide Open (Book 3)

Big surprises are on the horizon for Ethan and Brynne as they struggle to adjust to what life has thrown at them. Demons from the past are threatening to destroy the passionate bond they’ve forged despite their vow that nothing will ever keep them apart. A truly devastating loss coupled with the promise of a new hope opens their eyes to what is most important, but is it possible for the lovers to move on from the painful histories that continue to haunt them? A stalker is still lurking in the shadows, plotting evil amidst the distraction of the 2012 Olympic games in London. Brynne and Ethan are on the cusp of losing everything as the stakes rise. Will they yield to circumstances beyond their control or will they give every ounce of fight they have left to save each other and win the ultimate prize of a life together?

 I was a bit let down with this third installment.  The threat from Brynne's past alluded to in the first two books fell flat for me.  It was not as intense as I expected.  I did like that both Ethan and Brynne's POV told the story.  I loved Ethan's niece, Zara! This three book series are short, quick reads. If you liked 50 Shades series, you will like this trilogy.

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

A Duke's Promise

From the Land of Fire and Ice back to England's shores, Alexandria Featherstone finds herself the new Duchess of St. Easton. Her husband has promised a wedding trip to take them to the place where her imperiled parents were last seen -- Italy and the marble caves of Carrara -- but a powerful Italian duke plots against Alex and her treasure-hunting parents.

Hoping to save them, Alex and Gabriel travel to Italy by balloon. Fraught with danger on all sides and pressured by Gabriel's affliction to the breaking point, they must learn to work and fight together. The mysterious key is within their grasp, but they have yet to recognize it. This journey will require steadfast faith in God and each other -- a risk that will win them everything they want or lose them everything they have.

Book three in the series picks up with more action and adventure as Alex and Gabriel, now married, race to find her parents before others with evil motives find them and the treasure they are seeking. Twists and turns are aplenty in this novel, and just when you think there is no way out, a surprise turn of events happen. Alex's parents, Katherine and Ian, are prominent in this novel and I enjoyed learning more about them as individuals. Gabriel's afflictions beautifully depict how hard it is to trust God no matter what, it is easy to identify with his struggles in this area. Loved the historical aspects of the novel as well. I wished for more of a resolution between Alex and her parents but overall enjoyed this book. While this is part of a trilogy, it does stand alone well, but is best read with the first two books (The Guardian Duke, The Forgiven Duke).

Author: Jamie Carie
Published: September 2012
Pages: 320
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction
Source: B and H Books/NetGalley
Finished: 4/23/13



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from B and H Publishing Group via NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Bones Are Forever

A newborn baby is found wedged in a vanity cabinet in a rundown apartment near Montreal.

Dr Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist to the province of Quebec, is brought in to investigate. While there, she discovers the mummified remains of two more babies within the same room.

Shocked and distressed, Tempe must use all her skills and inner strength to focus on the facts. But when the autopsies reveal that the children died of unnatural causes, the hunt for the mother – a young woman with a seedy past and at least three aliases – is on.

The trail leads Tempe to Yellowknife, a cold, desolate diamond-mining town on the edge of the Arctic Circle, where her quest for the truth only throws up more questions, more secrets, and more dead bodies.

Taking risks and working alone, Tempe refuses to give up until she has discovered why the babies died. But in such a hostile environment, can she avoid being the next victim?

As always, there is more to the story than just the crime itself and Temperance is determined to get justice for the victims.  Despite the beginning subject matter (that was not too graphic), the investigation was interesting and kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. Loved the twists and turns that came just as I thought I had it all figured out.  We are tempted with a bit of Temperance's personal life, but this one is mostly about the case.  I look forward to the next installment.

Author:  Kathy Reichs
Published: August 2012
Pages: 304
Genre: Suspense/Mystery
Source: Simon and Schuster and Edelweiss
Finished: 12/21/12



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from the publisher and Edelweiss and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Little Night

Clare Burke’s life took a devastating turn when she tried to protect her sister, Anne, from an abusive and controlling husband and ended up serving prison time for assault. The verdict largely hinged on Anne’s defense of her spouse—all lies—and the sisters have been estranged ever since. Nearly twenty years later, Clare is living a quiet life in Manhattan as an urban birder and nature blogger, when her niece, Grit, turns up on her doorstep.

The two long for a relationship with each other, but they’ll have to dig deep into their family’s difficult past in order to build one. Together they face the wounds inflicted by Anne and find in their new connection a place of healing. When Clare begins to suspect her sister might be in New York, she and her niece hold out hope for a long-awaited reunion with her.

Books like this motivate me to keep trying to find a book club that fits. It is one of those books that offers so much to talk about. I was hesitant about the subject matter of domestic abuse - the author handles it very honestly but not too graphically. Family dynamics are at the heart of this novel with characters that draw you right in to their lives. This is a emotional, difficult, thought provoking read.

Author: Luanne Rice
Published: June 2012
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: NetGalley
Finished: 9/15/11



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from  Penguin Group and NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

The Forgiven Duke

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon—the path of least resistance—Alexandria Featherstone sets off from Ireland to Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. Her glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton—the path less traveled by—on Dublin’s shore still haunts her. Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone motto Valens et Volens: “Willing and Able” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.

  The powerful and wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life of him or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.

This is book two in the Forgotten Castle series and picks up right where The Guardian Duke left us hanging. There is quite a bit of action and suspense in this book as Alex and John are one step ahead of those pursuing them.  Can Gabriel catch up with them before Alex marries John?  That alone kept me turning the pages. We are left hanging again as the story is not quite over. The final book in the series, A Duke’s Promise, comes out in September so I will not have long to wait! Another well written, enjoyable, clean read from Jamie Carie.

Read an excerpt here.
Author: Jamie Carie
Published: July 2012
Pages: 320
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Source: B & H Publishing Group via NetGalley
Finished: 6/26/12
3 Bears



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from B & H Publishing Group and NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

The Innocent

America has enemies–ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can’t stop. That’s when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone-cold hitman who never questions orders and always nails his target.

But Will Robie may have just made the first–and last–mistake of his career.

It begins with a hit gone wrong. Robie is dispatched to eliminate a target unusually close to home in Washington, D.C. But something about this mission doesn’t seem right to Robie, and he does the unthinkable. He refuses to kill. Now, Robie becomes a target himself and must escape from his own people.

Fleeing the scene, Robie crosses paths with a wayward teenage girl, a fourteen-year-old runaway from a foster home. But she isn’t an ordinary runaway-her parents were murdered, and her own life is in danger. Against all of his professional habits, Robie rescues her and finds he can’t walk away. He needs to help her.

Even worse, the more Robie learns about the girl, the more he’s convinced she is at the center of a vast cover-up, one that may explain her parents’ deaths and stretch to unimaginable levels of power.
Now, Robie may have to step out of the shadows in order to save this girl’s life . . . and perhaps his own.

It was hard to decide if I wanted to read or listen to Baldacci's latest book.  The narrators do such a great job, however, I was offered a chance to read an ARC and accepted.  I knew I would be in for great entertainment as I think the author gets better and better.  I was not disappointed!  Right away I was involved in the story, trying not to read too fast as the suspense ramped up because I did not want to miss any clues.  Of course, the awesome twists and turns were thrilling.  Julie is a spunky teen that you can't help but like and know she will change Will's life.

Author: David Baldacci
Published: April 2012
Pages: 432
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Source: Hatchette Book Group/Netgalley
Finished: 4-7-12
4 Bears


This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Hatchette Book Group and NetGalley and in no way influenced my review of this book.  These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book

ComeBack Love

Over thirty-five years ago, Gordon Meyers, an aspiring writer with a low number in the draft lottery, packed his belongings and reluctantly drove away, leaving Glenna Rising, the sexy, sharp-witted med student he couldn’t imagine living without.

Now, decades later, Gordon is a former globetrotting consultant with a grown son, an ex-wife, and an overwhelming desire to see Glenna again. Stunned when Gordon walks into her Manhattan office, Glenna agrees to accompany him for a drink. As the two head out into the snow-swept city, they become caught up in the passions that drew them together then tore them apart, and as the evening unfolds, Gordon finally reveals the true reason for his return.

We meet Gordon and know that something terrible has happened. The story moves easily between past and present as it unfolds. Glenna and Gordon are sympathetic characters, and even though they make some heartbreaking decisions you really care about what happens to them. A very satisfying read.

Author:  Peter Gordon
Published: April 2012
Pages: 304
Genre: Fiction
Source:  Atria Books/Netgalley
Finished: 4-9-12
3 Bears



This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Atria Books and Netgalley and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

The Replacement Wife

Camille Hart, one of Manhattan’s most sought-after matchmakers, has survived more than her fair share of hardships. Her mother died when she was a young girl, leaving her and her sister with an absentee father. Now in her forties, she has already survived cancer once, though the battle revealed just how ill-equipped her husband Edward is to be a single parent. So when doctors tell Camille that her cancer is back—and this time it’s terminal—she decides to put her matchmaking expertise to the test for one final job. Seeking stability for her children and happiness for her husband, Camille sets out to find the perfect woman to replace her when she’s gone.

But what happens when a dying wish becomes a case of “be careful what you wish for”? For Edward and Camille, the stunning conclusion arrives with one last twist of fate that no one saw coming.

This novel asks the question, "What would you do if you were told you had six months to live?" Wow, this book really gets you thinking about that question. The author does a great job of having you feel sympathetic for a character then totally doing an about face and feeling for another, and then getting so mad at them!   Honestly, the actions of two of the characters almost had me putting the book down for good, however, what happens is "real life" (but does not make it right), and I cared enough about the characters to find out what happened.  This would be a great book for your book club.

Author: Eileen Goudge
Published: March 2012
Genre: Fiction
Source:  Open Road Media/NetGalley
Finished: 2/19/12



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This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Open Road Media and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Gone to Ground

Amaryllis, Mississippi is a scrappy little town of strong backbone and southern hospitality. A brick-paved Main Street, a park, and a legendary ghost in the local cemetery are all part of its heritage. Everybody knows everybody in Amaryllis, and gossip wafts on the breeze. Its people are friendly, its families tight. On the surface Amaryllis seems much like the flower for which it’s named—bright and fragrant. But the Amaryllis flower is poison.

In the past three years five unsolved murders have occurred within the town. All the victims were women, and all were killed in similar fashion in their own homes. And just two nights ago—a sixth murder.

Clearly a killer lives among the good citizens of Amaryllis. And now three terrified women are sure they know who he is—someone they love. None is aware of the others’ suspicions. And each must make the heartrending choice to bring the killer down. But each woman suspects a different man.

 This was a serious page turner. Told in the POVs of three characters, Cherrie Mae, Tully and Deena. Each with a different voice and a certainty that they know the identity of the killer. Once they become aware of each other and unite to help the police, I was on the edge of my seat going back and forth between being sure of the true killer.   This one was not only entertaining, it was thought provoking.  What would you ultimately do with the same information? 

Author: Brandilyn Collins
Published: March 2011
Pages: 352
Genre: Suspense/Mystery
Source: NetGalley




3 Bears

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from NetGalley and B & H Publishers and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

The Guardian Duke

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

This book was full of adventure and mystery. Alexandra and her group were always a step ahead of Gabriel.   About 3/4 of the way through I started to feel that the ending I was looking for was not going to happen and to expect a different ending. I was right! It ended with a cliff-hanger that left me frustrated, but eagerly awaiting for all my questions to be answered in July when The Forgiven Duke is published.  I liked Gabriel right away, but it took me longer to get behind Alex.  I look forward to their continuing story.

Author: Jamie Carie
Published: February 2012
Pages: 320
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source:  NetGalley/B & H Publishing Group
Finished: 1/7/12



3 Bears

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from NetGalley and B & H Publishing Group and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

A Grown Up Kind of Pretty

When a long-hidden grave is unearthed in the backyard, headstrong young Mosey Slocumb is determined to investigate. What she learns could cost her family everything…

Every fifteen years, trouble comes after the Slocumb women. Now, as their youngest turns fifteen, a whole new kind of commotion is chasing all three generations. Mosey’s desperate to know who used their yard as a make-shift cemetery, and why. The oldest, forty-five year old Ginny, fights to protect Mosey from the truth, a fight that could cost Ginny the love of her life. Between them is Liza, silenced by a stroke, with the answers trapped inside her.

To survive Liza’s secrets and Mosey’s insistent adventures, Ginny must learn to trust the love that braids the strands of their past—and stop at nothing to defend their future.

I will always pick up a Joshilyn Jackson book without even knowing what it is about. I know it will be a great story with wonderful characters. This one weaves the lives of three generations around a secret with humor, heartbreak and triumph. I'd have Big in my corner any day! I could not turn these pages fast enough.

Author: Joshilyn Jackson
Published: January 2011
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source:  NetGalley
Finished: 1/10/12
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Need You Now

Abe Cushman, the evil genius behind a sixty-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme, has killed himself and taken his secrets to the grave.

For Patrick Lloyd, a young Wall Street advisor at the world's largest Swiss bank, Cushman's fall has unexpected-and deadly-repercussions. His girlfriend, Lilly, is directly tied to billions of dollars in losses suffered by Cushman's most dangerous "victims," a group of powerful investors whose identities and dirty finances are shrouded in secrecy. What Lilly knows can get her and Patrick killed, and now the pair are in a run for their lives that leads to the heart of a secret operation, and to a cabal of powerful officials determined to keep their agenda hidden from the public.

With no place to turn and no one to trust, Patrick and Lilly must uncover the truth before they become collateral damage in a "financial war" where casualties are no longer measured in dollars and cents.

This story ripped from today's headlines gets started and does not let you go until you turn the last page. The line dividing the good guys for the bad guys is always changing which makes for an intense thriller. I tried a few times throughout the day to put it down and failed. A thought provoking as well as highly entertaining book.

Author: James Grippando
Published: January 2012
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Source: NetGalley/HarperCollins
Finished: 12/10/11
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This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from NetGalley and HarperCollins and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.