RAVENS by George Dawes Green
The Boatwrights win $318 million in the Georgia State Lottery. It is the best and worst day of their lives.
Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko pull off I95 into a convenience store to fix their leaky tire. On the inside, Shawn happens to see the lottery winner's name and begins to hatch a scheme to squeeze the family for half of the prize.
That night, Shaw goes to visit the Boatwright's home and takes them hostage. His partner Romeo, drives around looking for the streets that the Boatwright's loved ones live on. He is prepared to murder at any sign on resistance from the Boatwrights.
The pressure builds and soon Shaw's plot of violence can't withstand the Boatwright's unraveling sanity.
Chilling and goose pimply! A modern day crime setting. Wimpy thugs pushing themselves into the lives of others, controlling them with thoughts of violence that may or may not happen. Do the Boatwright's overcome their fear and take back control of their lives? Just thinking about this story makes me angry. But, then what would I do in this situation? I want to believe I wouldn't fall prey like the Boatwright's. A very well written story that I can say built nicely and then blew up.
4 stars
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The Nine Lessons by KEVIN ALAN MILNE
August Witte is terrified as he fins out his wife of seven years is pregnant and in seventh heaven about it. What does he know about fatherhood? Nada!
His father London, a widower since August was toddler, has taught him nothing. London is big into golf and a whole lot less into thoughts of his son.
August now confronts his father about his hatred of golf and of London's failure to be a father to him.
It took a bit for me to get to the meat of this story, but when it came, oh boy! What a great way London used to teach his son about fatherhood. But August is a little rebellious, wait, alot because he feels golf is such a waste of his time. But to spend time and learn from his dad, he goes along with the golf outings. The story kept building that I couldn't wait to get to the end. And end it does, but beautifully with a cute twist.
I gave it four stars
August Witte is terrified as he fins out his wife of seven years is pregnant and in seventh heaven about it. What does he know about fatherhood? Nada!
His father London, a widower since August was toddler, has taught him nothing. London is big into golf and a whole lot less into thoughts of his son.
August now confronts his father about his hatred of golf and of London's failure to be a father to him.
It took a bit for me to get to the meat of this story, but when it came, oh boy! What a great way London used to teach his son about fatherhood. But August is a little rebellious, wait, alot because he feels golf is such a waste of his time. But to spend time and learn from his dad, he goes along with the golf outings. The story kept building that I couldn't wait to get to the end. And end it does, but beautifully with a cute twist.
I gave it four stars
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
THE CASTAWAYS by Elin Hilderbrand
What happened between Greg MacAvoy and April Peck?
On the tiny island of Nantucket, everybody's business is everyone's business. When the charming music teacher Greg MacAvoy shares a rainy Sunday night with high school senior April Peck, rumors swarm the island like tourists on Memorial Day. The stories strain the marriage of Greg and his wife Tess. She herself is torn between the love for her husband and a secret of her own. The MacAvoy's head out on their boat to celebrate their anniversary but mysteriously both end up drowned. Their close friends are devastated and together they set out to answer the question: What happened to Greg and Tess MacAvoy?
This was a fun loving book that I envisioned myself reading at the beach under the warm sun. Back to reality and living along good old Lake Michigan, it's quite cold out so I'm reading this while soaking in the tub. Nantucket, boats tied in the harbor, best friends hanging out together with everybody knowing everyone else's business is similar to here in my home town. Don't be sneaky, someone is gonna see or hear. Who cares if nothing happens, the talk is great for those not affected. Secrets just harbor heartache as we see in this story for both Greg and Tess, their children and their friends. Those left behind pick up what's left and carry on. Mindless passion and tragic suspense causes reader to continue reading to get the answers to the questions.
4.25 stars
Friday, June 19, 2009
THE SCARECROW by Michael Connelly
Jack McEvoy is at the end of the line as a crime reporter. Once a hotshot in the newsroom, Jack is now in the cross hairs of the latest set of layoffs at the Los Angeles Times. He decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paper to write the definitive murder story of his career.
Jack focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a sixteen year old drug dealer in jail after confessing to the brutal murder of a young woman found strangled in the trunk of her car. Jack plans to write abut how societal dysfunction and neglect created a teenage killer. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.
When Jack connects the L.A. trunk murder to an earlier murder in Las Vegas, he is off and running on the biggest story he's had since the Poet crossed his path years before. This time Jack is onto a killer who has worked completely below police and FBI radar - and with perfect knowledge of any move against him.
What Jack doesn't know is that his investigation has inadvertently set off a digital trip wire. The killer knows Jack is coming - and he's ready.
This is an awesome story. I was able to follow the characters right along and not get lost or tangled in the story. What a great way to leave a job by going out with such a great story. I found I couldn't put a face to Jack but yet I felt I might know him. Extremely well written and to me over the top. Kept looking at the author picture and saying to myself "I can't believe you wrote this" in a good way. Story could very well be happening today. Another one read start to finish. I give it the top. 5 stars
Jack McEvoy is at the end of the line as a crime reporter. Once a hotshot in the newsroom, Jack is now in the cross hairs of the latest set of layoffs at the Los Angeles Times. He decides to go out with a bang, using his final days at the paper to write the definitive murder story of his career.
Jack focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a sixteen year old drug dealer in jail after confessing to the brutal murder of a young woman found strangled in the trunk of her car. Jack plans to write abut how societal dysfunction and neglect created a teenage killer. But as he delves into the story, Jack realizes that Winslow's so-called confession is bogus. The kid might actually be innocent.
When Jack connects the L.A. trunk murder to an earlier murder in Las Vegas, he is off and running on the biggest story he's had since the Poet crossed his path years before. This time Jack is onto a killer who has worked completely below police and FBI radar - and with perfect knowledge of any move against him.
What Jack doesn't know is that his investigation has inadvertently set off a digital trip wire. The killer knows Jack is coming - and he's ready.
This is an awesome story. I was able to follow the characters right along and not get lost or tangled in the story. What a great way to leave a job by going out with such a great story. I found I couldn't put a face to Jack but yet I felt I might know him. Extremely well written and to me over the top. Kept looking at the author picture and saying to myself "I can't believe you wrote this" in a good way. Story could very well be happening today. Another one read start to finish. I give it the top. 5 stars
GHOST WRITER by Travis Thrasher
Dennis shore thrills his readers with spooky best selling novels. Now a widower, Dennis is alone in his house. His daughter, Audrye attending college out of state. Stricken with writers block, Dennis is desperate for a story to meet his deadline. He does the unthinkable and claims someone else's story as his own. At the book signing he is greeted by a young man named Cillian Reed - the true author of the manuscript.
Harassment quickly spirals out of control. Threats escalate and Dennis finds himself on the brink of losing his career, his sanity, even his life. The horror he has spent years writing about has arrived at his door, and Dennis has no where to run or hide.
This author has truely kept me thinking "what's going to happen next" through out this story. I had to pause, wondering what was real and what wasn't; what was true and what wasn't while reading this book. Through out I felt a continium of family and love through the characters and what unspent grief can do to a person. I found this book to be excellent and was able to read it in one sitting. 4.75 stars
Dennis shore thrills his readers with spooky best selling novels. Now a widower, Dennis is alone in his house. His daughter, Audrye attending college out of state. Stricken with writers block, Dennis is desperate for a story to meet his deadline. He does the unthinkable and claims someone else's story as his own. At the book signing he is greeted by a young man named Cillian Reed - the true author of the manuscript.
Harassment quickly spirals out of control. Threats escalate and Dennis finds himself on the brink of losing his career, his sanity, even his life. The horror he has spent years writing about has arrived at his door, and Dennis has no where to run or hide.
This author has truely kept me thinking "what's going to happen next" through out this story. I had to pause, wondering what was real and what wasn't; what was true and what wasn't while reading this book. Through out I felt a continium of family and love through the characters and what unspent grief can do to a person. I found this book to be excellent and was able to read it in one sitting. 4.75 stars
SANTA OLIVIA by Jacqueline Carey
There is no pity and no escape from Santa Olivia. In this isolated military zone between the U.S. and Mexico the citizens are powerless. Loup Garron is born, daughter of a man called "Wolf Man" who is genetically manipulated by the government to be a weapon. He was engineered to have superhuman strength, speed, stamina, senses, as well as a total lack of fear. Named for her vanished faher, Loup has inherited his gifts.
Frustrated by the injustices visited upon her friends and neighbors by the military occupiers, Loup is determined to avenge her community. Aided by her fellow orphans, Loup takes on the guise of their patron saint, Santa Oliva, and setsout to deliver vigilante justice-aware that if she is caught, she could lose her freedom--and her life.
This is a tale of lies, terror and love. A tale of being different. Seeing our innerself and overcoming the obstacles and differences from other people. Loup used the cover of a patron saint. What do each of us use?
What do I use? At one time, probably everything I could find. But I've grown up and learned to stand up for myself. At times I back down to not make someone else feel less than they should. This story is very empowering and unforgettable from start to finish. Reminds me of "Fire Starter". 4.25 stars
There is no pity and no escape from Santa Olivia. In this isolated military zone between the U.S. and Mexico the citizens are powerless. Loup Garron is born, daughter of a man called "Wolf Man" who is genetically manipulated by the government to be a weapon. He was engineered to have superhuman strength, speed, stamina, senses, as well as a total lack of fear. Named for her vanished faher, Loup has inherited his gifts.
Frustrated by the injustices visited upon her friends and neighbors by the military occupiers, Loup is determined to avenge her community. Aided by her fellow orphans, Loup takes on the guise of their patron saint, Santa Oliva, and setsout to deliver vigilante justice-aware that if she is caught, she could lose her freedom--and her life.
This is a tale of lies, terror and love. A tale of being different. Seeing our innerself and overcoming the obstacles and differences from other people. Loup used the cover of a patron saint. What do each of us use?
What do I use? At one time, probably everything I could find. But I've grown up and learned to stand up for myself. At times I back down to not make someone else feel less than they should. This story is very empowering and unforgettable from start to finish. Reminds me of "Fire Starter". 4.25 stars
Thursday, June 11, 2009
SECRETS TO HAPPINESS by Sarah Dunn
Holly Frick has just endured the worst kind of breakup: the kind where you're still in love with the person leaving you. While Holly's wounds are still dangerously close to the surface, her happily married best friend confesses over a bottle of wine that she is this close to having an affair. And another woman asks Holly for advice about her love life--with one of Holly's exes!
Holly decides that if everyone around her can take pleasure wherever they find it, so will she. As any self-respecting thirtyish New York woman would do, she brings two males into her life: a flawed but endearing dog and a good-natured, much younger lover. She's soon entangled in a web of emails, chance meetings, and misguided good intentions and must forge an entirely new path to Nirvana.
The author did a fantastic job telling this story. Such a whirlwind of events taking place in Holly's life, all on the quest to find love and happiness. A fun book to read while lying on a blanket under a tree.
Holly Frick has just endured the worst kind of breakup: the kind where you're still in love with the person leaving you. While Holly's wounds are still dangerously close to the surface, her happily married best friend confesses over a bottle of wine that she is this close to having an affair. And another woman asks Holly for advice about her love life--with one of Holly's exes!
Holly decides that if everyone around her can take pleasure wherever they find it, so will she. As any self-respecting thirtyish New York woman would do, she brings two males into her life: a flawed but endearing dog and a good-natured, much younger lover. She's soon entangled in a web of emails, chance meetings, and misguided good intentions and must forge an entirely new path to Nirvana.
The author did a fantastic job telling this story. Such a whirlwind of events taking place in Holly's life, all on the quest to find love and happiness. A fun book to read while lying on a blanket under a tree.
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