Monday, February 16, 2009

A Spoonful of Poision by M.C. Beaton

An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Agatha Raisin is a highly successful detective who needs time off. Making the decision to not work so much, she now has time on her hands, so when the vicar from a nearby village comes asking for her help, she gives it. She sets up a bazaar which has a great turnout of people and lots of money is made. LSD laced jam in the tasting booth kills two women.

She and her young, pretty sidekick Toni set out to solve the murders. They keep the money from the bazaar safe by having the vicar put it in the bank for which Agatha puts herself in danger. Searching for the dealer of the LSD puts everyone in danger. They proceed to expose sinister characters in the village which just turns everything upside down.

Great read, 4 stars from me.

RADIOMAN by Carol Edgemon Hipperson

An Eyewitness Account of Pearl Harbor and World War II in the Pacific

Ray Daves was just a 16 year old renegade teenager when he felt life on the farm in Little Rock was not what he wanted. He dropped out of school and enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), with his parents permission. For the next six months in Idaho he planted trees on the hillsides to stop soil erosion, dug irrigation ditches for farmers or built roads for loggers. Ray enrolled in classes to help himself get ahead.

He lies to get into the Navy at seventeen, goes thru basic training and gets accepted into radio school and passes. His orders come to board the Cruiser Richmond and goes out to sea. Part of his job is to board a Kingfisher plane and be catapulted from the ship that flies to San Diego to retrieve the mail for the guys. Everyone talks of the war in Europe but at this time America is not committed to it.

One of his best friends was the radioman on the Arizona that was sunk in Pearl Harbor. He tells of the day, Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked us, what he witnessed, and how he assisted after the attack.

A very riveting five star story from a survivor of history.

Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart

A heart warming, five star, romance book.

Danielle and Jonas are the all American family with two children, Tyler and Madison. One day the phone rings and Danielle gets the dreaded call, "your husband has been shot in the line of duty." She rushes to his side, every thought of their life they have now and what she might find once she gets to his room, runs through her mind. She finds him in a coma, hooked to all sorts of machines beeping, whirring and ticking. "Please dear god, let him live."

Jonas wakes and realizes he does not know the woman sleeping by his side. He spends a year rehabilitating and finally the day comes to go home. Danielle realizes the man sitting in the seat beside her in the car is a virtual stranger, but she loves him nonetheless. No matter what, she will keep the family together and prays that Jonas will remember their life. But, how will Danielle help him to accomplish this?

Pictures! Their wedding day, honeymoon, birth of each of their children, school events, family gatherings, all found in books Danielle has put together. Jonas asks many questions, trying his best to recall his memory, but in the end, they find that they need to create new memories with each other, the kids, and their families and friends. The challenge is great, but their love for each other becomes greater and helps them overcome all barriers.

As I finished the book I asked myself, "What would I do in that situation?" Would I be as strong? I don't know.