Manhunting, by Jennifer Crusie

Finished audio 10-25-09, rating 3/5, Romance, pub. 2007

Kate is a successful in her career, but disappointed in her love life.  A friend convinces her to spend some time at the Cabins resort where eligible men and women go to meet.  When Kate arrives she has no problem finding the men, but has a problem with the quality of men she’s meeting.  And handyman Jake isn’t helping her feel any better about herself with his rude and judgemental comments.

As Kate becomes more involved in the small town she finds that she will be sad to leave, man or no.  And when Jake proves to be the most eligible man, Kate must reassess her goals for being there.

I love Jennifer Crusie, with her humor and wit, but this book didn’t do it for me.  It was light and fun, but I was not caught up in the story.  In the interest of full disclosure, I did listen to this during the read-a-thon last week between the hours of 11pm -6am, so my judgment may not be 100% accurate   I would not hesitate to recommend other Crusie books.

This was a library copy.

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story, by Carolyn Turgeon

Finished 10-24-09, rating 3/5, Fantasy, pub. 2009

I loved the scribbles in the margins, the notes in the front of the books that told their stories, the ways they passed from one person to another.  “To Jennifer, Christmas 1921.  May these words stay with you.” The stray phrases and numbers jotted on the side of a page - ”Indian Taj, 74th Street” emerging from the margins of Utopia, “BUY PUMPKINS” blaring up at me from the back cover of To the Lighthouse.  As I sat behind the register, carefull erasing the penciled marks, I felt as if each book had a secret to tell, only to me.

 Chapter 1

Lil is a fallen fairy, one who broke the ultimate sin by falling in love with a human.  And not just any human, but the fantasy of many a young girl, Prince Charming.  Lil was the fairy godmother to Cinderella and in charge of getting her and the Prince to meet and marry, but she made the mistake of taking a peek at the Prince in advance and her heart’s fate was sealed.

Now, Lil is living as an old woman in New York City working as small used bookstore.  The owner of the store is a friend who finally recovered from his divorce and when  a beautiful young woman walks in to the store, Lil thinks getting them together will be her way back home.  There is a charity ball coming up and the couple agrees to attend together and Lil can feel the fairy world coming for her.

This is not your average fairy tale retelling.  It is dark and offbeat, which I liked, but Lil was not a character I fell in love with, even though I wanted to.  I mean who wouldn’t love a fairy godmother?  I liked the way the story was told, alternating between New York and her past life as a fairy.  I really wanted to like it more, but it did keep me interested the whole way through.

I recommend this if you like fairy tale retellings or fairies. 

This was a library copy.

The Appeal, by John Grisham

Finished 10-14-09, rating 3/5, fiction, pub.2007

“There are two fees.  First, a million as a retainer.  This is all properly reported.  You officially become our client, and we provide consulting services in the area if government relations, a wonderfully vague term that covers just about anything.  The second fee is seven million bucks, and we take it offshore.  Some of this will be used to fund the campaign, but most will be preserved.  Only the first fee goes on the books.”

Carl was nodding, understanding.  “For eight million, I can buy myself a supreme court justice.”

Wes and Mary Grace Payton have been fighting a huge chemical company in the courts for years, trying to get justice for a small Mississippi  town decimated by years of poisoning by Krane Chemical Corporation.  Carl Trudeau doesn’t take this lawyers seriously and is shocked when the jury sides with the plaintiff for $42 million and decides that it is time to put his money to work and buy an election. 

This story has a bit of courtroom drama and lots of the ugly side of politics.  There was a clear contrast between the haves and the haves nots, the rich and the poor, the power players and the powerless, and it was easy to root for the Davids as they battled Goliath.  Most states still elect state supreme court justices and this books shows how easily these elections can be bought.  And it is only the voters who suffer from the manipulation. 

This was a cynical and probably very accurate look at the election process we have in place and it will anger you.  Many of you know that I have been working at the elections the past few years and I encourage everyone to vote, but more than that I want people to vote with knowledge.  This book shines a spotlight on this problem.  I could go on for a while about this, but that’s a whole different post.

I really liked the first half of the book with the environmental focus, thought the middle was slow with way too much detail on the campaign play-by-play, and really hated the end.  If you are interested in politics or are a Grisham fan you may like this more than me.  Although, I’m interested in politics and I didn’t love it.

This came from my own library.

Travel Writing, by Peter Ferry

Finished 9-11-09, rating 3/5, fiction, pub. 2009

See, I think that’s Pete’s problem,” said Carolyn.  “He knew what was going to happen.  You know what I mean?  He could see it happen before it happened, and then it happened.”  (Of course I now know that even if for a moment I could see what was going to happen to Lisa Kim, I had no idea what had already happened to her and would not for a long time.)

Chapter 1

 High school teacher Pete Ferry (you may notice the similarity with the author’s name) sees a woman driving erratically one night and watches in horror as she crashes and dies.  The police say it’s an accident, but Pete is not convinced.  His guilt at not having stopped her fuels his obsession with finding out everything about that night and the victim, Lisa Kim. Pete’s distraction takes it toll on his relationship with his girlfriend of many years and he can’t seem to work up enough energy to save it.

Of course, this may all be a lie, a story.  Pete is telling this story to his students so they see how a great story is pieced together, with truth and lies.  What is real and what isn’t?  Or is it all a dream?

This clever concept was interesting, and it mostly worked.  I guess I had more of an issue with Pete.  I didn’t ever quite warm up to him or understand his motivations.  And if I was to take his character at face value I guess I didn’t really like him much. 

I thought it was original and I liked the alternating storylines and flashbacks.  It’s a solid debut that will keep you guessing to the end.  I liked it enough to try this author again.

I received this book from the pubisher.

The Carriage House, by Carla Neggers

Finished 8-10-09, rating 3/5, romantic suspense, pub. 2001

This is Book 1 in the Texas Rangers 4 book series. 

“I can sell it.”

“Who would buy it?  It’s run-down.  It’s on the flipping historic register.  It’s on a minuscule lot.  And, I might add–”  She swiveled around in her expensive ergonomic chair, zeroing in on her office mate and friend with those piercing green eyes.  “I might add that the place is haunted.”

“That’s just a rumor.”

Chapter 1

Tess Haviland is in her 30’s, owns her own graphic design business and is single and childless, much to the disappointment of her dad.  As payment for her services, the eccentric Ike Grantham gives her an old carriage house on Boston’s North Shore, a place that has special memories for Tess.  Soon after gifting her with the house Ike disappears and Tess puts off doing anything with the house.  Now a year later she receives a tax bill and decides to go out to the house to see if she wants to keep it.

Once she arrives at the dilapidated carriage house she is appalled at the condition and the renovations that are necessary.  On her first night there she meets the neighbors, sexy Andrew Thorne, his princess daughter Dolly, and the skeleton she finds in the dirt basement.  Spooked and scared, Tess doesn’t call the police right away and this is where the story really begins.

The characters were all enjoyable, if not memorable.  The story was fast paced and although you knew who did it relatively early on there was some confusion thrown in to keep you reading.  I really liked the secondary characters.  Andrew’s cousin Harley Beckett was an original and Tess’s dad and godfather were loving manly men and it was easy to forgive their chauvinistic ways.

To be fair, I should say that I started this on the plane last week and the fact that it kept my attention at all is an endorsement.  I could be the world’s worst flier.  So, it did keep my interest for pages at a time and this is all I could have hoped for on the plane.

Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Finished 8-6-09, rating 3/5, fiction, pub. 2009

Book 15 in the Stephanie Plum series

I’d been hoping to find my apartment dark and deserted.  I loved Ranger’s apartment, but it wasn’t home.  Looking up  at my windows, I wasn’t sure that was home, either.  I’m in limbo, I thought.  My whole friggin’ life is in limbo.

Chapter 12

Stephanie Plum is back for another round as a Trenton bounty hunter.  She is single again, after having a fight with Morelli about peanut butter and Ranger is looking as yummy as ever.  Lula witnesses a beheading and is being hunted by murderers, albeit bad ones.  Lula and Grandma Mazur are entering a cooking contest and many mishaps ensue.  And Stephanie’s mom has decided to fix her up with men she meets in the supermarket.

I’ll start with the things I liked.  Evanovich knows how to write funny books.  The scene with Stephanie in the hot dog costume had me laughing out loud.  And even though the book does not wrap it up with a bow it does seem like Stephanie has made a choice between her two hot men.  Of course, that does not mean that she will do anything about it, which moves us right into my dislikes.

I chose the quote from the book because that is how I feel about this series.  I’m all for zany and funny and ridiculous things that would never happen in real life, but after 15+ books there needs to be some growth.  Stephanie has lost some appeal for me because she complains about her lot in life, seems unhappy with her job, apartment… but she never actually does anything about it.  She never seems to make any choices. 

As for the actual story itself, I did find it funny in parts, but the emphasis on juvenile humor -farts, big penises, diarrhea- did get a little tiresome. 

I know I’ve read lots of good reviews for this one, but it was just more of the same for me and I want something new and fresh or some growth for Stephanie.  So, I’m really going to do it this time, I’m taking my name off the Stephanie Plum holds at the library.

Slightly Shady, by Amanda Quick

Finished 7-10-09, rating 3/5, historical romance, pub. 2001

She had to swallow twice before she could speak.  When she did eventually manage to utter a few coherent words, her voice sounded thin and it easily cracked.

“Did you murder that man?”

Tobias glanced at the body.  “No.  I got here after the killer, just as you did.  From what I can determine, Felix was killed on his front step.  The murderer must have dragged him back into this room.”

The news did little to reassure her.  “What are you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you the same question.”  He contemplated her with a considering air.  “But I have a hunch I already know the answer.  You are obviously on of Felix’s blackmail victims, are you not?”

Chapter 2

Lavinia Lake and her niece, Emeline, have been stranded in Italy and have had to make ends meet my opening an antique shop.  One night, the mysterious and brusque Tobias March barges in and demands they must leave for their own safety.  As he sends them back to London, the last thing they see is him smashing up the valuables in their shop.

Lavinia Lake is obviously still smarting from his behavior months later when they meet again, over the body of a dead man.  The two headstrong widowers are both used to taking care of things on their own and when they are forced to work together anger and resentment make it challenging for all involved.  The two are on the trail of a the last remaining member of a criminal gang and cannot stop even when it becomes dangerous because their client is paying them to protect her from harm. 

I loved the witty dialogue and the mystery, but was disappointed with the romance.  Tobias was a good character, but Lavinia was such a cold fish that I never did warm up to her.  Although I guessed the murderer pretty early on there were still many aspects that I didn’t figure out til the end. 

This is the first in a trilogy featuring Lavinia Lake (don’t you just love that name?) and Tobias March.  This book set up the trilogy nicely and although this book is not a favorite of mine I am curious enough about some of the characters – such as her niece and client- that I may look for the next book.  The two next books in the series are Don’t Look Back and Late for the Wedding.

The 8th Confession, by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Finished 7-8-09, rating 3/5, fiction, pub. 2009

Book 8 in the Women’s Murder Club series

“Cindy, you can’t work a homicide, okay?  Rich, tell her.”

“I don’t need your permission at all,” Cindy said.  Then, eyes brightening, ”Here’s an idea.  Let’s go to Susie’s and map out a plan we can all live with-”

I rolled my eyes, but Conklin was shaking his head and grinning at Cindy.  He liked her!

Chapter 48

 The four ladies of San Francisco are back in a new novel and there are a whole lotta murderers running around town.  Lindsay and her partner Conklin are trying to make headway in the numerous cases involving very wealthy victims with  no known cause of death.  Claire is stumped and demands more police work.  Cindy is on the trail Bagman Jesus.  He’s a homeless man who was murdered and no one seems to care.  She also demands more police work, but finds she must do the heavy lifting herself.  Yuki is back in court trying to win her first case and she finds a love connection with a doctor who sees her at her worst.  She doesn’t demand more police work.

Once again Lindsay is waffling over Joe’s marriage proposal.  He is out of the country for a month and Lindsay is tempting fate and encouraging the sparks to ignite with Conklin.  Conklin, while still in love with Lindsay, is still a man and keeping his options open.  Cindy would like to be one of those options.

Another fast, easy read that is enjoyable, but not memorable.  Actually this one had so many storylines that it barely focused on any.  These books are great if you don’t want to read anything heavy or too time consuming.  It doesn’t come much lighter than this.  Great for summer vacations.

 

The 6th Target, by James Patterson

Finished 6-15-09, rating 3/5, mystery, pub. 2007

This is the 6th book in the Women’s Murder Club series

I dropped my eyes to the victim, a large African American woman, her face mostly covered with an oxygen mask, an IV line running into her arm,  Blood soaked the sheet tucked tightly over her body.

I felt a pain in my chest, my heart catching on a full second before my brain put it together.

The victim was Claire Washburn!

My best friend had been shot on the ferry!

Chapter 4

When a madman goes on a shooting rampage on the ferry Lindsay is called in and she finds Claire a victim.  So, begins another installment of these four friends tackling the bad guys of San Francisco.  While Claire fights for her life in the hospital and Lindsay is on a mission to find the ferry killer, Cindy is having trouble at her new apartment building.  Yuki is charged with the task of prosecuting the killer – a seemingly open and shut case.

On a personal level, Lindsey is back to her detective ways and teamed up with a new partner, the ladies man Conklin.  And she is having problems with Joe.  Problems I never really understood, but, oh well.

My complaint about this series hasn’t changed all that much.  The relationship between the women is off and that doesn’t really seem to get better.  But after reading the 5th book a day before this one, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised to find the writing not nearly so off putting.  I think the writing was better and yet I liked it less.  Go figure.  For me there were a few too many things going on in this one.  It was still a page turner, but I’m writing this two days later and I can barely remember it.  It was good, but not memorable.

Twelfth Card, by Jeffery Deaver

Finished 6-9-09, rating 3/5, mystery/ thriller, pub.2005

#6 Lincoln Rhymes series

“You like that actor broke his neck?” She slurped her coffee, added more sugar.  Slurped again.

“That’s right”

“An’ you can’t move nothin’?”

“Not much.”

“Damn”

“Keesh,” Geneva whispered. “Chill, girl.”

“Just, you know, damn.”

Chapter4

Paraplegic Lincoln Rhymes is back in his Upper West side townhouse with his usual cast of of friends.  This time he is called to investigate an attempted attack in Harlem on 16 year old Geneva Settle.  Geneva was researching her ancestor, Charles Singleton who had been a freed slave 140 years ago, when she had eluded an attack using her street smarts.  The attacker goes on to kill a bystander and a police officer at the scene, so it is all hands on deck to protect the girl and to find out what had made her a target.

Lincoln is also dealing with some personal insecurities.  After months of machines working his paralyzed body it is finally time to find out if it has made any difference and he is willing to use any excuse to put this off.  Sellitto has a close encounter with the killer and has become a bit gun-shy, a bad thing when you are chasing dangerous men and women everyday and a good way to get yourself killed.  Kara, the musician from the last book makes a  small appearance.

This was my least favorite of the series so far for a few reasons, but what it all comes back to is that is felt more like a politically correct history lesson than a thrilling mystery.  The slang used by Geneva and her best friend seemed stereotypical and tired.  The old mystery involving  the freed slave also working with the black activists of the time was not interesting enough to keep the story moving.  I’m no lawyer, but the end seemed very outlandish to me.

Deaver’s books are always well written, fast-paced, and full of many twists and turns.  This one was too, it just wasn’t quite up to the level of his others.  And it did seem very appropriate to be reading this while I was in New York!