Unbreakable Bond by Rita Herron

Genre: Romance, Mystery
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Release Date: July 2010-10-10

Eight years ago, Nina Nash found herself pregnant and everyone around her trying to convince her to get rid of the child. The father of the child and his family wanting nothing to do with her and her own father feared the child would destroy Nina’s life. However, Nina already loved her unborn child and wanted to keep her. The night she gave birth to her daughter, a fire broke out in the hospital. Her daughter was presumed dead, but Nina never accepted it. She had a strong feeling that her child was still alive and needed her. Nina could even hear her daughter singing, but nobody believed her. She was sent into psychiatric care, but she never gave up the search for her child.

The Guardian Angel Investigation team reluctantly take the case with Slade Blackburn heading the investigation. He’s convinced there is more here than meets the eye and Nina might not be as insane as everyone thinks. He vows not to stop searching until he can give Nina some kind of closure, whether it’s good news or bad.

Together Nina and Slade search for answers and slowly uncover secrets that were supposed to be left hidden. Things take a dangerous turn and Slade does all he can to protect Nina, a woman he has fallen in love with. He’ll protect her from anyone including her own father.

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in one day. I don’t know if anyone realizes just how good the Harlequin Intrigue line is. It’s almost like a cozy mystery series…some romance and much mystery all tossed together in one nice package. I’m usually a stickler to read series books in order and “Unbreakable Bond” is the third book of Ms. Herron’s Guardian Angel Investigation. It didn’t ruin things at all for me, especially since the other characters were all secondary in this story. This book was about Nina and Slade. Although I do plan to read the first two books as I really enjoyed this author’s writing style.



Since I was crying at the end of the book, as well as disappointed that it was over, I’m giving it one of my Socrates’ Great Book Alerts. You never know where or when you’ll find a “gem-to-you” book.



For reading challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Challenge

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult

Format: EBook

Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are back in the second book of the Twilight saga. Bella and Edward are in love, but Bella finds it very difficult to be in love with a vampire. To protect Bella from his family and himself, the Cullens leave town and Bella is devastated. She befriends Jacob Black and they form a relationship of their own. Little does Bella know that Jacob has some huge secrets of his own.

Although Bella enjoys Jacob’s company, she can’t help but miss Edward and she’d give anything to have him back in her life. Bella finds herself in the midst of one problem after another – from werewolves, to a vengeful vampire enemy, to a group of vampires ready to kill her. The only one who can help her is Edward, but can he even help himself?

This is an adventure and thrill on each page. I enjoyed it, but I can’t say that I’m caught up in the whole Twilight thing as so many others are. I’ll read the rest of the series, but there are other books I’d rather read first.

For Reading Challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge

TBR Lite Reading Challenge

Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge

Caught by Harlan Coben

Genre: Suspense
Format: EBook

Social Worker Dan Mercer is a friend to troubled teens. He’s there to help them through all the difficult times. Needless to say, the suburban New Jersey community he lives in is shocked to learn that he might be a pedophile and could be responsible for the disappearance of a popular teenage girl.

Reporter Wendy Tynes helps to catch and arrest Dan on her TV show “Caught in the Act”. Due to a technicality, the charges are dropped and Dan is a free man. However, he’s not really free as public opinion has already found him guilty of the crime. His former life no longer exists as he loses his job and standing in the community.

Strange things begin happening and Wendy begins to doubt her own intuition and actions. She fears she may have helped destroy an innocent man and conducts her own investigation. She never expected her own life and her teenage son to be in any danger, but that’s exactly what happens.

This is Harlan Coben as his best. It has been awhile since I’ve read one of his novels but he never fails to disappoint me. He takes the reader on a true rollercoaster ride. Readers never knew which way he’d turn next. There were unexpected twists and turns right up to the very last page. Another great book with characters I really cared about.

I’ve been on a roll lately…another 5 kitties and another for the Socrates Great Book Alert Award.





For reading challenge:

A to Z Reading Challenge

Red Mist by Richard Taylor

Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: Smashwords, Inc.
Release date: June 2010-08-01

United States Military Intelligence Agent David Dengler is given the plum training assignment of surveillance of the famous actress Marilyn Monroe. Dengler is thrilled with his luck until he realizes he stumbled onto the murder of the beautiful actress. He attempts to stop it, but instead puts his own life in danger. He has no choice but to go on the run and he’s not quite sure who he is running from – the CIA?, the FBI?, the President of the United States? He has no time to investigate if he intends to stay alive.

Before he can figure any of it out, he finds himself in the middle of an assassination plot against JFK. Can the two tragedies be connected? Dengler intends to find out and save JFK, but he also realizes that chances are very good he won’t live to see the next day.

Set in the turbulent 1960’s, this book is truly captivating. It’s a fictionalized story using two very real events and some very real historical people. Lee Harvey Oswald, Robert F. Kennedy, Jack Ruby, Marilyn Monroe and J. Edgar Hoover all make realistic appearances throughout the book.

Readers will feel everything David Dengler is going through and hope he’ll be able to save the day, although we all knew there was only one way this book could possibly end. This is a clever and creative take on events that most Americans will never forget. We don’t know what exactly went on behind the deaths of Monroe (was it suicide or not?) and JFK (conspiracy or one man acting alone?), but this fictional account gives us something to think about.

I absolutely could not put this book down and I was thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it – which says a lot for me. I’ve already started compiling a list of books by Richard Taylor which I plan to read. I can easily see Red Mist being made into a movie. Are you listening Hollywood?



I have to give this one my Socrates’ Great Book Alert Award as well.




For reading challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Challenge

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Smashwords

Step on a Crack by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

This is the first book of James Patterson’s new Michael Bennett series. Michael is a NYPD homicide detective.

In this one, Michael more than has his hands full. During a high profile funeral attended by many celebrities, the services are taken over by a group of vicious kidnappers looking to cash in on the success of their victims. They are demanding millions of dollars in ransom from each celebrity they are holding hostage. It’s up to Michael to try and stop the cruelty the kidnappers are inflicting on their captives.

While this is going on, Michael is dealing with his cancer stricken wife who is now confined to a hospital bed. The couple are the parents of ten adopted children, all from different ethnic backgrounds. Michael is on the verge of collapse trying to protect New York City as well as his own family’s problems.

Step on a Crack really tugs at the heartstrings. Readers can’t help but feel devastated for all Michael is going through, especially with his family situation. The story does get violent in parts and is cringe-worthy, but these are the James Patterson books that I tend to like the best. He’s so good at keeping readers at the edge-of-their-seat. One minute you are yelling at the evilness of the kidnappers and the next you are crying for Michael’s dying wife.

So far, there are three books in the series. I had to read the third book Worst Case first because of a review (I never read books out of order), but I do wish I had read Step on a Crack first as it gave me a chance to see how Michael’s personal life got to where it was in Worst Case. I’m looking forward to reading the second book, but I’m not sure yet when I’ll get to it. All in all, a great read. I should say a great “listen” as I heard this one on audio.



For reading challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge
James Patterson Reading Challenge
TBR Lite Reading Challenge

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

After the murder of her Aunt Helen, Kelly Flynn returns to Colorado to settle her aunt's estate. When she hears the details of the murder, she's convinced the police have the wrong man in custody. She's determined to find out what really happened to her aunt, even though the police are less than cooperative.

As Kelly proceeds with her investigation, she seeks the help of her aunt's friends from her knitting group. The women are more than happy to get to the bottom of their friend's gruesome death. They welcome Kelly into their group and insists she learn to knit. Kelly has no interest in knitting, but once she starts, she can't seem to stop.

Kelly and her new found friends begin to uncover shocking secrets from Helen's past and they unravel a scheme that sickens them all. They vow to see justice served.

This is the first book in Maggie Sefton's knitting mystery series. I don't know how to knit, but this book made me want to learn. LOL It features a cast of fun, quirky characters that readers will wish they could meet in real life. The knitting shop comes to life with the author's detailed description. The plot has so many twists and turns, it left me guessing until the last chapter.

I have the rest of the series in my TBR and I'll definitely be reading it. I loved this one so much that it gets a "Socrates Great Book Alert" award and 5 kitties!





For reading challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge
Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge
TBR Lite Reading Challenge

Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson & Ned Rust

Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

This is the synopsis from Amazon.com…

LIGHTS
All's quiet in the small town of Holliswood. Television sets, computers, and portable devices are aglow in every home, classroom, and store. Yet not all is perfect. Evil is lurking, just out of sight, behind the screen.

CAMERA
Residing in this sleepy town is a villain with more ambition than the world can withstand. Twisted beyond reason, he is dead set on throwing Holliswood into chaos and documenting the destruction of every person in it, including Daniel X.

EXTERMINATION
The only person who can stop this made-for-TV tyrant, Daniel must use his extraordinary power to save the town. But this devilish director has assembled an all-star team of his own creation and vows to stage the most spectacular finale the world has ever seen. Can Daniel X stop this deranged outlaw--or will he find himself on the cutting room floor?

My thoughts…

I loved the first book and I enjoyed this one very much. I listened to the audio version on the way to and from work. It made the trip fun – going to work is never fun. LOL My only complaint is the book ended too quickly. I wanted more.

It’s not a very serious series and not intense. I find it to be something quirky, quick and a nice diversion.




For reading challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge
The James Patterson Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge

Mr. and Miss Anonymous by Fern Michaels

Genre: Romance, Fiction

In order to earn money for college tuition, Peter Aaron Kelly donated his sperm to a sperm bank. Lily Madison, also desperate to earn money for her college tuition, donated her eggs to a fertility clinic. Not only would they earn the money they needed to further their education, but they were also promised that their donations would go to couples who could not have children of their own.

They meet by chance at the clinic and spend a few minutes talking about their similar situations, both Peter and Lily find the clinic odd but they had no proof. As it is, the decision to make their donations was difficult and they wanted to move on with their lives. They certainly did move on – Pete owned a successful software company while Lily was a successful clothing designer. All was well in their lives, but they still couldn’t get their college actions out of their minds. Neither one every got involved in their own romance.

Nineteen years later, Peter and Lily accidentally run into each other at an airport. They find their original attraction towards each other was still there. Suddenly a news report flashes on the airport television. A private school has been the victim of a mass shooting and the teenager accused of the murders bares a striking resemblance to Pete. When he learns the boy is an orphan, Pete and Lily are confused. Their donations were supposed to go to childless couples.

Their initial suspicions against the clinic resurface. Pete and Lily race against the clock to learn what happened at that clinic and, more importantly, what happened to their donations. Could the accused teenager really be Pete’s biological son?

This book has a little bit of everything – romance, mystery and suspense. The story is an interesting premise. I admit, I wasn’t sure I could get into it since Pete and Lily acted as if they were forced at gunpoint to donate their sperm and eggs. They weren’t. It was a choice they made to earn their college tuition. Sure, helping childless couples is noble, but if they didn’t need the money, they wouldn’t have done it. So, their agonizing at the beginning of the book was annoying to me.

Then, there was the fact that neither Pete or Lily ever had a romantic relationship and they blamed it on the clinic. Again, they made their choice and they weren’t forced. Of course both worked hard and eventually became wealthy. They didn’t ring true for me either. Even their “chance” meetings didn’t work…they knew each other for a total of 5 minutes and were instantly in love? I guess it could happen, but it was hard for me to buy.

So, the first half of the book had me debating whether or not I should continue. Then, somewhere through the middle, I became interested in the plot going on with the clinic and Pete and Lily stopped blaming everyone for their choices.

I ended up liking the characters (which I didn’t think I would) and finding the story intriguing. I’ve always been a fan of Fern Michaels, so I was initially disappointed in this, but she turned it around and left me happy I continued reading this one.



For reading challenges...

A to Z Reading Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge

A-Rod by Selena Roberts

Genre: Non-Fiction

This is a synopsis from Barnes & Noble...

Synopsis

Alex Rodriguez is the highest-paid player in the history of baseball, a once-in-a-generation talent poised to break many of the sport's most hallowed records. In 2007 he became the youngest player, at 32, ever to hit 500 home runs, solidifying his status as the greatest player in the modern game, and months later he signed a contract that would keep him with the Yankees through the end of his career.

His reputation changed drastically in February 2009 when Selena Roberts broke the news in Sports Illustrated that A-Rod had used performance-enhancing drugs during his 2003 MVP season with the Texas Rangers. Her report prompted a contrite Rodriguez to admit illegal drug use during his 2001–2003 seasons with the Rangers, who had signed him to the most expensive contract in Major League Baseball history.

Although he admitted to three seasons of steroid use, the man teammates call "A-Fraud" was still hiding the truth. In the first definitive biography of Alex Rodriguez, Roberts assembles the strands of a bizarre and extraordinary life: from his boyhood in New York and the Dominican Republic through his near-mythic high school career and fast track to the big leagues, the whole of A-Rod's career mirrors the rise and fall of the steroid generation.

Roberts goes beyond the sensational headlines, probing A-Rod's childhood to reveal a man torn by obligation to his family and the pull of his insatiable hedonism, a conflict—epitomized by his relationship with Madonna and devotion to Kabbalah—that led to the end of his six-year marriage. Roberts sheds new light on A-Rod's abuse of performance-enhancing drugs, a practice he appears to have begun asearly as high school and that extended into his Yankee years. She chronicles his secretive real estate deals, gets inside the negotiations for his latest record-breaking contract with the Yankees, and examines the insecurities that compel him to seek support from a motivational guru before every game.

In A-Rod, Roberts captures baseball's greatest player as a tragic figure in pinstripes: the man once considered the clean exception of the steroid generation revealed as an unmistakable product of its greed and dissolution.

My thoughts....

It's an interesting book, but I always have a problem with "tell all" books as I'm never sure how much true information the author really has. It's a well written and fast-paced book and I wouldn't be surprised if the things in the book are true, but I also wouldn't be surprised if they weren't. I guess my belief with "tell all" books are that the truth is somewhere in the middle.

I'm going to give this one a rating of three little kitty cats :)



For reading challenge:

A to Z Reading challenge