Go Small or Go Home by Heather Wardell

Genre: Romance, Fiction
Publisher: Smashwords
Release Date: September 2010
Format: EBook

Tess is a massage therapist who dreams of becoming a successful artist. When she gets the assignment of treating a professional hockey star, suffering from stress, she never expects her artistic career to take off as well. However, Forrest’s mother happens to own an art gallery and he’s more than happy to recommend Tess, especially since she’s been so helpful to him.

Tess’ art begins to suffer under the extreme restrictions and deadlines she’s given. At the same time, Forrest seems to be the victim of someone out to sabotage his career. As Tess and Forrest’s careers seem to be spiraling downward, their relationship moves closer into something neither one expected.

This is the story of two people fighting outside forces, and sometimes themselves, as they try to grasp the dreams they seek. I absolutely loved Heather Wardell’s writing style. Her words flow so beautifully and her story has so many layers to it. It’s filled with emotion, romance and even a little mystery sprinkled throughout the story. It’s a fast-paced read that has you hooked from page 1.

Since I loved this one so much, it gets the first Socrates Great Book Alert Award for 2011!

It also gets a 5 kitty rating!

Take the Monkeys and Run (A Barbara Marr Murder Mystery) by Karen Cantwell

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: EBook
Release Date: October 2010

Suburban housewife Barbara Marr is not having a good day. In fact, it’s something straight out of the movies she so loves to watch. Her husband suddenly walks out on her and their three daughters, she’s turning 45 and now there are monkeys running wild around her backyard.

After hearing strange noises coming from the vacant house next to hers, Barbara does some snooping and finds a rotting dead head. She wonders just what is going on in the small town of Rustic Woods, Virginia. With the help of her friends, Barbara starts to do some investigating. She’s determined to get an explanation for the monkeys and the dead head, but when her neighbors decide not to talk, she knows something very big and very bad is going on in Rustic Woods. When she starts to receive death threats, Barbara fights back and refuses to back down until she gets some answers.

This is a rip-roaring, laugh out loud, cozy mystery. I couldn’t put my ereader down. The characters are off beat with a wide range of different personalities – loveable ones to not quite so loveable. From bumbling mobsters to a cop who bares a striking resemblance to Brad Pitt.

The story is fast-paced, fun and with quite a few twists all rolled into one cute adventure. There was one scene in the book that scared this animal lover, but I kept reading and I'm glad I did. I do hope there will be more Barbara Marr stories in the future. I already miss Barbara and her wacky friends and family.

A book that can bring so many hours of laughter into my life, definitely deserves a 5 kitty rating and the Socrates’ Great Book Alert Award.






For reading challenge...

What an animal

Last Exit in New Jersey by C.E. Grundler

Genre: Suspense, Thriller
Format: EBook
Publisher: Smashwords
Release Date: October 2010-12-05

Twenty year old Hazel Moran is on the run, but she’s not quite sure who she is on the run from or why. All she knows is that her best friend and cousin is missing and she and her father have received death threats. As her father desperately tries to protect his daughter, Hazel has a mind of her own and her first priority is to find her cousin.

She takes off on her own and meets up with some very unsavory characters including a young troubled man who falls in love with her. Unfortunately, Hazel’s not sure who she can trust and even the readers aren’t quite sure. One thing for certain, Hazel has to do whatever she can to save her family even if it means using the methods of her favorite detective featured in the books she loves so much.

This book kept me hooked from the start. The plot moved along at a steady pace and the characters were beautifully portrayed and came to life on each page. My head was spinning as I tried to figure out who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. This was no easy feat. More often than not, I turned out to be wrong. I love a book that gives me much to think about and keeps me on my toes.

There was a little mix of everything in this story from suspense, adventure, mystery, a dash of romance and a bit of black humor all tossed together to make one exciting book. C.E. Grundler is an author I’ll be looking for in the future. I’d love to read more from this author.



And...it gets Socrates' Great Book Alert Award





Last Exit in New Jersey on Smashwords

Under Witch Moon by Maria E. Schneider

Genre: Paranormal
Format: EBook
Publisher: Bear Mountain Books

Adriel is a witch providing different types of spells to anyone who needs them. She provides one of her clients with a spell to protect her from a werewolf, but what Adriel doesn’t know is her customer intends to use it to trap the werewolf. When the woman is found dead, the first person the authorities turn to is Adriel.

Adriel quickly learns that her customer isn’t the only woman to be killed. The local police detective, White Feather, insists upon questioning her. This isn’t a hardship since he’s quite a sexy man.

With the help of her teenage assistant, Lynx, they set off to find who is responsible for the murders and to clear any suspicion from Adriel.

This story has it all – witches, warlocks, shape shifters, werewolves and vampires. They are all mixed into one exciting story with some explosive scenes to captivate readers. This is the beginning of a new series “Moon Shadow Series” and it’s an excellent beginning. We meet all the characters and immediately fall in love with Adriel, White Feather and Linx – not to mention the rest of this crazy cast. It’s a fast-paced book you won’t want to put down.

I haven’t been into the paranormal genre has much has I used to be and this one has re-hooked me and now I want more! If a book can do that, it gets my Socrates Great Book Alert Award.







Under Witch Moon at Smashwords

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

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

Stones Skipping on Water by Richard Taylor

Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Reincarnation, Paranormal
Format: EBook

Wealthy entrepreneur John Kincaide develops a memory enhancement drug called ClearThought. One of his employee’s, Gordon Bischoff, takes a huge amount of the drug and claims he has been able to see the past lives he has led. When he sees John with his new girlfriend, Vanessa, he accuses John of murdering them in a previous life. Gordon is determined to not only get revenge for his death, but win back Vanessa’s heart.

John doesn’t believe any of this, but he realizes how dangerous Bischoff is and vows to protect Vanessa. He’s convinced Bischoff took an overdose of the drug and is now having a mental breakdown. Vanessa is not quite as sure as John. She begins to wonder if Bischoff could be telling the truth and wants to test the drug out for herself. John sees the danger in this, but can he stop her before it’s too late?

This is a story of reincarnation, paranormal, romance, mystery and suspense. As I read the book, I became totally caught up in the story. Sometimes a book comes along and sticks with you long after you’ve read the last page, this is that book for me. The suspense and mystery is woven throughout the entire storyline and keeps readers completely captivated until the shocking ending.

I’ve become a huge Richard Taylor fan. This is the second book I’ve read by him and, once again, I’m giving him 5 kitties and my Socrates Great Book Alert Award.






For reading challenges…

What’s in A Name? 3 Reading Challenge



Stones Skipping on Water at Smashwords

The 9th Judgment by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Genre: Suspense, Thriller

Two gruesome crimes occur on the very same day sending the San Francisco Police Department into a total frenzy. Led by Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, the police and the Women’s Murder Club try to track down these evil criminals.

First, famous actor Marcus Dowling’s wife walks in on a cat burglar attempting to run off with her expensive jewelry. Similar burglaries have been occurring all over town to all the rich citizens, but this time, the crime takes a horrible turn when Dowling’s wife is brutally murdered in their own home.

At the same time, a woman and her infant child are cruelly executed leaving behind no clues except for the letters WCF in blood red lipstick. When similar murders occur, the police know they have a serial killer on their hands. Dubbed “The Lipstick Killer”, Lindsay sets out to stop the murderer before he takes even one more life, but she risks her own life in the process. This time, it gets very personal.

Another thrilling and suspenseful installment to the Women’s Murder club series. I truly find these books to get better and better. It was one of those “edge-of-your-seat” type of books that you can’t put down. I know I just wanted to keep reading and reading. I can’t wait for the tenth book to be released, but that’s probably a year away.

I’m giving this one 5 kitties, along with my Socrates’ Great Book Alert Award.





For Reading Challenges:

Women’s Murder Club Reading Challenge
James Patterson Reading Challenge

*Side note: I had already completed the WMC Reading Challenge, but since this one was released after I made my list, I’m tossing it in too. Now, I’m all caught up on this series until the next one comes out.