Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton

From Amazon:

Private investigator Rick Carson has been hired to find out who murdered Georgia Sen. Dan Price and finds himself falling for Price's trophy widow, Jordan, even though she's his prime suspect. Gorgeous, steely Jordan stands to inherit a substantial estate and has a history of losing husbands and boyfriends to questionable fatalities, and Price was killed with Jordan's gun. But a sizable cast of quirky hangers-on who rely upon Jordan for room and board complicate matters: any one of them could be responsible for not just the senator's death but also the string of corpses that litter Jordan's past. The more Rick investigates, the more certain he is that the woman he's in love with could be a coldhearted killer. His two minds drive some refreshing twists that leave readers guessing to the end and making the latest from suspense artist Barton a satisfying read.

Wow - I must say this book was excellent. I can see where it may figure in to an earlier series, but I read it as a standalone and no real clues were given away to what took place in the earlier books (besides the one married couple). I really liked Rick and Jordan as characters and at times it could be frustrating watching them fight their feelings, but you understood they had good reasons. The suspense was built really well. I went back and forth on who I suspected and really didn't get it right at the end. Ms. Barton was great at throwing the suspicion on every one that made sense in the story and keeping you guessing. I honestly had a hard time putting this one down (but work, cooking and the kids kind of demanded some of my attention). This wasn't my first by Ms. Barton and it definitely won't be my last. I enjoy her romantic suspense immensely. She has a good balance of romance with the suspense.


On Sale Date: September 1, 2008
Date Started: 03-23-09
Date Finished: 03-25-09
From: My TBR
Publisher: Mira
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Rick Carson, Jordan Price
# in Series: 5 (if you count it as part of Griffen Powell series - but I believe it's more standalone, just has Griffen as a character)
Previous books in series: Killing Her Softly, Close Enough to Kill, The Dying Game, The Murder Game (I have not read any of these)
Pages: 403

14 by J.T. Ellison

From Amazon:

Ten victims, each with pale skin and long dark hair. All have been slashed across the throat, the same red lipstick smeared across their lips.

In the mid-1980s the Snow White Killer terrorized the streets of Nashville, Tennessee. Then suddenly the murders stopped. A letter from the killer to the police stated that his work was done.

Now four more bodies are found, marked with his fatal signature. The residents of Nashville fear a madman has returned, decades later, to finish his sick fairy tale. Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson believes the killings are the work of a copycat killer who's even more terrifying. For this monster is meticulously honing his craft as he mimics famous serial murders…proving that the past is not to be forgotten.

I've come to realize that I'm not that great at summarizing books so from now on I'll rely on amazon or another site's description. On to the review:

I remember enjoying All the Pretty Girls - the first in the Taylor Jackson series, but it's been awhile. However it will not be awhile before I read Judas Kiss, the third in the series. 14 was just that good. Taylor is now engaged and dealing with her wedding coming up but also with this Snow White Killer case. More insight is given into her fiancee, her father and her co-workers. I really enjoyed her co-workers, their banter and how well they worked together. Romance figures into this but I would say it is suspense first and foremost since the couple is already involved. Taylor continues to grow as a person and as a detective and I look forward to seeing how well she does in Judas Kiss. If you enjoy suspense and continuing series, I fully recommend getting started with this series. You won't regret it.

On Sale Date: September 1, 2008
Date Started: 03-20-09
Date Finished: 03-22-09
From: My TBR
Publisher: Mira
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Genre: Suspense/Romantic Suspense
Series: Taylor Jackson
# in Series: 2
Previous books in series: All the Pretty Girls
Pages: 418

First Quarter Wrap-Up

Since I just recently restarted my blog I thought I would post a wrap-up of the first three months of the year with my reading. From now on I will do it monthly.

So here it is:

January 2009:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (audiobook - library) (1st-time author for me)
2. Cross Country by James Patterson (library)
3. Sweet Revenge by Fern Michaels (library)
4. Copycat by Erica Spindler (library)
5. The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King (audiobook - library)
6. Hunting the Demon by Jaci Burton (booksfree)
7. The Justice by Angela Elwell Hunt (library) (1st-time author for me)
8. The 7th Victim by Alan Jacobson (library) (1st-time author for me)
9. Perfect Target by Stephanie Newton (tbr) (1st-time author for me)
10. Sewing Basics by Wendy Gardiner (nonfiction - library) (1st-time author for me)
11. Fertile Ground by Ben Mezrich (library) (1st-time author for me)
12. Crazy School by Cornelia Read (audiobook - library) (1st-time author for me)
13. A Hero of Her Own by Carla Cassidy (tbr)

February 2009:

1. The Associate by John Grisham (library)
2. High Five by Janet Evanovich (library)
3. Scream for Me by Karen Rose (library)
4. Under the Rose by Diana Peterfreund (booksfree)
5. Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury (audiobook - library) (1st-time author for me)

March 2009:

1. Lifelines by C.J. Lyons (tbr) (1st-time author for me)
2. Run for Your Life by James Patterson (library) (1st-time author for me)
3. Rites of Spring Break by Diana Peterfreund (booksfree)
4. Hot Six by Janet Evanovich (audiobook - library)
5. Thigh High by Christina Dodd (booksfree)
6. Triple Cross by Mark T. Sullivan (Library Thing Early Reviewer book) (1st-time author for me) - review
7. See No Evil by Allison Brennan (tbr) - review
8. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (booksfree) - review
9. Against Medical Advice by James Patterson and Hal Friedman (audiobook-library) - review
10. Marked by P.C. Cast (booksfree) - review
11. 14 by J.T. Ellison (tbr)
12. Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton (tbr)
13. The Sorority: Eve by Tamara Thorne (booksfree)
14. What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes (booksfree)
15. Good Neighbor by Sharon Mignerey
16. (should finish today) Who by Fire by Diana Spechler (booksfree)

So that's 13 books for January, 5 for February and should be 16 for March. It's been a pretty good reading year so far.

I have also read 6/36 books so far in my Spring Reading Challenge.

Teaser Tuesday - March 31

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
• Please avoid spoilers!

My teaser:

I remember the search party the day Alena disappeared, way before Ash told us about the brown car. A whole town of people, a long, unbroken chain, walking slowly, eyes on the ground.

From Who by Fire by Diana Spechler which I should finish later today.

Mailbox Monday - March 30

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Here are the books I have received this week:

From the Library:


From PBS:


Pretty good week - I'm expecting some more from PBS this week. And I'm looking forward to diving into the new books!

What Are You Reading - March 30

Come post weekly and see what others are reading too just so you can add to your tbr - I always do! For more information see J.Kaye's Book Blog and join in!

Books Completed Last Week:

Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton - Romantic Suspense - 4.5/5 - great book, review to come
The Sorority - Eve by Tamara Thorne - Horror - 3/5 - slightly cheesy but still a fun and engrossing read, review to come
What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes - Mystery - 4/5 - good read - I loved her series with Janet Evanovich and this is my first reading of her alone. The book moves quickly, had several LOL moments and a cute, fun storyline. Can't wait to read Nutcase.


Reading Now:
Who by Fire by Diana Spechler - Fiction - Wow - this is really good
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult - Fiction - audiobook - I am loving this
The Good Neighbor by Sharon Mignerey - Romantic Suspense
Fault Line by Barry Eisler - Suspense (Library Thing Early Reviewer)

Next:
At the Edge by Cait London - Romantic Suspense
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb - Fiction
The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller - Suspense
Seven up by Janet Evanovich - Mystery

Busy weekend, so not as much reading. I should finish up Who By Fire today and move on. I have enjoyed all the books I have read lately and look forward to a bunch of good ones coming up too! More reviews will come this week as I get the time.

Against Medical Advice by James Patterson and Hal Friedman

A nonfiction work about what it was like growing up with Tourette's Syndrome. The book was co-written by James Patterson and Hal Friedman. Hal is the father of Cory who the book is about. This book chronicles Cory's journey of 13 years from being diagnosed at 5 years old to high school. It goes through his treatments and he he felt and how he and his family dealt with all the changes he was going through.

While very sad at times, this book was very uplifting too. Cory has gone through just about everything, but you feel his strength and it reminds you that there are very strong people out there. It also reminds you to be kind to all, that you just don't know what they are going through.

I'm not a big reader of non-fiction, but I checked this out on audio from my local library. I'm not sorry at all that I did. It's a wonderful book, it held my interest and I kept wanting to learn more about Cory. Some moments I was in tears (I am a mother to two boys), and other moments I was laughing. Cory's story will stay in my mind for quite awhile to come.

On Sale Date: October 1, 2008
Date Started: 03-13-09
Date Finished: 03-20-09
From: Library/Audiobook
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Genre: Non-fiction
Pages: 304

Friday Finds - March 27

Friday Finds is hosted over on Should Be Reading. It's all about what great books you have heard about/discovered in the past week. Here is my entry, and head over to the Should Be Reading Blog to read others and find books to add to your TBR pile!

Most of these come from other blogs that I have seen over the week. But they are all books I want to pick up. Click on pics for more information.

Lisa Jackson Read-A-Fest

J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog has announced the Lisa Jackson Read-A-Fest for April 1-June 30. The main idea is:

Beginning April 1st thru June 30th, J. Kaye’s Book Blog will host a Lisa Jackson Read-a-Fest. The idea is to read as many Lisa Jackson books in the months of April, May, and June. It could be as little as one book or as many as you’d like. This is not a reading challenge, but will work well with many of the challenges in place, such as Serial Readers Challenge 2009, 1st in a Series, 2nd in a Series and Series Challenge Season 3.

This sounds like fun and since I love Lisa Jackson but need to get caught up (ahem, started) on her New Orleans series to be ready to read Malice. So my hopeful reading list is:

New Orleans series

• Hot Blooded (2001)
• Cold Blooded (2002)
• Shiver (2006)
• Absolute Fear (2007)
• Almost Dead (2007)
• Lost Souls (2008)

I'll add these into my Spring Reading Challenge as I finish them also. I'm really looking forward to being a part of this - it should be fun. Reading great books plus there are several giveaways for participants. Too check out all the details for yourself - see the links above.

Marked: House of Night Book 1 by P.C. and Kristin Cast

I am an admitted fan of the Twilight series. After reading the Booking Through Thursday responses today I was reminded that even though the Twilight series is a huge seller, it is not reviewed positively by everyone. Bringing me back again to my previous post where I read for me. I do read reviews and if someone is really praising something and it sounds good to me I will want to read it. If someone hates it and it still sounds good to me I will read it. If someone praises it but it doesn't sound good to me I won't read it. I read for entertainment. I do like to think also so sometimes I read for entertainment and to think about an issue (Jodi Picoult's books are and example of this for me), but most of the time I just read for entertainment.

So being a fan of the Twilight series and having read all of them, I decided to see what else was out there. The YA genre seems interesting to me at the moment along with the paranormal so that brought me to trying the House of Night series by P.C. And Kristen Cast. I actually saw these in a B&N a few weeks ago and hadn't heard of them. Then I join the blogging world again and learn more about them. So the first book, Marked, made it onto my Booksfree Queue and made it's way to me.

An interesting take on vampires, not totally new, but not totally and completely done too much either. We find Zoey Redbird leading a fairly ordinary teenage girl life in the beginning of the book. She has friends, a not-so-ex-boyfriend and parent troubles. Then her life is turned upside down when she is "marked" and thus must attend a special school for vampyre fledglings. I found the vampyres-living among us as a known entity interesting as well as the school.

So fast-forward ahead and she's at the school, but not until she has more problems with her parents. Being Christian I actually thought I would have problems with the divide created between organized religion and the vampyres as evidenced by Zoey's mom and stepdad. But I really didn't. The world is honestly full of hypocrites and while I didn't smile at the way her parents were portrayed, it is actually accurate of a lot of religious people (note I said religious which is not always the same as Christian - though I am not one to judge on that either) - scared of what you do not know. So while there are pagan rituals and the like in the book, I saw them as a side theme - something that developed the story and the school better. I don't have to participate in the ritual to read the book. Nor do I have to be a vampyre :)

Once that was realized I relaxed and really enjoyed the book. A great coming of age story. Zoey is a likable character and I look forward to watching her grow more through the books. She's not perfect but she tries to think about all her decisions and make the best ones for her and for those around her. Something that not many people do anymore.

So after all of that - I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA paranormal. It's just a good fiction read. The Cast's have created an interesting world with likeable and not-so-likeable people. It let me escape a few hours and the characters have stayed with me after I finished reading it. So to me that was a worthwhile book and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

On Sale Date: May 2007
Date Started: 03-19-09
Date Finished: 03-20-09
From: Booksfree
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Setting: Oklahoma
Character: Zoey Redbird
Pages: 304

Booking Through Thursday

Suggested by Janet:

The opposite of last week’s question: “What’s the best ‘worst’ book you’ve ever read — the one you like despite some negative reviews or features?”

I don't know if I can think of any one book, but I can think of one author. I remember being a teenager and Danielle Steel was all the rage (this was the late 80s/early90s) and I started reading her. I stopped reading for a little while (college got in the way) and then came back and started reading her and many many others. Eventually looking around the internet I found that most people (at least the people that talked about it) did not like Danielle Steel. At first I was horrified - there must be something wrong with me and then I remembered we are all different. What I like someone else may not and I may not like what they like. So I continue to read Danielle Steel. No I don't think some of the newer stuff is the caliber of her older stuff, but it continues to entertain me. And that is often all I ask from a book - just let me live someone else's life for a little while whether that life is good or bad. I know some find her formulaic but I often wonder how the heck authors can come up with new ideas, but they keep doing it and if her novels do follow a pretty standard formula that is okay with me. Again I just want to relax and read.

I also have to say that I read Lightning about 3 months before my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and reading that gave me some idea of what my mom was going to go through and then what she actually went through so there was definitely benefit in that book. Did it mirror my mom's experience - no way, but it did give a very scared 22 year old daughter something to hold on to. (and my mom is now a 13-year cancer survivor)

So join in on Booking Through Thursday today - I'm interested in reading everyone's best "worst" book - I'm always open for a new book to read :) And if anyone feels like admitting at least a little like for Danielle Steel I would like to hear it too (or you can even tell me you think I'm the most insane person you have ever met) :)

Waiting On Wednesday

Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts "Waiting On" Wednesday where everyone posts what new not-yet-published books we are anxiously awaiting. I'm new to this one also but I am looking forward to being a part of it and seeing all the wonderful new releases out there (and hoping my library will get the online card catalog back up so I can reserve books again).

My Entry for this week is:
The newest Sean King/Michelle Maxwell thriller is coming out on April 21, 2009. I love this series, love the characters and Baldacci always thrills with his books.

Here's the summary:

Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, back from their harrowing and near-fatal adventure in the blockbuster #1 bestseller Simple Genius, return in a mesmerizing new thriller. A daring kidnapping turns a children's birthday party at Camp David into a national security nightmare, but the hostage is not who anyone would expect. The First Lady enlists the services of King and Maxwell to bring the child back safely. Years ago, King saved her then-senator husband from an assassin's bullet; whether they shared anything else is their secret. With Michelle still recovering from her own demons the pair are pushed to the limit, with forces aligned on all sides against them, and the line between friend and foe impossible to define...or defend.

So what are you waiting on this week?

What's On Your Nightstand - March

5minutesforbooks hosts "What's On Your Nightstand?" every month on the fourth Tuesday. For more information click on the graphic above. This is my first post for this and I'm looking forward to doing this every month!

So for the month of March so far I have read:

1. Lifelines by C.J. Lyons - Romantic suspense in a medical setting. Loved this and loved getting to know the four main women. I'm looking forward to reading Warning Signs the second in the series very soon. Got this from PBS last year and just finally decided to read it.
   
2. Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge - what can I say it's another James Patterson book - for some reason I read them all - they are quick reads and definitely hook me. This was another good one to me. From the library before the computer system died and now I can't reserve books from home waaaaaa.....
   
3. Rites of Spring (Break) by Diana Peterfreund - the third in the Secret Society Girl series and this was a good one. I enjoyed it a lot. Liked the suspense, the usual humor and the romance outcome. Can't wait to read the final one in the series out later this spring. From Booksfree since I started my membership again.
   
4. Hot Six by Janet Evanovich - what can you say about these - they are laugh out loud funny. Poor Stephanie with all that happens to her, but she keeps on going. Love her and I love her friends and I love the men too. I still can't decide if I'm a Morelli or a Ranger girl but I'll try and make up my mind soon. Audiobook from the library - just continuing along with the series.
   
5. Thigh High by Christina Dodd - third installment in the Fortune Hunters series, a fun romantic suspense that takes place in New Orleans. Great characters and several LOL moments. Another one from booksfree.
   
6. Triple Cross by Mark T. Sullivan - wow what a book - could hardly put it down! Review can be found here. I received this from Library Thing Early Reviewers. I read the back and started it the very next day because I just had to - the back copy interested me so much!
7. See No Evil by Allison Brennan - review found here. I got this when it came out two years ago. Read the first in the series and then never started this one. Decided I wanted to get back to the series and I'm glad I did.
8. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr - review here. Great Young Adult book got it on booksfree after reading about it on another blog.
9. Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast. Wow wow wow! Review will be forthcoming. Another book I heard about while cruising blogs.
10. 14 by J.T. Ellison - 2nd in Taylor Jackson series, great suspense book. Review will be coming shortly. This was mine - it's been on my tbr since it came out and the new one in the series is out so I decided it was time to read.
11. Against Medical Advice by James Patterson and Hal Friedman - Non-fiction - review soon. Great audiobook of the struggles of a boy with Tourrette's syndrome.

Currently Reading:

• Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult - audiobook - it's her new one and I love her books - love the way they make me think about and issue and see it from all sides - no agenda in her books at least to me.
• Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton - romantic suspense - this has grabbed me from page 1!

Next Up:

• Seven Up by Janet Evanovich (library)
  
• The Apprentice by Tess Gerrittsen (library)
  
• Fear No Evil by Allison Brennan (my tbr)
  
• What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes (booksfree)
• The Sorority: Eve by Tamara Thorne (booksfree)
• At the Edge by Cait London (booksfree)
• Who By Fire by Diana Spechler (booksfree)
• What Matters Most by Stef Ann Holm (my tbr)
  
• That's Amore by Wendy Markham (my tbr)

That's it for this go round - I hope to read more in the next month and be better about posting reviews!

Tuesday Teaser - March 24th

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
• Please avoid spoilers!

My teaser:

"Ignore them," Rene told her. "D*** bunch of busybodies!"
"I suppose I should have expected it," Jordan said. "I've been trying to ignore them but I don't think that's possible."

From Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton

Great book so far - I started it yesterday and it has already sucked me in.

Story of a Girl by Sarah Zarr

I read about this book on a blog and I'm sorry to say I can't remember which one. I wish I could because I would go and thank the person who did the review because it made me want to read this book and I'm glad I did.

The book's central question seems to be - can you change your life even though you have made mistakes in the past. As adults we know we can though it can be difficult. As a teenager, Deanna Lambert is struggling with this question. After being caught in an indescetion as a 13-year-old with her brother's best friend by her father, Deanna has had to live with being "that" girl. She's now in high school and even though she is not like "that" anymore, she still lives with it daily. As summer comes she starts to explore more of who she is and how what she has done affects everyone. There is her family - her brother who is her best friend, his girlfriend and their baby daughter. She longs to be a family with them. There is her mother who tries hard to keep the peace in the family but works so much she's hardly there and there is her father who has not really looked at Deanna since that fateful night. Deanna also has two good friends. As the summer progresses Deanna learns a lot of things - about her family, her friends and especially herself. It's a wonderful and quick story to read and I highly recommend it to all - from teenagers to adults.


Author's website

On Sale Date: February 1, 2008
Date Started: 03-19-09
Date Finished: 03-19-09
From: Booksfree
Publisher: Little Brown Young Readers
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Genre: Young Adult
Setting: small town outside San Francisco, CA
Characters: Deanna Lambert, Darren Lambert
Pages: 192

Other Reviews:

Natasha @ Mawbooks

What Are You Reading?

It's my first What are you reading on Mondays? post and I'm looking forward to joining in weekly. For more information see J.Kaye's Book Blog and join in!

Books Completed Last Week:

Thigh High by Christina Dodd - Romantic Suspense - 3rd in the Fortune Hunter series - fun book, amazing and charming characters set against the backdrop of New Orleans. Good suspense, pretty good romance, just a fun book. Looking forward to reading Danger in a Red Dress to finish off the series.
Triple Cross by Mark T. Sullivan - Suspense/Thriller - Library Thing Early Reviewers book - great book - review is a little further down in my blog
See No Evil by Allison Brennan - Romantic Suspense - 2nd in the "Evil" series - great book - reviewed in my blog
Story of A Girl by Sara Zarr - Young Adult - great book - will be reviewed in future blog post
Marked by P.C. and Kristen Cast - Young Adult Paranormal - another great one - can't wait to read the second book in the series - book review coming soon.
14 by J.T. Ellison - Romantic Suspense - 2nd in the Taylor Jackson series and I can't wait to read the 3rd - Judas Kiss. Review coming soon
Against Medical Advice by James Patterson and Hal Friedman - non-fiction - audiobook. Wonderful read.

Reading Now:

Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton - Romantic Suspense
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult - Fiction - audiobook
What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes - Mystery

Next:

All That Matters by Stef Ann Holm - Romance
At the Edge by Cait London - Romantic Suspense
Who by Fire by Diana Spechler - Fiction
Seven up by Janet Evanovich - Mystery

I've been in a major reading mood lately - we'll see how much more I get read this week. It's looking to be a busy weekend so I'm not sure I'll get as much read this week as I did last week. Have a great week everyone!

Spring Reading Thing 2009 Challenge

I'm joining in on my first official reading challenge:



This challenge is hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days

For this challenge you put together a list of books you want to read between March 20 and June 20 and then simply read them. There are giveaways and prizes throughout the challenge at Callapidder Days.

So I'm thinking in 3 months I'll read 35 books - this is moving into my "I like to lay out in the sun while the boys play in the yard and read" time of year - or it would be if it would hurry up and warm up :) so I think I can accomplish that. Here are the books that I am planning to read:

1. Marked by P.C. Cast - finished
2. 14 by J.T. Ellison - finished
3. Cold Hearted by Beverly Barton - finished
4. The Sorority: Eve by Tamara Thorne - finished
5. What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes - finished
6. Good Neighbor by Sharon Mignerey - finished
7. Who By Fire by Diana Spechler - finished
   
8. The Tenth Case - Joseph Teller - finished
9. The Sorority: Merilynn by Tamara Thorne - finished
10. The Sorority: Samantha by Tamara Thorne - finished
11. Isolation by Travis Thrasher - finished
12. Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult - finished
13. Threshold by Bonnie Kozek - finished
14. Betrayed by P.C. Cast - finished
15. There Goes the Bride by Lori Wilde - finished
    
16. Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Ziegesar - finished
17. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart - finished
18. Chosen by P.C. Cast -finished
19. Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood - finished
    
20. Mending Places by Denise Hunter - finished
21. You Know You Love Me by Cecily Von Ziegesar - finished
22. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris - finished
23. Wind Dancer by Jamie Carie
24. Untamed by P.C. Cast - finished
25. Deadfall by Robert Liparulo - finished
26. The Scarlet Letterman by Cara Lockwood - finished
    
27. Amorous Liasons by Sarah Mayberry - finished
28. Ghostwriter by Travis Thrasher - finished
29. The Devil's Footprints by Amanda Stevens - finished
30. Gun Lake by Travis Thrasher - finished
31. Flawless by Joshua Spanogle - finished
32. All I Want is Everything by Cecily Von Ziegesar - finished
33. Because I'm Worth It by Cecily Von Ziegesar - finished
34. Trial by Fire by Jo Davis - finished
35. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr - finished
36. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline - finished
37. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow - finished
38. Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz - finished
39. Under His Skin by Susan Mallery - finished
40. Montana Sky by Nora Roberts - finished
41. A Little Light Magic by Joy Nash - finished
42. The 8th Confession by James Patterson - finished
43. Missing Pieces by Joy Fielding - finished
44. A Morning Like This by Deborah Bedford - finished
45. I Like It Like That by Cecily Von Ziegesar - finished
46. Flirting With Temptation by Kelley St. John - finished
47. The Actor and The Housewife by Shannon Hale - finished
48. You're The One I Want by Cecily Von Ziegesar - finished
49. Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Lori Wilde -finished
50. Fragment by Warren Fahy - finished
51. The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas - finished
52. The Texas Billionaire's Bride by Crystal Green - finished
53. The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner - finished
54. Avalon High by Meg Cabot - finished
55. Ms. Taken Identity by Dan Begley - finished
56. Wake by Lisa McMann - finished

So there it is - in black and white. Some others may be added if my reading allows. This doesn't have any new releases that I'm used to getting because my library's computer system is down and I can't request from home. If they get that up, some things may be moved around a bit. I'll try not to take away because I want to do this right, but hopefully can add. I'm a bit behind on my reading this year due to a reading slump but this would help me out a bunch!

See No Evil by Allison Brennan

I picked this one up as it was requested at PBS. Usually if I have it listed, I have decided I probably won't read it, but for some reason this one was calling to me. I had read her first series and the first one in this series back when it came out, but for some reason could not get into this one. That was not a problem this time and as soon as I get a couple more books read I'm moving on to Fear No Evil and then I plan to start last year's trilogy.

This installment in the "Evil" trilogy (Speak No Evil, See No Evil, Fear No Evil) centers around Julia Chandler an assistant district attorney and Conner Kincaid, brother to Carina Kincaid and former police officer. Julia and Chandler have a history and it's not a happy one since it centers on the time when he resigned from the police force. But Julia's niece, Emily, is in trouble and Conner has helped out before as a private eye to help find Emily and Julia needs him now since Emily's stepfather has been murdered and Emily looks like the prime suspect.

Julia, Conner and Conner's brother Dillon work together to sort out some strange happenings in their area and track down the killers to help prove Emily's innocence. On the way to that end, Julia and Conner have to work through their feelings from the past and the feelings that they are currently feeling.

Loaded with suspense with a side of romance, plus characters you really like, See No Evil is a great read from start to finish. EAch time I set this book down, I couldn't wait until I could pick it up next and see what Julia and Conner would do. The mystery is intricately woven and very enjoyable to try and figure out. The crimes and the subject matter are dark and handled very realistically but you don't feel bogged down by the whole plot. These characters will stay with you for awhile as well as the circumstances in which the crimes were committed. Ms. Brennan has another winner on her hands and I'm only sorry I didn't read this earlier!

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Author's website

On Sale Date: February 27, 2007
Date Started: 03-17-09
Date Finished: 03-19-09
From: My bookshelf
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Setting: San Diego, CA
Characters: Julia Chandler, Conner Kincaid, Dillon Kincaid
Pages: 413

Triple Cross by Mark Sullivan

I received this book through Library Thing's Early Reviewers Group and one look and I had to read it. I've been in a bit of a reading slump and this book has definitely ended that.

Mickey Hennessey is the head of security for the exclusive Jefferson Club in rural Montana. A ski-playground and exclusive resort for the rich is hosting a New Year's Eve party that a who's who of the wealthiest men of the world. All is going wonderful until the party is interrupted by a group of men and women bent on punishing the world's wealthiest. From the storming of the club to the trials the group puts on you will be enthralled. Add in Mickey who escapes the club and his teenager triplets who are trapped in the club and you won't be able to put this book down!

A fast-paced thrill ride. This book captured me from the description on the back of the book and held me through the end. Likable but not-perfect characters and well-paced suspense and action. The one thing I really liked about this book was I never really had to suspend belief to read this - sometimes during books you think that this could never happen that way and granted it's fiction - that means it's not real, but this book never made me feel like this. I was enthralled and enjoyed every second.

My first read from this author and it won't be my last.

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Author's website

On Sale Date: April 14, 2009
Date Started: 03-15-09
Date Finished: 03-17-09
From: Early Reviewers Group - Library Thing
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Genre: Suspese/Thriller
Setting: Jefferson Club - Rural Montana
Characters: Mickey, Bridger, Conner and Hailey Hennessey, Cheyenne O'Neil
Pages: 390