Review "Resurrecting Anthony" by Linda and Tony Cole

RESURRECTING ANTHONY by Linda Cole and Tony Cole
Published by Alexandra Publishing, LLC
ISBN 978-0-9843226-0-2
At the request of Meryl L. Moss Media, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book): Tony and Linda Cole were living the American Dream-a successful national training and consulting company, a nice home, a close-knit circle of friends and a loving family.
  Then came the call every parent dreads.
  Their twelve-year-old son Anthony had collapsed on the school playground. In the ensuing panic-stricken moments Anthony lay motionless, unconscious, not breathing. These critical minutes without oxygen left his brain damaged. In one heartbreaking afternoon their idyllic world was shattered and the son that Tony and Linda Cole knew was gone.
  Resurrecting Anthony is the true, inspiring story of an unexpected tragedy that steals a child from his family and initially leaves them full of grief and sorrow. It reveals the Cole family's incredible devotion and determination-despite the medical evidence and advice of health professionals-to return Anthony to his previous self.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: If you have followed my blog for a while you will know that this is not the typical book that I either read or review. However, when Tricia contacted me and I read the synopsis, I thought it would be an interesting read on so many levels and I accepted. And I'm glad I did for many reasons. This book should be on everyone's tbr list, for if and when you or someone you know, has to face a challenge . Hopefully, not something like the Cole's had to endure but any of life's trials. This book shows the resolve and personal strength that these parents exhibited in a time of a crisis and the honest emotions that they went through. It taught me, how not to take each and every minute for granted because, life as we know it, can change drastically in the next minute. This thought provoking and heart wrenching story was told through the father's perspective, which at first took me by surprise but after thinking about it, how often do we get to understand a male's emotions through a traumatic experience. The courage, love, perseverance and hope that these parents reveal is extraordinary. The ending, as a mother, could I let go of the past and accept the future? The ending is the beginning!!!

Addendum:  I am currently hosting a giveaway for this book, please check sidebar to enter!!

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Guest Author and Review Vincent Zandri

I was thinking, now that I have a full year of blogging and reviewing under my belt, how do I want to start off my 2nd year.  If you have followed my blog, you know I have been a big James Patterson fan, even to the point of saying he was my overall # 1 male author.  However, in 2010, I was introduced to a new author, read 3 of his books and have to tell you that he picked up speed and sprinted to the finish line.  On Thursday, I announced that I had found a new # 1 male author.   The timing couldn't have been better !!  I just finished reading his 4th novel and planned on it being my first review of 2011.  What a way to start the New Year?  Right?  But then I had an idea!!  How perfect would it be, not only to have my first review be of one of his books, but if he would be the first author that I hosted for a visit in 2011!!!!  An invitation went out and he graciously accepted.  So please help me welcome my Number 1 (and hopefully you will also become a fan) author, Vincent Zandri.

About VINCENT ZANDRI

    Vincent Zandri is an award-winning, bestselling novelist, essayist and freelance photojournalist. His novel As Catch Can (Delacorte) was touted in two pre-publication articles by Publishers Weekly and was called "Brilliant" upon its publication by The New York Post. The Boston Herald attributed it as “The most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season.” Translated into several languages including Japanese, Russian, French and the Dutch, Zandri’s work has also been sought out by numerous major movie producers, including Heyday Productions and DreamWorks. Other novels include Moonlight Falls (R.J.Buckley), Godchild (Bantam/Dell), and Permanence (NPI). His newest thriller, The Remains (Stone House) will be published in July, 2010 in E-Book and in November, as a Trade Paperback. Forthcoming novels include The Concrete Pearl (Stone Gate), a new detective series starring the brassy but beautiful construction business owner, Ava "Spike" Harrision, and the re-publication of the classic, As Catch Can (Stone Gate).

    An adventurer and freelance photojournalist, Zandri has been the author of the blogs, Dangerous Dispatches and Embedded in Africa for Russia Today TV (RT). He also writes for other global publications, including Culture 11, Globalia and Globalspec. Zandri’s nonfiction has appeared in New York Newsday, Hudson Valley Magazine, Game and Fish Magazine and others, while his essays and short fiction have been featured in many journals including Fugue, Maryland Review and Orange Coast Magazine.
    He holds an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College and is a 2010 International Thriller Writer’s Awards panel judge. Zandri currently divides his time between New York and Europe. He is the drummer for the Albany-based punk band to Blisterz.

GUEST POST

2011 Resolutions and Dissolutions!

By Vincent Zandri

2011 is not only going to be the year I establish some serious new goals for myself. More importantly, it will also be the year I dissolve or, give several things up (I gave up smoking 5 years ago and have stuck to it!). Things that not only have become terrific time wasters, but that are unhealthy or are leading me in directions I no longer want to go.

For instance, I’m no longer going to “obsessively” check on my Amazon rankings. I’ve actually started on this, checking my numbers only once or twice a day instead of every hour on the hour. In 2010 my books The Remains and The Innocent became Number 1 Amazon Hot New Bestselling Releases in Hard-Boiled and Psychological Suspense fiction, as well as Amazon Bestsellers in Hard-Boiled Mysteries, and it caused the junky in me to jones for those stellar Amazon rankings. When the rankings got better, I felt high. When the rankings slacked off, I felt depressed and irritable. Not good! Then I found out that the numbers really don’t mean anything. That it’s a matter of how well you sell over time. And anyway, shouldn’t a writer be concerned primarily about writing, and secondarily about rankings?

Second thing I’m dissolving, or changing, if you will: My blog postings at The Vincent Zandri Vox (also my Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin contributions) will no longer be about me, myself, and I. They will include guest blogs from other authors, reviews of other books, and commentary on relevant issues that affect the drastically changing literary world we live in.

So why the shedding; why the changes?

Exactly one year ago a small publisher, RJBuckley published Moonlight Falls, my first novel in more than five years. My career up to that point had been at a standstill, even after having received a major six-figure advance in 1999 from Delacorte in a two book deal. That said, given a new opportunity to make good, I wanted to give myself one full year of guerilla marketing focusing entirely on myself and my work. And it worked! So well in fact, I ended up signing a whole bunch of new contracts with StoneHouse Ink. And when that went well, the publisher actually created a brand new imprint for me and several of their “darker” authors called StoneGate Ink.

But one year of advertising entirely about oneself is enough. Time to shed what could become a dangerous if not narcissistic habit and start paying attention to some other great and upcoming authors out there who will sooner than later, be sharing the same literary platform. Who are some of those authors? Bri Clark, Aaron Patterson, Les Edgerton, just to name a few, but of course, I could go on and on. The point here is that Indie publishing is taking the world by storm and while not all of the authors I mentioned are published only by Indie presses, 2011 will be the year many of them make their mark, and I plan on featuring many of them in the “Vox.” No doubt some of their books will be reviewed here as well.

It’s a positive move to make New Years resolutions. So long as you stick to them. For instance, I want to eat better, climb the ancient pyramids, publish more journalism features, be a better father, a better partner, a better man.

But it’s also a good thing to make dissolutions so long as the shedding process makes you free and therefore, the over all breathing process easier. As difficult as it may seem, I plan on letting go of old friendships and relationships that no longer work or are pulling me down in negative ways. Doesn’t mean I don’t care, or in some cases, love these people. It’s just that I can no longer assume the awesome responsibility of trying fix something that for now anyway, seems irreparably broken. What was Einstein’s definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I want to limit my intake of sweets, red meats, and beer, at least during the week. I want to allow myself the luxury of being bored sometimes, so that I have time to think. I want to toss a whole bunch of stuff out or give it all away, including old clothes, papers, magazines, useless junk, and clutter. I want to live a simpler, freer existence. Finally, I want to give up some of my cash to charities close to my heart. The Boston Children’s Hospital for one.

This year I’ve gotten an early head start on making some necessary life changes. And I already feel much better about myself and the world. I hope you can do the same.

Vincent Zandri Books to be released in 2011:

-GODCHILD (PART II of the Jack Marconi Series) by StoneGate Ink (previously published by Bantam/Dell)

-Special Kindle/E-Book Edition THE REMAINS/SWEET DREAMS by Vincent Zandri and Aaron Patterson, by StoneHouse Ink. (The Two Amazon Bestsellers combined in one edition)

-Special Kindle/E-Book Edition THE INNOCENT/GODCHILD, by StoneGate Ink (The Two Part Series Collected into one edition)

-THE CONCRETE PEARL (Part I of the new Spike Harrison Series), by StoneGate Ink.

-Also, two new Digital Shorts and possibly the Part II in the Dick Moonlight series!

My Review

                                      The Innocent by Vincent Zandri

Published by StoneGate Ink

ISBN-13: 2940011815430
ISBN: 0011815434
An EBook edition, was purchased by me, for my personal reading enjoyment.
  Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon):   Getting caught is simply not an option.
  It's been a year since Jack Marconi's wife was killed. Ever since, he's been slipping up at his job as warden at an upstate New York prison. It makes him the perfect patsy when a cop-killer breaks out--with the help of someone on the inside. Throwing himself into the hunt for the fleeing con, Jack doesn't see what's coming.
  Suddenly the walls are closing in. And in the next twenty-four hours, Jack will defy direct orders, tamper with evidence, kidnap the con's girlfriend--and run from the law with a .45 hidden beneath his sports coat. Because Jack Marconi, keeper of laws, men, secrets, and memories, has been set up--by a conspiracy that has turned everyone he ever trusted into an enemy. And everything he ever believed in into the worst kind of lie.
  My Thoughts and Opinion:  It is ironic that today, the first of the year, that I am reviewing the first book that started it all. Even though this version has been rewritten, the original was Mr. Zandri's first. I became hooked by this author when I read his other books, Moonlight Falls, The Remains, and the digital short, Pathological. Reading The Innocent, for me was like watching a toddler start to walk. Amazing!!!!

   What did I think of The Innocent? A heart pounding read!!! Non stop suspense!!!. Zandri is a genius when it comes to writing. He grabs you from the first few pages and doesn't let go until the last word!! Masterful writing, whereas, he incorporates the present day plot and then transports the reader to another page turning subplot of the past and back to the present making it a page turning, can't put down read!!! Due to one continuous spoiler, that I do not want to give away, the story line had this reader fleeing and breathless with the main character, Keeper Marconi. Phenomenal!!! Chilling!!! The only negative I am finding with Vin Zandri's books is this, when I finish reading one, I want more!! Vincent Zandri and The Innocent are a Grand Slam!!!!!!

Book Review "Pathological"

Pathological by Vincent Zandri
Published by StoneHouse Ink
ISBN-13: 2940011815508

ISBN: 0011815507

At the request of the author, an EBook edition was downloaded, purchased by me, for my honest opinion.

  Synopsis (borrowed from B&N): The serial killer takes on many guises. But what happens when you unknowingly take him as your most trusted and loyal husband? Pathological is proof that even though you think you know your spouse inside and out, you might not really know him at all.

  My Thoughts and Opinion: This was my 2nd introduction to a "digital short" read. However, not my first introduction to this author. I have read and reviewed his previous novels, Moonlight Falls and The Remains, both being phenomenal suspense/thriller reads. And, even though it was a short story, Pathological, didn't disappoint this reader. It was true Vincent Zandri writing!! A short story that grabs you from the first few words to the last. Another page turner!! I honestly am having trouble describing what it was like to read this. When I finished reading the last word, I just sat, wondering if I even took a breath, while reading this chilling story. What I do know, is that Mr. Zandri is a genius at writing thrillers,even with short stories!! It left me with wanting to read more of his work!! Brilliant!!!

DISCLAIMER

This EBook was purchased by me.

ADDENDUM:  Since January 2010, I have read and reviewed all books in the order received.  However, I am giving myself an early Christmas present and have taken the liberty of choosing a book out of sequence for my next read, which is the The Innocent by same author, Vincent Zandri.

Review "Bryce Loring Must Die!"

Bryce Loring Must Die by Bill Walker
Published by Bill Walker
ISBN 0011077166
ISBN13: 2940011077166
At the request of the author, an EBook edition was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis: (borrowed from B&N): When Riley Harper discovers his old neighborhood bully is now a successful executive within his own company, Riley decides Bryce must pay for all the cruel acts he committed against him and his friends. He decides that Bryce Loring Must Die! In this Digital Short, Bill Walker delivers a taste of suspense and black humor.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I have to be honest and tell you that I didn't know what to expect with this type of read for 2 very different reasons. The first being, that this is considered a "digital short" and didn't know what to perceive it would be like in relation to a novel. The second being, that I had read and reviewed 2 previous works by this author of a very different genre, so I was very skeptical since this being a suspense. I reviewed A Note from an Old Acquaintance and was honored to have been asked to read his manuscript of Titanic 2012. I didn't know if I should use the same guidelines that I use for rating novels, but after completing Bryce Loring Must Die!, it was clear. Within the first few sentences I was hooked. The descriptive writing style and dialogue allowed me to have a very vivid visual of the story line right down to feeling the exact same emotions that the character was feeling. The suspense unnerving. However, since it was a "short", it left me with wanting more. He has shown that as an author, he has an abundance of talent to be able to write extraordinary books of totally different genres. I am hoping that Mr. Walker has plans for a suspense novel!!!!

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold...they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

Review "First Of State"

First of State by Robert Greer (ARC)
Published by North Atlantic Books
ISBN 978-1556439155
At the request of Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, an ARC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book): Robert Greer's latest novel-a prequel to his CJ Floyd mystery series-takes readers back in time to a very different CJ Floyd. It's 1972, and the twenty-two-year-old decorated war vet has recently returned to Denver from Vietnam with post-traumatic stress disorder. Navigating depression, he finds a friend in World War II vet and amputee Wiley Ames, who shares his passion for rare and valuable western memorabilia.
  When Ames and a mysterious Chinese man are found murdered, CJ's already fragile world threatens to collapse. His attempts to find his friend's killer are thwarted at every turn, and finally joins his Uncle Ike's business as a bail bondsman and bounty hunter. Five years later one of Ames's treasured antique license plates turns up at a Denver flea market and CJ is once again off and running. The trail to Wiley Ames's murderer leads CJ down a dark path strewn with backstabbing antique dealers, conniving friends and relatives of Ames's, and a shadowy musician. Equally a white-knuckle-ride murder mystery and a tale of a traumatized young man coming to terms with his past.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: This was the first time reading this author, and it being the prequel, has piqued my curiosity as to the rest of the series. The characters became life like whereas I instantly liked the 2 main characters CJ and his uncle Ike, even with their flaws. Set in the 1970s, CJ just back from Viet Nam, the plot touched upon Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, which I feel that Dr. Greer gave credibility for the veterans that suffer from this disease. The writing was descriptive where I could picture in my mind the scenarios of crimes and suspects that CJ investigated. The story line did move forward but at times not as fast as I would have liked. I enjoyed the characters more than the basic plot, and because of that I am quite interested in reading more of CJ Floyd and how his character evolves and develops over the years.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "Last Writes"

Last Writes by Sheila Lowe
Published by New American Library
(Division of Penguin Group)
ISBN 978-0-451-23110-9
At the request of Kaye Publicity, a PB copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book): Claudia's friend Kelly learns that she's an aunt where her estranged half sister, Erin, shows up at her home in desperate need of help. Erin and her husband have been living quiet lives as members of the Temple of Brighter Light in an isolated compound. But now her husband and young child ave disappeared, leaving behind a cryptic note with a terrifying message.
  Seizing an opportunity to use her special skills as a forensic hand-writing expert, Claudia becomes one of the few outsiders ever to be invited inside the temple's compound. She has only a few days to uncover the truth about Kelly's missing niece before the prophecy of a secret ancient parchment can be fulfilled and a child's life is written off for good.....
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I have to be upfront and honest regarding 2 issues. When I first accepted the request to read Last Writes, I thought it was going to be an easy and fun cozy mystery but I was wrong!!. It also took me some time to finish, but to the author's credit, it was because of being bogged down with real life, and not the story. Matter of fact, this should have taken me just a few days to read because it was a page turner. It was a fast paced story line with some twists and turns that had me guessing throughout the book to the very last page. The ending a total surprise!!! The author's writing style was fluid and expressive, to the point, that it felt like I was visualizing a movie in my mind. The references to the science of forensic handwriting quite interesting. This was the first book that I have read by Ms. Lowe but have already put her previous novels on my to be read list.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Book Review and Giveaway

Euphemania: Our Love Affair With Euphemisms by Ralph Keyes
Published by Little, Brown and Company
ISBN 978-0-316-05656-4
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from back of book): An entertaining look at euphemisms-where they come from, why we need them, and what they tell us about who we are.
  How did "die" become kick the bucket, "underwear" become unmentionables, and "having an affair" become hiking the Appalachian Trail? Originally used to avoid blasphemy and taboos and to make nice, euphemisms have become embedded in the fabric of our language. Euphemania traces the evolution of euphemisms from tools of the church to expressions of gentility to today's instrument of commercial, political, and postmodern doublespeak. As much social commentary as a book for word lovers, Euphemania is a lively and thought-provoking look at the power of words and our power over them.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Just in time for the holidays. This book is informative, filled with trivia and a fun read. I found it to be quite interesting as to where and how certain terms came in to being such as "a loose cannon" (pg 193), "bookworm"(pg 228) "under the weather"(pg 124) and so many more. This book is perfect for those that enjoy trivia, history of the English language and the origin of certain phrases. I will never look at a chocolate chip cookie the same way again (page 111). Just in time for the holidays, this book should be on one's Christmas list, for yourself or someone you know.

THANKS TO BRIANNE AND THE TERRIFIC

PEOPLE AT THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP

I HAVE THREE (3) COPIES OF THIS

GREAT BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "Private"

Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Published by Little, Brown and Company
ISBN 978-0-316-09615-7
At the request of The Hachette Book Group, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from book's jacket): THE POLICE CAN'T HELP YOU Former Marine helicopter pilot Jack Morgan runs Private, a renowned investigation company with branches around the globe. It is where you go when you need maximum force and maximum discretion. The secrets of the most influential men and women on the planet come to Jack daily-and his staff of investigators use the world's most advanced forensic tools to make and break their cases.
  THE PRESS WILL DESTROY YOU Jack is already deep into the investigation of a multimillion-dollar NFL gambling scandal and the unsolved slayings of thirteen schoolgirls when he learns of a horrific murder close to home: his best friend's wife, Jack's former lover has been killed. It nearly pushes him over the edge. Instead, Jack pushes back and devotes all of Private's resources to tracking down her killer.
  ONLY ONE PLACE TO TURN: PRIVATE But Jack doesn't have to play by the rules. As he closes in on the killer and chooses between revenge and justice, Jack has to navigate a workplace love affair that threatens to blow the roof off his plans.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Here I sit wondering what can I say about this book and only 3 words come to mind: Pure James Patterson!!! I have been a big fan of Mr. Patterson's books for years and have not yet read one that I didn't like. It contained all the elements that the author does best. Short chapters for that "read just one more chapter moment" and you find yourself 10 chapters forward. Pulls you in with the first page and doesn't let you go until the very last page. Nonstop action whereas it is a "page turner" and a "can't put down type of book". Twists and turns you don't see coming. The main character, Jack Morgan, was believable and likeable and am hoping that there will be future books related to this character.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in exchange for my honest review.  No items that I receive are ever sold...they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

Review "And One Last Thing" by Molly Harper

And One Last Thing by Molly Harper
Published by Gallery Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-1-4391-6877-6
At the request of Gallery Books, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (back of book): "If Singletree's only florist didn't deliver her posies half-drunk, I might still be married to that floor-licking, scum-sucking, receptionist-nailing hack-accountant, Mike Terwilliger."
  Lacey Terwilliger's shock and humiliation over her husband's philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike's company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike's family, friends and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend," Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punch line, and the defendant in Mike's defamation lawsuit.
  Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreat to her family's lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled about a newly divorced woman moving in next door. But with time, beer, and a screen door to the nose, a cautious friendship develops into something infinitely more satisfying.
  Lacey has to make a decision about her long-term living arrangements, though. Should she take a job writing caustic divorce newsletters for paying clients, or move on with her own life, pursuing more literary aspirations? Can she find happiness with a man who tells her what he thinks and not what she wants to hear? And will she ever be able to resist saying one...last...thing?
  My Thoughts and Opinion: WTG Lacey!!!! This is one chick lit that has to be read especially if you have even a little spark of a revengeful B__ch in you, which I am sure the majority of us do. Lacey, the main character, is someone I would love to know and felt that I did. The author did a fantastic job at writing in a way that brought this character to life. She was feisty, impulsive, funny, melancholy, lonesome, hurt, disappointed, hopeful and so many other emotions, that this reader could not help but root for her and found myself thinking "You Go Girl." But sometimes it can backfire, in this case, it did for Lacey. This book was so enjoyable that I am afraid to even inadvertently include spoilers so I will ask some questions. OK..after writing one last thing and hits enter, her email goes viral. Now what? How can she, the victim, now become the outcast? What does she do when served with a legal document, not only for divorce but damages of slander? How will she manage financially when her husband wanted her to be a stay at home wife taking care of social commitments? Will she take a job writing newsletters for other scorned women like the newsletter that got her in legal hot water? And who is this gorgeous guy renting out the neighbor's cabin but appears to be a rude, cold, loner? What happens when her husband begs for forgiveness and wants to reconcile? What road does Lacey take? I highly suggest you put this one on your TBR list....it's a good one!!!

Review "Blindman's Bluff" by Faye Kellerman

Blindman's Bluff by Faye Kellerman
Published by Harper Collins
ISBN 978--06-170241-9
At the request of Bestsellersworld, a PB copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.

Review format at the request of Bestsellersworld.

Detective Lieutenant Peter Decker, LAPD Homicide, and his wife Rina Lazarus are awakened to a late night call. As Rina hands him the phone, knowing that this is going to bad for the force to call "The Loo" during the night. And she was right. Not only does he come upon a gruesome multiple homicide but it's of a very well known, high profile and extremely wealthy family. The CEO and real estate tycoon, Guy Kaffey, his wife, Gilliam, and one of his son's, Gil, are shot during what appears to be a robbery as they sat in the massive home's living room. Bodyguards and staff have also been killed. But Gil, one son, is critically injured but has survived and gives the police a few things that he remembers from those awful seconds. But how could this have happened with so many types of security in place? Could this be an inside job? Guy has very strong family bonds and believes in giving some a second chance. Was that his downfall? Mace, his brother, and other son Grant, travel immediately to LA from the East Coast, where they oversee the family's holdings there.

As Decker and members of his force are working around the clock to solve this murder, with a laundry list of suspects and growing, of what also resembles another type of family, his wife Rina is sitting on the jury of a local trial. Rina and some of the jurors notice a man, as they nickname him Mr. Tom (for Tom Cruise), in court everyday, smartly dressed, his dark tinted glasses and his bright smile. Who is he? Why is he in the courtroom? Why the glasses? A mystery in itself until he approaches Rina to ask her to describe two men that he has just overheard talking about a murder. Within days, he contacts Rina at her home because he feels he is being followed. And has he now put Rina in danger?

Can these two mysteries be connected? What constitutes family loyalty? Who is "the boss" of this operation? Who can be trusted within each family? And the biggest question, why? Can Detective Decker protect the innocent and locate the guilty in time before another attempt is made?
Another true to form, Decker and Lazarus Novel that will have you turning the pages.

Review "Hollywood Savage" by Kristin McCloy

Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCloy
Published by Washington Square Press
A division of Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-0-7432-8647-3
At the request of Simon & Schuster, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from back of book): "Meet me at five," the voice said on the answering machine, Four ordinary words yet, when heard by the wrong person, enough to change the course of a marriage.
  Marooned in Hollywood while writing a screenplay based on his latest bestselling novel, Miles King, records in his journals his escalating conviction that his glamorous wife, a New York-based journalist named Maggie, his having an affair.
  Amidst the un-buffed egos and the longing for connection and fame he encounters at every cocktail party and no-name bar in Hollywood, Miles finds unexpected comfort in an affair if his own with Lucy, a young mother whose open, eager mind sparks an irresistible passion in him. Miles's constantly shifting emotional state-a potent brew of lust, guilt, anger and betrayal- is only one of the perils he must navigate as his fantasies become increasingly hard to distinguish from reality.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: When I first accepted this book for review, I thought it was going to be the typical Hollywood life style that is the basis of many books, the gossip in magazines and on entertainment TV shows. The following opinion is mine and only mine. I read 50+ pages, and at that point, I still had not been pulled into the story. I found the narrative of first-person very wordy, that at times, I would have to reread sentences to process what was really being said. I felt that the storyline was slow paced in the pages read. Unfortunately, this book had to be put aside in the DNF pile.

Review "Fly Away Home"

Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
Published by Atria Books (Division of Simon & Schuster)
ISBN 978-0-7432-9427-0
At the request of Simon & Schuster, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from book's jacket): Sometimes all you can do is fly away home... When Sylvia Serfer met Richard Woodruff in law school, she had wild curls, wide hips and lots of opinions. Decades later, Sylvie has remade herself as the ideal politician's wife-her hair dyed and straightened, her hippie-chick wardrobe replaced by tailored knit suits. At fifty-seven, she ruefully acknowledges that her job is staying twenty pounds thinner than she was in her twenties and tending to her husband, the senator.
  Lizzie, the Woodruffs' younger daughter is at twenty-four a recovering addict, whose mantra HALT (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?) helps her keep her life under control Still, trouble always seems to find her. Her older sister, Diana, an emergency room physician, has everything Lizzie failed to achieve-a husband, a young son, the perfect home-and yet she's trapped in a loveless marriage. With temptation waiting in one of the ER's exam rooms, she finds herself craving more.
  After Richard's extramarital affair makes headlines, the three women are drawn into the painful glare of the national spotlight. Once the press conference is over, each is forced to reconsider her life, who she is and who she is meant to be.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: This storyline was written with the old adage, "No one knows what goes on behind closed doors". But then taken a step further since the family behind those closed doors could not see what was happening. The Woodruffs were the ideal family to outsiders but each family member was living their own solitary life, each with their own secrets. The plot was relatable since it mirrored what we frequently see on the news with politicians and sports figures. I was also able to identify with the characters in this family because of a general age recognition within my family. The writing style was smooth and descriptive. Even with a serious and emotional theme, the author was able to add some humor into some of the scenes. Without including any spoilers, I found it to even include personal thought provoking questions, such as, "what would I do in this situation"?, "are we true to our self"?, are we really who we think we are"?, "who or what makes us happy"?, "are we true to our self"? This book could be put down, but not for long, because this reader wanted to know how it ends.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "i know I am, but what are you?"

i know i am, but what are you? by Samantha Bee
Published by Gallery Books/A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
ISBN 978-1-4391-4273-8
At the request of Gallery Books, a HC was sent, at no charge to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (borrowed from book's jacket): Critics have called her "sweet, adorable, and vicious." But there is so much more to be said about Samantha Bee. For one, she's Canadian. Whatever that means. And now, she opens up for the very first time about her checkered Canadian past. With Charming candor, she admits to her Lennie from Of Mice and Men-style love of a baby animals, her teenage crime spree as one half of a car-thieving couple (Bonnie and Clyde in Bermuda shorts and braces:, and the fact that strangers seem compelled to show her their genitals. She also details her intriguing career history, which includes stints working in a fame store, at a penis clinic, and as a Japanese anime character in a touring children's show.
  Samantha delves into all these topics and many more in this thoroughly hilarious, unabashedly frank collection of personal essays. Whether detailing the creepiness that ensues when strangers assume that your mom is your lesbian lover or recalling her girlhood crush on Jesus (who looked like Kris Kristofferson and sang like Kenny Loggins), Samantha turns the spotlight on her own imperfect yet highly entertaining life as relentlessly as she skewers hapless interview subjects on The Daily Show. She shares her unique point of view on a variety of subjects as wide-ranging as her deep affinity for old people and her hatred of hot ham. It's all here, in irresistible prose that will leave you in stitches and eager for more.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I have stated many times that I am not a TV watcher, so I need to confess, I have never watched the The Daily Show. But, after reading this book and knowing that the author, Samantha Bee is a senior correspondent of that show, there is a good chance I will be watching. The author writes about her dysfunctional family, her childhood antics and even some when she was a bit older. I found myself laughing out loud, chuckling and even at time saying "me too, me too!!!!" Each chapter was equally funny, whereas I couldn't even pick one as my favorite. However, there was one that really had me laughing and that I could really relate to, myself being of the same religion, was Man-Witch. She relates her story of being in a Catholic elementary school and having a "crush" on God. Reading this book now was the best remedy, to escape from "real life" and just laugh. Have this book on hand for when you just need to read something funny and totally entertaining.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "Love Always, Hobby and Jessie" by Sara Robinson

Love Always, Hobby and Jessie by Sara Robinson
Published by PathBinder Publishing, LLC
ISBN 978-0-9842496-0-2
At the request of the Author, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
   Synopsis (borrowed from back of book): Even the most difficult of marriages can survive a lifetime through commitment, acceptance, and work. In Love Always, Hobby and Jessie, the improbable bond that was the marriage of Hobby and Jessie Robinson showcases one example of a rocky marriage that eventually finds its footing.
  Defined by their heritage and their experiences, Hobby and Jessie met, merged,-and split many times as they unknowingly defined their unique relationship. The conditions implemented to keep peace forged an eventual lifelong truce and acceptance. Those outside of their marriage would have been puzzled by the solutions that Hobby and Jessie found. As unconventional as they were to each other, their attempts at brokering their special treaties mirrored their individual styles. Couples who settle on the edges of their relationship often find themselves at the very center of it.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I usually don't post my review of a book that I am currently hosting a giveaway of said book, just in case it is not a positive review and/or giving away spoilers. I am breaking my own rules in the case of this book only because of the giveaway, but, I will not include any spoilers. No matter your age, please enter this giveaway. If you are a baby boomer, memories of your childhood will be triggered and if you are younger, then you have an idea of your grandparents' lives. Sara Robinson invites the reader into her life and her parent's marriage, both the good and bad, funny and sad, and traditions long forgotten. For a debut author, Ms. Robinson has the unique ability to transport the reader back in time whereas this reader had everything else tuned out, triggers for my own personal memories, even sharing similar experiences and events of my childhood. The writing style so descriptive that when she writes about how certain smells trigger her memories, I found myself able to create and conjure up those scents. I found that the flow of her words allowed me to produce a mini home movie in my mind. This memoir is a quick read and contains many pictures of years past, that will resemble your own photo albums from years ago of your parents and/or grandparents. Well written and, for me, I couldn't wait to pick it back up and continue reading. Kudos Ms. Robinson!!!! I hope you have more books in the future.
  On a personal note, I am on the latter end of baby boomers and presently dealing with being the sole caretaker and responsible party for an aging parent, who was born around the same time as the author's parents, this book triggered so many memories and was a bittersweet read for me. The pictures resembled pictures I am now finding, some so similar it could have come from my families' photos. The way of life of that era that Ms. Robinson shared, could have been written about my relatives. Thank you for sharing Sara Robinson!!.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "Red Hook Road" by Ayelet Waldman

Red Hook Road Ayelet Waldman
Published by Doubleday
ISBN 978-0-385-51786-7
At the request of Doubleday, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (borrowed by book's jacket): Becca Copaken and John Tetherly are young and in love, and the future looks as bright as the day of their marriage. Becca's family is well-to-do and summers in Red Hook, Maine, where John's mother, Jane, runs a housecleaning service for clients like the Copakens. The only thing that binds the two families is the love the elated couple share but it's enough to bring them together for the occasion.
  Until the unthinkable happens: Becca and John's limousine collides with another vehicle mere minutes after the wedding, killing them instantly. Joy gives way to grief, and the rifts between Becca's mother, Iris and Jane grow, from the funeral arrangements to Iris's strong.-willed interest in the musical career of Jane's niece to a new romance that buds between the surviving children, Ruthie and Matt. Time's healing powers prove elusive for Iris and Jane: Iris' thirty-year marriage disintegrates, while Jane's bitterness threatens to ruin her relationship with Matt. Only when a powerful, blinding storm hits Red Hook do the families begin to see what really matters most.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Days before reading this book, we had attended a wedding, that was a beautiful and fun celebration, so parts of the story were easy to relate to. Thankfully there was a different outcome in the real life wedding. I was able to feel the emotions and gaiety of Becca and John's wedding day through the author's written words. And then the shock, disbelief, and despair when the news is announced to the family and friends, that are waiting for the newlyweds at the reception. From that point on, my thoughts of the book fluctuated. There was a lot of genealogy of the families', which I felt was important to understand the dynamics of the characters involved. But at times, and this is my opinion only, there was too much information that it became boring and took away from the story. The novel was a serious,somber and depressing read but at the same time the families' dynamics were so profound that I needed to continue reading. Not only were there difference in classes, as described in the synopsis, but also religions and beliefs of the families' that also divided them. Ms. Waldman's writing style and descriptive wording allowed me to feel the emotions that each character was feeling and how they dealt with their very individual way of grieving and how that grief affected their lives. This is not the type of book if you are looking for a fast paced or uplifting read, but a book to be read if you want a thought provoking and the need to understand family dynamics and individual differences. Filled with many life's metaphors.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English"

Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomon
Published by Reagan Arthur Books/Little, Brown and Company
ISBN 978-0-316-07758-3
At the request of Reagan Arthur/Hachette Books a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (borrowed from book's jacket): At the outset of World War II, Jack Rosenblum, his wife, Sadie, and their baby daughter escape Berlin, bound for London. They are greeted with a pamphlet instructing immigrants how to act like "the English." Jack acquires Savile Row suits and a Jaguar. He buys his marmalade from Fortnum & Mason and learns to list the entire British monarchy back to 978 AD. He never speaks German, apart for the occasional curse. But the one key item that would make him feel fully British-membership in a golf club-remains elusive. In postwar England, no golf club will admit a Rosenblum. Jack hatches a wild idea, he''ll build his own.
  It's an obsession Sadie does not share, particularly when Jack relocates them to a thatch-roofed cottage in Dorset to embark on his project. She doesn't want to forget who they are or where they came from. She wants to bake the cakes she used to serve to friends in the old country and reminisce. Now she's stuck in an inhospitable landscape filled with unwelcoming people, watching their bank account shrink as Jack pursues his quixotic dream.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I have to be honest that I was quite skeptical in reading this book because I received it with no prior knowledge and add to that, that this was a debut novel. It is not the type of book that I would routinely read, but was pleasantly surprised once I picked it up. Ms. Solomons writing style was written, with such detailed descriptions and with the flow of the story line, as if it was by a seasoned author. The characters relatable. I found that there were a gamut of emotions felt for both Mr. Rosenblum and his wife, Sadie due to the descriptive and poignant words that the author was able to convey to this reader. I did enjoy this book but, and this is my opinion and my opinion only, it was not a fast paced, page turning read. I didn't find myself "needing" to pick it up. (Possible Spoiler Alert)......I was surprised to see that the premise of this story was taken from her "grandparent's experience" and wonder if I had known that it was based on reality that I would have had a different reading experience.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

The Chill Of Night by James Hayman
Published by St. Martin's Press
ISBN 978-0-312-53271-0
At the request of Pump Up Your Book, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review.
  Synopsis (borrowed from book's jacket): Beautiful, Brilliant, and ambitious, Lainie Goff has overcome a nightmarish past to achieve remarkable success as a young attorney on the fast track to a partnership at one of the more respected law firms in New England. Then one cold night, the secrets of her past come hurtling back when she's found stabbed to death, her frozen body discovered in the trunk of her own car abandoned at the end of the Portland Fish Pier.
  The only witness to the crime is a mentally ill young woman named Abby Quinn, who tries desperately to tell police what she has seen. Because of Abby's illness no one in the department believes what she says. Until she, too, disappears.
  As Portland homicide detective Michael McCabe begins his investigation he learns there may be more to Goff than meets the eye. Not only had she been having an affair with a partner of her firm, she had also been creating enemies closer to home.
  Struck by a remarkable resemblance between Goff and his own ex-wife, McCabe is forced to grapple with memories of his failed marriage as he races to fine Lainie's killer before Abby Quinn is slain.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: I now have read both books written by this author where Michael McCabe is the main character, but both books can stand on its own. I read this book during a very bad reading slump but was able to pick it up and continue reading without having to reread past chapters. The author introduces characters, which could have the motives and/or a history to have killed Lainie Goff. And the story fluctuates between these characters. I was able to figure out "who did it" through omissions after the introductions made (anything more said would be a spoiler). The plot was fast paced at times then it would drag a bit and continued in this mode throughout the book. My opinion, and this is just my opinion, I felt that Abby Quinn, the witness, was in the background for most of the story and, after reading the synopsis, assumed a lot of the attention would have been about her. I felt that it was an easy mystery read.

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "this one is Mine" (3 of 3)

this one is MINE by Maria Semple
Published by Back Bay Books/Little, Brown and Company
ISBN: 978-0-316-03133-2
At the request of the author's friend, a PB copy was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from back of book): Violet Parry has a picture-perfect life: a beautiful house, a successful husband, a darling daughter. Violet can speak French, quote Sondheim, and whip up dinner from the vegetables in her garden. She has everything under control-except her own happiness. All it takes is a chance encounter with Teddy Reyes, a roguish small -time bass player with a highly evolved sexuality to open Violet's eyes to what she's missing and upend her life completely
  My Thoughts and Opinion: This week I asked advice for getting out of my reading slump because I felt that I just couldn't and didn't want to pick up this book and read. And then today, in my google reader, another book blogger/reviewer answered my question. Alayne from The Crowded Leaf, posted her review of this very book and made me realize why the slump. She could not finish it. I read 90 pages and did not like, nor could I relate to any of the characters. This is my opinion, and only my opinion, but without giving away a spoiler to the plot, I had a hard time with the story line. I have read other books with a similar theme but this book was difficult to read in the way it was presented. Unfortunately, I had to set this one aside and place in the DNF pile.

 

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake"

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Published by Doubleday
ISBN 978-0-385-50112-5
At the request of Doubleday, a HC was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from book's jacket): On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein, a girl at the periphery of schoolyard games, and her distracted parents' attention, bites into her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift, she can taste her mother's emotions in the slice.
  She discovers this gift to her horror, for her mother-her cheerful, good-with-crafts, can-do mother-tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes a peril and a threat to Rose. Anything can be revealed at any meal. She can't eat her brother Joseph's toast, a cookie tat the local bakery is laced with rage, grape jelly is packed with acidic resentment.
  Rose's gift forces her to confront the secret knowledge all families keep hidden-truths about her mother's life outside the home, her father's strange detachment, Joseph's clash with the world.
  Yet as Rose grows up she realizes there are some secrets that even her taste buds cannot discern.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Before I started reading this book, I had read reviews from one end of the spectrum to the other. I went into it with an open mind and high hopes that I would enjoy it. Instead, I found myself not wanting to pick it up and continue reading. I thought it was me and I was experiencing a reading slump. But I forced myself to continue reading and it wasn't a slump, it was the book. The following is my opinion and my opinion only. Others may disagree. I had read 100+ pages and can honestly say, I did not like anything about the book, the premise of the story line, the author's writing style nor the characters. In all my years of reading, I have never seen this type of writing, there was not one quotation mark in the 100+ pages I read and it was elementary at best. Unfortunately, I had to put this book aside and move on.
  My Rating: 1

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.

Review "The Remains" by Vincent Zandri

The Remains by Vincent Zandri
Publisher StoneHouse Ink
ISBN 0982770502
ISBN 13: 9780982770504
At the request of Pump Up Your Book, an EBook edition was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (borrowed from PUYB): Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.
  Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.
  Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.
  But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: Zandri delivers again!!!! If you follow my blog, you know that I became a fan of Vincent Zandri after reading Moonlight Falls. He has been a frequent visitor here as "Guest Author" for his books and one Sunday was here "Live". I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical reading The Remains, afraid that it would not be as good as, or better than Moonlight Falls. I was wrong!!! I will be very vague as to the story line so as not to include spoilers. This was the kind of book that I call a "one more chapter" read. Short chapters and so gripping that you have to read "just one more chapter" and then you realize it is 10 chapters later. The chapters alternate between Rebecca's present life and then to her past and back to the present. The characters were life like including the autistic savant artist. Mr. Zandri's writing style is brilliant and because of that, this reader became so engrossed in the plot that I was transported to Albany, where the story takes place, and not aware of what was going on around me. The story pulled me in from the first few pages and didn't let go until the last word. It was a bone chilling read!!! This talented author takes the reader on a heart pounding suspenseful ride as the story follows Rebecca in the present and just when you remember to breathe, he catapults you to her past. The unfolding progress of the plot is written at a crescendo pace, from the first word to the last. This book is a nail biting, white knuckle, spine chilling, page turning thriller. Do I suggest that you read this book? Not only do I think that YOU MUST read this book but also recommend that this be the next book you read!!!  Fantastic!!!  Sensational!!!  Excellent!!!  Vincent Zandri hits this one out of the park!!!!!!

DISCLAIMER

I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,

in exchange for my honest review.

No items that I receive

are ever sold...they are kept by me,

or given to family and/or friends.