Athor: Lisa Scottoline
When life is going too good, it can’t last…
It all started when Ellen picked up the mail and saw her son’s image, not for some achievement, but as a missing child. Stunned and disbelieving she tries to put the picture out of her mind, but it creeps back in at the worst times. Ellen, a reported, first met Will as a sick and abandoned baby left at a local hospital. Her story touched many hearts, especially her own, it was love at first site. When Will was well enough to come home, she adopted him. Now three, he is healthy, loves his cat, Oreo Figaro and is the joy of Ellen’s life. Just like any three year old, Will has ups and downs, good days and bad, but mommy is the one that makes it all better. Ellen is a person that every mother can relate to. Her feelings are open and readable, no matter how hard she tries to hide them.
Look Again is definitely a page turner! Deception is woven into the story from different angles making it hard to predict. The chapters are short but the suspense builds as Ellen is thrown into a spiral of mass confusion, half truths, and lies. The writing will keep you spellbound and the flow is like a raging river pulling you along. You will meet well rounded characters, some loveable and others from your worst nightmare. The story is strong, written with detailed descriptions that open your mind. You can see the story unfolding as if you were there. In fact, as the reader you can’t help becoming a silent sidekick, trying to guess what’s coming. It is an emotional rollercoaster so buckle-up and hang on tight.
Look Again is the best book I have read in ages, clean, emotionally engaging, and great writing. I do have one caution…don’t starting reading at midnight, you won’t get to sleep!
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction. Show all posts
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Chosen by A Horse
Author: Susan Richards
Opening your heart can be a risky decision …..
Sometimes you do things on the spur of the moment then wonder later if it was the right choice. Taking on a starving, mistreated mare and her foal seemed a crazy idea to Susan and yet it seemed the natural thing to do. However, she didn’t think it would be this hard. In fact, it was down right over whelming!
Living alone with her three horses was a physical and mental stretch for Susan. But an advocate for those in need, she had willingly opened her barn and her heart. The mare, Lay Me Down, was at high risk. Her lungs were bad, she was malnourished, and she looked like walking death. It would be surprising if she made it through the night. Yet there was something else. Something Susan couldn’t understand. Lay Me Down had been abused and neglected for nearly a year and yet she showed a gentle and trusting attitude. It didn’t make sense.
Lay Me Down’s presence brought uncertain changes to the ranch. Normal routines were knocked out of kilter and the other horses were deeply affected. Their reactions were oft times predictable and at other times unexpected. There were horrific days ahead for Lay Me Down. Could she face the challenges? Would she find a new home and acceptance or would the demons of the past return?
When life has been less than kind, we often quit taking risks and withdraw from the real world. We close ourselves off from others to shut out the hurt. But sometimes, just at the right moment, we open up. We reach out with a single, selfless act, and reignite our desire to love anew.
Susan and Lay Me Down become intertwined in a fight for life. The journey they share has far reaching effects, beyond what the eyes can see. There is healing and growth, trust and risk as each life is forever changed.
Chosen by a Horse is a story of hope and a reminder that it’s today’s choices that make the real difference.
Opening your heart can be a risky decision …..
Sometimes you do things on the spur of the moment then wonder later if it was the right choice. Taking on a starving, mistreated mare and her foal seemed a crazy idea to Susan and yet it seemed the natural thing to do. However, she didn’t think it would be this hard. In fact, it was down right over whelming!
Living alone with her three horses was a physical and mental stretch for Susan. But an advocate for those in need, she had willingly opened her barn and her heart. The mare, Lay Me Down, was at high risk. Her lungs were bad, she was malnourished, and she looked like walking death. It would be surprising if she made it through the night. Yet there was something else. Something Susan couldn’t understand. Lay Me Down had been abused and neglected for nearly a year and yet she showed a gentle and trusting attitude. It didn’t make sense.
Lay Me Down’s presence brought uncertain changes to the ranch. Normal routines were knocked out of kilter and the other horses were deeply affected. Their reactions were oft times predictable and at other times unexpected. There were horrific days ahead for Lay Me Down. Could she face the challenges? Would she find a new home and acceptance or would the demons of the past return?
When life has been less than kind, we often quit taking risks and withdraw from the real world. We close ourselves off from others to shut out the hurt. But sometimes, just at the right moment, we open up. We reach out with a single, selfless act, and reignite our desire to love anew.
Susan and Lay Me Down become intertwined in a fight for life. The journey they share has far reaching effects, beyond what the eyes can see. There is healing and growth, trust and risk as each life is forever changed.
Chosen by a Horse is a story of hope and a reminder that it’s today’s choices that make the real difference.
Baby Proof
Author: Emily Giffin
Deciding early in life not to be a mother, invited a myriad of confrontations…
Even as a little girl, Claudia’s decision was very clear. When she played dolls with her sisters, she only wanted to be an aunt, so she could move on to more exciting pursuits. In later years, discovering boys didn’t change her mind. When her high school prom night rolled around, the number of children she wished for was a firm zero.
Claudia, now in her thirties, is a well known book editor in New York City. Her personal convictions are still unaltered. Life is filled with work, friends, and enjoyable pursuits, minus children.
Love, that’s a different story. Everyone needs emotional attachments of the enduring kind. But for Claudia, her relationships quickly dissolved when the “no kid’s factor” came up. That was true, until she met Ben. It just seemed they were soul mates, everything just clicked.
Claudia was thrilled when Ben was a firm believer in the “no kid’s factor” and they have been married for three years. The impulsiveness they enjoy, while being unencumbered with children, is a vital part of their relationship. They share many common interests and dreams, life just couldn’t be better.
However, when their idyllic relationship is hit by a tornado, everything changes. Their best friends, ardent supporters of the “no kid’s factor”, have decide to have a child! Ben becomes absorbed in the entire process and when the baby arrives, he is hooked!
Claudia is confident this is just a passing phase and eventually Ben will move out of it. He makes numerous attempts to convince her that a baby would be a wonderful experience to share. Claudia, on the other hand, emphasizes how a baby will burden and alter the life they now enjoy.
What will be the outcome of this dilemma? Family influences, stubbornness and pride, will definitely have an impact.
Baby Proof is an insightful look into personal choices and how they deeply affect those you love. However, it felt like the first person viewpoint occasionally droned on and on, with surplus information.
Deciding early in life not to be a mother, invited a myriad of confrontations…
Even as a little girl, Claudia’s decision was very clear. When she played dolls with her sisters, she only wanted to be an aunt, so she could move on to more exciting pursuits. In later years, discovering boys didn’t change her mind. When her high school prom night rolled around, the number of children she wished for was a firm zero.
Claudia, now in her thirties, is a well known book editor in New York City. Her personal convictions are still unaltered. Life is filled with work, friends, and enjoyable pursuits, minus children.
Love, that’s a different story. Everyone needs emotional attachments of the enduring kind. But for Claudia, her relationships quickly dissolved when the “no kid’s factor” came up. That was true, until she met Ben. It just seemed they were soul mates, everything just clicked.
Claudia was thrilled when Ben was a firm believer in the “no kid’s factor” and they have been married for three years. The impulsiveness they enjoy, while being unencumbered with children, is a vital part of their relationship. They share many common interests and dreams, life just couldn’t be better.
However, when their idyllic relationship is hit by a tornado, everything changes. Their best friends, ardent supporters of the “no kid’s factor”, have decide to have a child! Ben becomes absorbed in the entire process and when the baby arrives, he is hooked!
Claudia is confident this is just a passing phase and eventually Ben will move out of it. He makes numerous attempts to convince her that a baby would be a wonderful experience to share. Claudia, on the other hand, emphasizes how a baby will burden and alter the life they now enjoy.
What will be the outcome of this dilemma? Family influences, stubbornness and pride, will definitely have an impact.
Baby Proof is an insightful look into personal choices and how they deeply affect those you love. However, it felt like the first person viewpoint occasionally droned on and on, with surplus information.
Before
Author: Joseph Hurka
A troubled mind full of snarled webs can be treacherous. Are the voices and visions real or just imagined? Where will they lead and whose life will they ensnare? It was in a small neighborhood of Cambridge Massachusetts, on a poorly lit street that an uninvited stranger crept, unnoticed. Will the unsuspecting residents get more than they bargained for? Who is truly safe or just unaware? The answers are elusive.
Tika, is a budding photographer, young and full of exuberance. She has become attached to an older couple in her apartment building. Juri, the husband, is recovering from a stroke and having difficulty adjusting to his current limitations. Anna attempts to care for him alone, but appreciates Tika’s helpfulness.
Juri is plagued with vivid images of the past, as he struggles with memories of the Nazi invasion. His losses were so great they still rip at his heart. He tries diligently to separate these events from current reality but waivers back and forth. Writing, he is always writing down what he remembers. The doctor says it is good for him, so he tries. But the memories bring unbearable pain and tears fall unbidden.
The residue of Ghost-Man’s deplorable youth still lingers, triggered by the simplest of things. He fights with his own inner demons and recollections as well, but they are more recent. Tragedies of the Gulf War were experienced in a gruesome and personal way, adding to the well of sorrow and pains from the past. His special training was meticulous and careful but also deadly. When things don’t go as planned, events spiral out of control and many lives are endangered.
Past and present collide and the results bring Tika, Juri and Ghost-man into a battle of wills, determination, and a triumph. But who will ultimately win the day?
Before is filled with vivid descriptions and emotions. However, the character’s stories are so intermingled from past to present and back again they are at times difficult to follow, thus making the overall flow a bit bumpy. There is also a tad of explicit material that could be offensive.
A troubled mind full of snarled webs can be treacherous. Are the voices and visions real or just imagined? Where will they lead and whose life will they ensnare? It was in a small neighborhood of Cambridge Massachusetts, on a poorly lit street that an uninvited stranger crept, unnoticed. Will the unsuspecting residents get more than they bargained for? Who is truly safe or just unaware? The answers are elusive.
Tika, is a budding photographer, young and full of exuberance. She has become attached to an older couple in her apartment building. Juri, the husband, is recovering from a stroke and having difficulty adjusting to his current limitations. Anna attempts to care for him alone, but appreciates Tika’s helpfulness.
Juri is plagued with vivid images of the past, as he struggles with memories of the Nazi invasion. His losses were so great they still rip at his heart. He tries diligently to separate these events from current reality but waivers back and forth. Writing, he is always writing down what he remembers. The doctor says it is good for him, so he tries. But the memories bring unbearable pain and tears fall unbidden.
The residue of Ghost-Man’s deplorable youth still lingers, triggered by the simplest of things. He fights with his own inner demons and recollections as well, but they are more recent. Tragedies of the Gulf War were experienced in a gruesome and personal way, adding to the well of sorrow and pains from the past. His special training was meticulous and careful but also deadly. When things don’t go as planned, events spiral out of control and many lives are endangered.
Past and present collide and the results bring Tika, Juri and Ghost-man into a battle of wills, determination, and a triumph. But who will ultimately win the day?
Before is filled with vivid descriptions and emotions. However, the character’s stories are so intermingled from past to present and back again they are at times difficult to follow, thus making the overall flow a bit bumpy. There is also a tad of explicit material that could be offensive.
The Lawless Frontier
By Randy Denmon
Sometimes luck runs out, even for the undefeated….
Myles Adams and Stewart Cook have been partners in war for several years. However, when Myles is asked to help Stewart rescue his girl from the rages of the Mexican Revolution, the odds are no longer in their favor.
Experienced and seasoned in the ways of battle, Myles is resolved to help liberate the lovely Alexia Garcia. However, his conscious, his keen senses, and his determination will soon lead them along treacherous paths and unpredictable situations. First they journey south to the boyhood home of Stewart. His American father runs a successful business and his beautiful dark haired mother is delighted to see him. They are pleased to meet Myles as well. However, their stay is cut short as news of the advancing Revolutionaries hastens their departure.
Myles, who has served as a liaison between the American and Mexican governments is hoping old ties will help their quest. Stopping to pick up supplies and some much needed rest, Myles encounters, once again, the enchanting Carmen. There’s something special between them. Carmen is fearful after learning the details of their trip, and tries to stop Myles from continuing.
Undaunted, Myles and Stewart head out, accompanied by dependable companions. The journey is hot, mosquito filled, and perilous. They encounter hostiles of the ruthless kind and the exchange is deadly. With time running out and Alexia still unaccounted for, every delay is agony for Stewart. Will the impossible become plausible for the clever Myles? Will Stewart be reunited with Alexia? Have the setbacks been too costly?
With renewed fervor they push onward, deeper into the realm of Poncho Villa. Reaching the city of Santiago, devastation and pillage are encountered at every turn. Entire families have been murdered in their own homes. Alexia’s house is abandoned and she is no where to be found. Is it too late? Can Myles former ally be trusted? Are the odds just too tilted?
The Lawless Frontier is a deeply personal look into the heart of the Mexican Revolution and the price paid for freedom.
Sometimes luck runs out, even for the undefeated….
Myles Adams and Stewart Cook have been partners in war for several years. However, when Myles is asked to help Stewart rescue his girl from the rages of the Mexican Revolution, the odds are no longer in their favor.
Experienced and seasoned in the ways of battle, Myles is resolved to help liberate the lovely Alexia Garcia. However, his conscious, his keen senses, and his determination will soon lead them along treacherous paths and unpredictable situations. First they journey south to the boyhood home of Stewart. His American father runs a successful business and his beautiful dark haired mother is delighted to see him. They are pleased to meet Myles as well. However, their stay is cut short as news of the advancing Revolutionaries hastens their departure.
Myles, who has served as a liaison between the American and Mexican governments is hoping old ties will help their quest. Stopping to pick up supplies and some much needed rest, Myles encounters, once again, the enchanting Carmen. There’s something special between them. Carmen is fearful after learning the details of their trip, and tries to stop Myles from continuing.
Undaunted, Myles and Stewart head out, accompanied by dependable companions. The journey is hot, mosquito filled, and perilous. They encounter hostiles of the ruthless kind and the exchange is deadly. With time running out and Alexia still unaccounted for, every delay is agony for Stewart. Will the impossible become plausible for the clever Myles? Will Stewart be reunited with Alexia? Have the setbacks been too costly?
With renewed fervor they push onward, deeper into the realm of Poncho Villa. Reaching the city of Santiago, devastation and pillage are encountered at every turn. Entire families have been murdered in their own homes. Alexia’s house is abandoned and she is no where to be found. Is it too late? Can Myles former ally be trusted? Are the odds just too tilted?
The Lawless Frontier is a deeply personal look into the heart of the Mexican Revolution and the price paid for freedom.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Ladykiller
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Thrown feet first into New York City’s darkest side, the horror and brutality of life flood your imagination. A murderer without conscience, without regret, without a second thought is on the loose. Silently deceptive, cool and calm, the Ladykiller is both cunning and efficient. There are no obvious clues, no clear patterns and no easy answers for Detective Dave Dillon. A haunting mistake from the past makes this his last chance for redemption. The son of an Irish cop, Dillon is stubborn, intuitive, and dead set on solving the case.
The ladykiller is just as determined, systematically eliminating those who deserve to die. Each victim is eradicated in the same brutal way. Lured to a deserted location, no witnesses and by the cover of darkness the killing takes place. Another murder and yet another, public and internal pressure on the Ladykiller taskforce intensifies. Time is running out and the answers are elusive. Over and over Dillon reviews each case looking at the photos and the facts. What do they have in common? What is their final expression trying to say? Where is the link? The experienced officers are determined to unravel the facts. When new tidbits of information shed light upon past discoveries, things come together. The link perhaps, but how? Persistence and resolve will find the answers, or dose it? A confession or a bid for notoriety, half truths or just more lies, where will it all lead? The Ladykiller is ruthless and shrewd, deceiving everyone, but for how long? Will there be another murder or will the taskforce arrive in time?
Matters of the heart make it complicated. When reason is left behind, desires, passions and reality become a lethal mix. Only a level head and a clear mind can discover hidden secrets. Who is really in danger, who is hiding the truth and who will snap first?
The Ladykiller is addictive, intense and not for the faint of heart!
Thrown feet first into New York City’s darkest side, the horror and brutality of life flood your imagination. A murderer without conscience, without regret, without a second thought is on the loose. Silently deceptive, cool and calm, the Ladykiller is both cunning and efficient. There are no obvious clues, no clear patterns and no easy answers for Detective Dave Dillon. A haunting mistake from the past makes this his last chance for redemption. The son of an Irish cop, Dillon is stubborn, intuitive, and dead set on solving the case.
The ladykiller is just as determined, systematically eliminating those who deserve to die. Each victim is eradicated in the same brutal way. Lured to a deserted location, no witnesses and by the cover of darkness the killing takes place. Another murder and yet another, public and internal pressure on the Ladykiller taskforce intensifies. Time is running out and the answers are elusive. Over and over Dillon reviews each case looking at the photos and the facts. What do they have in common? What is their final expression trying to say? Where is the link? The experienced officers are determined to unravel the facts. When new tidbits of information shed light upon past discoveries, things come together. The link perhaps, but how? Persistence and resolve will find the answers, or dose it? A confession or a bid for notoriety, half truths or just more lies, where will it all lead? The Ladykiller is ruthless and shrewd, deceiving everyone, but for how long? Will there be another murder or will the taskforce arrive in time?
Matters of the heart make it complicated. When reason is left behind, desires, passions and reality become a lethal mix. Only a level head and a clear mind can discover hidden secrets. Who is really in danger, who is hiding the truth and who will snap first?
The Ladykiller is addictive, intense and not for the faint of heart!
Queen of the Underworld
Author: Gail Goodwin
Young Emma Gant, a new graduate from J school, has recently received her first assignment, working as the Miami Star’s newest reporter. This is her chance to break free from a small town existence, a controlling step father and to live her dream. Following an interesting train ride she arrives at her hotel, escorted by her aunt Tess. The surroundings are not what she expected, not even a view of the beach. Disappointed yet pleased with its potential, the Julia Tuttle becomes her sanctuary, her comfort, her shield from the harshness of the real world. Emma is anticipating a phone call; it will be the voice of her married lover, Paul, coming to whisk her away. The owner of a resort where Emma worked last summer, he was her every heartbeat. The reunion will be sweet. Will they have a future or will fate change Emma’s perfect plans? With a mired of multi-faceted characters crossing her path Emma finds her first days on the job to be a roller coaster of events. Writing obits, avoiding the “glass cage” of the women’s section, visiting the papers “morgue”, interviews with tornado survivors and even an encounter with “The Queen of the Underworld” give her many challenges. It is the time of Cuban unrest and Fidel Castro’s usurping of land. The city has an influx of immigrants from varied walks of life, mingled with local color, from aristocratic know-it-alls, to young madams to mafia warnings; each seems a potential threat to her developing “Emma-ness”. Feeling diminished by the experience of other reporters, Emma goes the extra mile to make her mark. Can she carve a niche out for herself? Will she live up to “Lucifer’s” expectations or will she be cast off, banished, to a small town office? The entire book takes place over a period of about 2 weeks and it is filled with Emma’s constant thoughts and imaginings. To truly understand and appreciate the story to the fullest, one should have lived in that era or studied about it. By the way, don’t forget your Spanish-English dictionary.
Young Emma Gant, a new graduate from J school, has recently received her first assignment, working as the Miami Star’s newest reporter. This is her chance to break free from a small town existence, a controlling step father and to live her dream. Following an interesting train ride she arrives at her hotel, escorted by her aunt Tess. The surroundings are not what she expected, not even a view of the beach. Disappointed yet pleased with its potential, the Julia Tuttle becomes her sanctuary, her comfort, her shield from the harshness of the real world. Emma is anticipating a phone call; it will be the voice of her married lover, Paul, coming to whisk her away. The owner of a resort where Emma worked last summer, he was her every heartbeat. The reunion will be sweet. Will they have a future or will fate change Emma’s perfect plans? With a mired of multi-faceted characters crossing her path Emma finds her first days on the job to be a roller coaster of events. Writing obits, avoiding the “glass cage” of the women’s section, visiting the papers “morgue”, interviews with tornado survivors and even an encounter with “The Queen of the Underworld” give her many challenges. It is the time of Cuban unrest and Fidel Castro’s usurping of land. The city has an influx of immigrants from varied walks of life, mingled with local color, from aristocratic know-it-alls, to young madams to mafia warnings; each seems a potential threat to her developing “Emma-ness”. Feeling diminished by the experience of other reporters, Emma goes the extra mile to make her mark. Can she carve a niche out for herself? Will she live up to “Lucifer’s” expectations or will she be cast off, banished, to a small town office? The entire book takes place over a period of about 2 weeks and it is filled with Emma’s constant thoughts and imaginings. To truly understand and appreciate the story to the fullest, one should have lived in that era or studied about it. By the way, don’t forget your Spanish-English dictionary.
Nomad’s Land
Author: Susan Kathleen
A woman’s world or a guy’s world, it is all a matter of perspective. The vision of the 90’s has drastically changed the paradigm of modern society. There is no normal, average, or common denominator with which a life can be measured. This is the world of Nomad’s Land. Daytime actors are nighttime bartenders. Each realm has different relationships and “eyes” that perceive others with their own concocted and twisted beliefs. This is the temperament at Justin’s Place, a bar just like any other. Though Cat tries to enter quietly and discreetly, her condition is evident. The darkened booth doesn’t dissuade the curious eyes. Questioning minds begin their suspicions. Where has she been? Why has she returned? But most important where is Danny? Her reply will be. “He’s gone. Finito, Muerto. Dead.” Cat’s life began with many imbalances and now it’s been turned inside out. What will become her guiding force, her heart or her head?
Beware: Very Explicit Language.
A woman’s world or a guy’s world, it is all a matter of perspective. The vision of the 90’s has drastically changed the paradigm of modern society. There is no normal, average, or common denominator with which a life can be measured. This is the world of Nomad’s Land. Daytime actors are nighttime bartenders. Each realm has different relationships and “eyes” that perceive others with their own concocted and twisted beliefs. This is the temperament at Justin’s Place, a bar just like any other. Though Cat tries to enter quietly and discreetly, her condition is evident. The darkened booth doesn’t dissuade the curious eyes. Questioning minds begin their suspicions. Where has she been? Why has she returned? But most important where is Danny? Her reply will be. “He’s gone. Finito, Muerto. Dead.” Cat’s life began with many imbalances and now it’s been turned inside out. What will become her guiding force, her heart or her head?
Beware: Very Explicit Language.
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