Crime Seen by: Victoria Laurie Review

Description via Goodreads:

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye, is having a hard time getting over a gunshot wound from her last case-especially because she didn't see the shots coming. Out of work and second-guessing her abilities, she tries to get back in the saddle by helping her boyfriend Dutch with some of his FBI cases. And soon enough, her intuition returns-with a vengeance.

My Review:

While Abby is recovering from her gunshot wound and wondering why her "crew" didn't warn her in time, she finds herself teaming up with Candice who's a PI and helps her investigate some cold cases brought to her by her boyfriend Dutch. She comes across a case that calls to her more than any other and proceeds and when things get dicey for the two they lean to Dutch to help them find the bad guys. A great read and adventure one that pulls you wondering if Abby will get back to where she was prior to being shot.

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Killer Insight by: Victoria Laurie

Description via Goodreads:

When her relationship with FBI agent Dutch Rivers skids to a halt, Abby Cooper is fully aware that a wedding isn't the best post-breakup scenario. But when a friend from the Mile High City finds herself short one bridesmaid, it doesn't take a professional psychic to see the opportunity for a much-needed get-away.

High altitudes can be healing, and Abby reunites with friends--especially her childhood crush Duffy McGinnis, now town sherrif... not to mention tall tark and yummy. But Abby needs more than a shoulder to cry on. One bridesmaid after another is mysteriously flying the coop, and Abby's intuition tells her that their final destinations aren't pretty.

With the wedding party falling apart and her gift of sight never quite so foggy, Abby has to save the date--and herself from becoming the next taffeta-clad target...

My Review:

As with the series it gets better all the time, while Dutch wants their relationship to slow down while he gets use to his job at the FBI Abby takes that to mean all things are off with Dutch and that she is single again. After alot of tears she heads off to her friends wedding. While there bridesmaids are disappearing and turning up dead. It is up to Abby and Duffy (the local sheriff and friend) to figure out what is going on. This book had lots of action and adventure and a big whodunit.

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A Vision of Murder by: Victoria Laurie Review

Description via Goodreads:

Professional psychic Abby Cooper has invested in a fixer-upper, hoping to make a killing in the real estate market. But a killing of another kind puts her plans awry, as the ghost of a murdered woman and some troublesome poltergeists lead her into a mystery that stretches all the way back to World War II.

My Review:

This series never seems to fail and gets better and better with each book. This one opens up with Abby's boyfriend getting shot in the rear. Abby rushes back to play nursemaid to her boyfriend. Meanwhile Abby, Cat and Dave go into a business to fix up lost cause houses and fix them up and resell them. What the three didn't realize is that Abby's newly bought house has duo ghosts fighting with each other. One is the grandfather and original owner of the house the other is Liza a Austrian woman who had to go into hiding during WWII. Dave is adamant after encountering attacking tools of the trade not to go into the house. The few times Abby has suckered him into the house he's brought holy water, garlic etc. This series gets better and the bantering between her and Dutch is classic and cracks me up to no end. I am really starting to think that Ms. Laurie has given Ms. Harris a run for her money. While Sookie is good with the vamps, but Ms. Laurie has hit on a whole new great thing with Abby Cooper. Definitely worth the investment in this series.

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Better Read Than Dead by: Victoria Laurie Review

Description via Goodreads:

Abby's not a private investigator; she's a psychic intuitive who works with a crew of spirit guides to foretell the future. And it's crystal clear that Abby's in for plenty of trouble in Better Read than Dead. A favor for a friend has landed her at a Mob-connected wedding, where she finds herself reading tarot for a hit man! Now the father of the bride has made Abby an offer she can't refuse -- an offer that's interfering with both her personal life and her professional efforts to aid the police in their search for a violent rapist. Can she balance the psychic scales and see her way clear to a future where justice prevails? This outing by author Victoria Laurie (herself a psychic who has assisted in criminal investigations) indicates a long and happy future for Abby Cooper.

My Review:

Abby Cooper finds herself tangled up with the mob. While repaying a favor owed from her time off at the end of Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye. She is called to a wedding not realizing the connection to this wedding are mobsters. Things also aren't panning out well for her and Dutch as neither are the best at knowing what to say to one another. Abby's sister Cat tries her hand at Tarot to find she is less than productive at it. Abby is also on the hunt for a ski mask rapist tormenting the women of Michigan. Abby turns things around in her own quirky way. A great with tons of humor and psychic abilities.

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Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by: Victoria Laurie Review

Description via Goodreads:

Clues are what every investigator needs to succeed...and that's where Abby Cooper has an unorthodox edge. You see, sometimes, like it or not, clues just come to her. Abby is a different sort of P.I. She's not a private detective, she's a psychic intuitive.working with a crew of spirit guides to offer her clients the benefit of her glimpses into their future. She believes that free will is the only weapon against the destiny her visions reveal; she also believes that foreknowledge can give a person the power to change the future events she sees.Of course, with such power comes responsibility, especially when what Abby sees is a matter of life and death! When Abby's talent gives her insights into the plans of a serial killer, she faces double jeopardy. She's determined to stop the killing.and that means finding a way to convince the authorities that she's neither a kook nor a killer. Unfortunately, in her line of work, proof can be remarkably hard to come by, until it's too late. And the danger grows when the killer proves easier to convince than the cops.

The author's bio for Victoria Laurie reveals that this talented writer is a psychic medium who has assisted police in cold-case investigations. I, for one, can't wait to see what the future holds for the fascinating Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye mystery series.

My Review:
This was the first book I had read by Ms. Laurie she has a knack for writing a great story mixed in with mystery, psychic abilities and humor. I found myself laughing out loud at some parts of her story. We follow Abby Cooper who is in her thirties and works as a psychic intuitive. She hasn't had a steady relationship for a long time. She decides to put herself on a dating site. Where she meets Dutch who's a bit shady with his profile. Abby is deathly afraid police won't take her seriously and almost has her fears confirmed through Dutch who's a cop. While a set of sisters are dead within a short time of each other, the police rely on Abby's abilities to help them nab the killer. Being open to psychics I think it's a great story. I also find myself thinking Ms. Laurie has hit on something with Abby's motto on her meetings with clients only 2 in one year so that one doesn't become a junkie to it. Definitely a great series beginner and one that has me hooked. Look out Sookie Stackhouse you have some stiff competition.

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The Merlot Murders by: Ellen Crosby Review

Description via Ellen Crosby's Website:

Someone wants to buy the 500 acre farm and vineyard located at the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains which has belonged to Lucie Montgomery's family since colonial days. And they are apparently willing to commit murder to get it. When Lucie's father Leland dies under questionable circumstances, the vineyard passes to his three children. But Lucie, who has been living in France for several years, quickly discovers that her brother and sister can't wait to nail up the "For Sale" sign while she is the lone holdout for reviving the ailing winery.

All too soon it's clear she's the new target of whoever wants her family's land. With a growing list of suspects - including the new cut-rate vintner her father hired shortly before he died - Lucie must act quickly to uncover the identity of a killer who seems disturbingly close to home.

My Review:

I enjoyed this story of the young damaged Lucie coming home for France in time for her fathers funeral. She has been living in France since her accident which has twisted up her leg. You can see the strength this character has even through everything she doesn't want to be coddled. She has more confidence than many have seen with characters in books. She wants her mothers legacy to carry on regardless of the obstacles that stand her way. She learns a lot about friends that she left behind when she moved and those who are less than stellar. Definitely a great start to a wonderful series.

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Once Bitten, Twice Shy by: Jennifer Rardin Review

Description via Goodreads:

Jaz Parks is an assistant assassin who works for the CIA. She and her boss, Vayl, have just received an assignment to meet, assess, and neutralize a Miami plastic surgeon with some disturbing supernatural connection. A spunky tale with real bite.




My Review:

While following the CIA operatives Jaz Parks and Vayl and their adventures this book sheds some insight into Jaz's past and her life being with the CIA. I really enjoyed this story which is geared towards adults. I think it offers a lot adventure, mystery, big bad guys and girls who kick booty. I enjoyed the late Ms. Rardin's writing style she does a superb job sharing information on various characters that are pulled off the page. Had me feeling like I was going along with them. The humor in this book was great had me laughing in so many situations. Can't wait to read more by Ms. Rardin.

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The Villa by: Nora Roberts Review

Description via Goodreads:

Sophia Giambelli has never worried about competition. For three generations, the Giambelli wines have been renowned for their quality -- from Napa Valley to Italy, and throughout the world. The pride of the Giambelli family and a top PR executive, Sophia loves her job--and excels at it.

But things are about to change at Villa Giambelli. Tereza, the matriarch, has announced a merger with the MacMillan family's winery--and Sophia will be assuming a new role. As a savvy businesswoman, she knows she must be prepared for anything . . . but she isn't prepared for Tyler MacMillan. They've been ordered to work together very closely, to facilitate the merger. Sophia must teach Ty the finer points of marketing -- and Ty, in turn, shows her how to get down and dirty, to use the sun, rain, and earth to coax the sweetest grapes from the vineyard.

As they toil together, both in and out of the fields, Sophia is torn between a powerful attraction and a professional rivalry. At the end of the season, the course of the company's future -- and the legacy of the villa -- may take an entirely new direction. And when acts of sabotage threaten both the family business and the family itself, Sophia's quest will be not only for dominance, but also for survival.

My Review:

This book was a good read, at the beginning the characters are easily laid out with the big question being what does the Tereza, the matriarch, has up her sleeve at the meeting she is calling. When the contracts are laid out, many are confused and highly upset and upset enough to do everything from sabotage to murder to rip apart their vineyards. In the process a few fall in love which they never thought would happen. Tereza and Eli have decided to retire to see more of Europe in their old age and pass on their legacy to their children. It was a great story with mystery, questions to be answered and romance for those who love romances. I rate this 4 cups as certain parts of it were a tad predictable. You almost knew where the author was going with some of it.

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Catching Fire by: Suzanne Collins Review

Description off the Book Jacket:

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. she and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her long time friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol--a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other the consequences will be horrifying.

My Review:
Wow, this was a great continuation of The Hunger Games. The love birds are called back to the Hunger Games where other tributes are called back to fight again. Katniss knows the probability of winning with Peeta a second time isn't on their side. The stakes are higher in this game, and the enemies are more dangerous then before. Katniss has tough choices to make to ensure that Peeta will survive. What they don't realize that the uprising is happening and is being fueled by Peeta and Katniss while on their victory tour. People are suffering all around them. This book really grips you wanting more. Wanting to see if they survive with a surprising ending to the book. A great action filled story.

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Matched by: Ally Condie Review

Description off of Goodreads:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My Review:

Never in my time of reading has book gripped me in such a way this one did, a lot of questions popped into my head about whether this could actually happen. The society in this book decides what you eat how much, how much exercise you get, who you will be matched with as your husband and so on. Cassia has waited so long to be matched and is thrilled when she is matched with Xander her long time friend. What she doesn't count on is the micro card screw up. When she puts in the micro card the next day to learn about her match, she is concerned when the face that comes up is Ky another friend of hers. He shouldn't be in the match pool. To make matters worse she finds herself falling in love with him. She wonders if the Society is without errors. This book had me feeling various emotions and towards the end I was feeling the anger she was feeling about The Society. Definitely a great book.

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The Hunger Games by: Suzanne Collins Review

Description via Goodreads:

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Review:

This book while slow beginning picked up quickly enough. We learn about Katniss her family and what they have been through living in district 12 we can feel the rawness at the reaping ceremony. you can also feel the attraction building up through the book at times I think Katniss was kidding herself in the arena about how she was feeling taking care of Peeta. I found myself very sad at times when certain things happened, and feeling like Katniss couldn't catch a break. It was an incredible ride and I would only recommend it if you have the other two books cause you will want to continue this journey. I love how she undermined the Capitol at every chance she got sticking it to them where it hurt.

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Bloody Valentine by: Melissa De La Cruz Review

Description via Goodreads:

Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

Also, witness the bonding of Jack and Schuyler.

My Review:

A great little compilation book to go with the Blue Bloods series with a beautiful little bonding ceremony in the end, a great story. Also details how Oliver moved past Schuyler. Also shows how Allegra came to choose the path she took which led to the hospitalization. And how various characters moved on.

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Misguided Angel by: Melissa De La Cruz Review

Description via Goodreads:

After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.

As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart.

My Review:

While fleeing to Europe thinking the Countess would aide Jack and Schuyler little did they know that the Countess had other plans. Mimi struggles to get through both heartbreak and betrayal. She wants Jack on a platter for deserting her for the half blood. In the meantime Mimi is the Regent in charge refusing to be the Regis as Charles Force isn't dead just off on a journey. Mimi develops a relationship with Oliver, as he assists with the missing vampires. Jack and Schuyler are trying to secure the gates to keep Lucifer out. Jack decides to make their relationship secure before he goes back to face his twin. While we are left wondering his fate, we get to see more of their relationship and how committed they both are. This story gets better each time and grips you in begging for more.

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The Van Alen Legacy by: Melissa De La Cruz Review

Description off of Goodreads:
With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.

Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series.

My Review:
This series gets better and better with Schuyler and Oliver on the run it seems that they will spend much time in hiding which has only resulted in a year going by. Jack is out hunting with his father after the aftermath in revelations. Bliss is being haunted by a being inside of her that dominates her much of the time. Allegra has graced the world by waking up. Mimi is on the hunt for Jordan the 11 year old who disappeared in revelations. With much going on who would have a guessed a bonding would be planned as well, even though the twins want little to do with the bonding. Jack's mind is on Schulyer while Mimi has been occupying her time with Kingsley Martin. Anything and everything gets more wild when your in NYC.

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Revelations by: Melissa De La Cruz Review

Description via Goodreads:

Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City's wealthiest families? They're powerful, they're famous... they're undead.
Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question--is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.

When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire's secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.

My Review:

This series gets better every time. This one starts out with Schulyer living with her uncle Charles who's been dethroned among the vampire committee. She is force to be alienated not allowed to spend time with her grandfather or her Conduit Ollie. She is able to spend time with Bliss to learn that Dylan is placed in rehab to work out what the silver bloods did to him. Also we learn more about the relationship between the force twins and Schulyer and Jack Force. We also learn that something has happened with Jordan Bliss's younger sister. What an incredible series. Definitely goes beyond your normal vampire society. It's not like twilight in the least while it may drawn in those readers Ms. De La Cruz has got something beyond the typical vampire series. This one grips you and holds you to your seat.

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Masquerade by: Melissa De La Cruz Review

Via Goodreads:

Schuyler Van Alen wants an explanation for the mysterious deaths of young vampires. With her best friend, Oliver, Schuyler travels to Italy in the hope of finding the one man who can help—her grandfather. Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the Four Hundred Ball, an exclusive gala hosted by the city's wealthy, powerful, and unhuman—a true Blue Blood affair.

But it's at the after-party, a masquerade ball thrown by the cunning Mimi Force, that the real danger lurks. Hidden behind the masks is a revelation that will forever change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

Rich with glamour, attitude, and vampire lore, this second installment in the Blue Bloods saga will leave readers thirsting for more.

My Review:
Schuyler and her human friend Oliver run all over Italy in search of her uncle trying to adhere to Sky's grandmothers wishes. Only to find him and not get what they are seeking. More Blue Bloods are being killed, and with the upcoming 400 Hundred Ball the vampires are getting dolled up. The teens decided to throw their own after party where masks are all the rage. Sky gets kissed by someone under a mask and has little idea who it could be hoping it's a certain vampire. Sky also learns she is running out of time, she needs a human consort or she could wind up in the same fate as her mother. Coma ridden. This book series definitely captivated me, You can feel love in the air, just on the brink but unobtainable. I really enjoyed seeing Sky and her Grandfather bond even if it was over vampire lessons. You learn more about the Van Alen storyline and who lies where. Melissa De La Cruz offers more and more with each book!

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Blue Bloods by: Melissa De La Cruz Review

Description off Goodreads:
When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

Could those vampire legends really be true? Steeped in vampire lore and set against the glittery backdrop of New York City, Blue Bloods will be devoured by Melissa de la Cruz's legion fans.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this series as even though it is about vamps and we know there are lots of books about vamps, this one includes information on Angels which many authors haven't travelled. We meet the Force Twins who are forces to be reckoned with. We also meet the last Van Alen child Schuyler who is as far from the image a vamp has. She spends her time with her best friend Oliver who turns out is her right hand man. When someone starts killing off vampires it's up to Oliver, Schuyler (Sky) and Bliss to figure out what is going on with Manhattans elite. I found myself almost unable to put this book down, and glad I have the rest in the serious to read through. Definitely not your typical vampire book to say the least.

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Rock Bottom by: Erin Brockovich and CJ Lyons Review

Description via Goodreads:

From New York Times bestselling author and internationally renowned environmental and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich comes Rock Bottom, a debut thriller and first in a series of novels that introduces one of the most fascinating and memorable characters in suspense fiction.

Ten years ago, a pregnant seventeen-year-old, Angela Joy Palladino, fled her hometown, Scotia, West Virginia, as a pariah. Over time, AJ succeeded in establishing herself as an environmental activist, dubbed “The People’s Champion,” only to be forced to retreat from the spotlight in the wake of a crushing media disaster.

When AJ is offered a job with a lawyer who is crusading against mountaintop removal mining, she is torn. As a single mother of a special needs nine-year-old boy, AJ can use any work she can get. But doing so will mean returning to the West Virginia hometown she left in disgrace so long ago.

Upon arriving in Scotia, AJ learns of the sudden death of the lawyer who hired her. Soon after joining forces with his daughter, Elizabeth, threats begin to surface, bodies begin to pile up, and AJ discovers that her own secrets aren’t the only ones her mountain hometown has kept buried. Hitting rock bottom, AJ must face the betrayal of those once closest to her and confront the harrowing past she thought she had left behind.

In Rock Bottom, Erin Brockovich combines passionate intensity, first-rate storytelling, and her real life experiences in a novel that will leave you breathless.

My Review:

This book grips you in the same way Erin Brockovich's story gripped you. You follow AJ as she goes home to a place she ran from 10 years ago with her special boy named David. AJ finds herself hired by the daughter of the man that initially hired her to help a great cause mining and a mountain being ripped apart. You learn so much about AJ and somethings about Elizabeth Hardy the lawyer who hires her. You also at least in my case find yourself fighting the battle of good versus evil. Hoping that AJ will help right the wrong that is going on. You also meet David's father who's working to change the rules from within. You also meet AJ's parents and see the price they paid to help their daughter. A long since buried secret. As they had not wanted the truth to come out to their daughter. I enjoyed the spunk that Flora (AJ's grandmother) has she can fight with the best of them, doesn't care about what small minds think and even when arguing with someone will still go the extra mile to help out. Definitely a book I could read again. Erin does it again!

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Third Rail by: Michael Harvey Review

Description via Goodreads:

The ferocious new novel from the author of The Chicago Way (“A major new voice”—Michael Connelly) and The Fifth Floor finds Michael Harvey at the top of his game in an expertly plotted, impossible to put down thriller set in Chicago’s public transit system.



Harvey’s tough talking, Aeschylus quoting, former Irish cop turned PI, Michael Kelly, is backin a sizzling murder mystery that pits him against a merciless sniper on the loose. After witnessing a shooting on an L platform—and receiving a phone call from the killer himself—Kelly is drawn toward a murderer with an unnerving link to his own past, to a crime he witnessed as a child, and to the consequences it had on his relationship with his father, a subject Kelly would prefer to leave unexamined. But when his girlfriend—the gorgeous Chicago judge Rachel Swenson—is abducted, Kelly has no choice but to find the killer by excavating his own stormy past.

Stylish, sophisticated, edge-of-your-seat suspense from a new modern master.

My Review:
This book was sent to me via FSB Media for a honest and fair review. This book was full of suspense, thriller appeal, adventure. We follow P.I. Michael Kelly as he is being contacted by the sniper attacking various people. There seems to be little in the way of catching the sniper. Michael also has to watch someone he care about get caught up in all of this. It was well written and kept you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out if Kelly will figure it out in time. I also really enjoyed the cover to the book it's very well done. A great book for anyone looking for a great thriller to ride on.

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Coast Road by: Barbara Delinsky Review

Description via Goodreads:

Life's greatest gifts come to us by accident. Barbara Delinsky has always had a gift for creating tales of extraordinary emotional power and depth. Now the New York Times bestselling author of Three Wishes surpasses herself once again in a novel that takes readers on a journey as richly textured, colorful, and poignant as the northern California landscape in which the book is set.Rachel Keats and Jack McGill were artists, deeply in love when they married, until the rush of life took its toll. After ten years of marriage, they divorced and went their separate ways. Jack stayed in San Francisco. Rachel moved with their two young daughters to Big Sur.
Six years later, an alarming middle-of-the-night phone call demands that Jack put aside his own busy life and career as a leading architect to rush to his ex-wife's hospital bed. While she lies comatose, Jack maintains a bedside vigil and finds himself getting to know Rachel better than he ever did -- through their daughters, her friends, and, even more, through her art. Meanwhile, the beauty and grace of the Redwood canyon where she has made her home also work their own special alchemy upon Jack. He begins to see Rachel, his daughters, and the story of his marriage with new eyes.
Coast Road celebrates those things in life that matter most -- the kinship of neighbors, the companionship of friends, and the irreplaceable time spent with children and family. Barbara Delinsky depicts with exquisite accuracy the ties that bind each of us to those people and places we hold most dear.

My Review:
Rachel Keats lives in Big Sur which is far from San Francisco she has built a life for her and her daughters, Samantha and Hope.  She spends her time painting and being involved with a 7 member female book club group.  On her way to her group she is in a horrible car accident and is rushed to the hospital, her Katherine calls Jack McGill Rachel's ex husband and father to her children.  He drops everything and runs back to Rachel.
He spends the next 16 days doting on his ex-wife, getting to know her friends the voice of Rachel who's lays coma ridden with a broken leg, and badly bruised up.  As he learns about how Rachel felt, he realizes he hasn't stopped caring about her.  This book was the best so far, really showed that sometimes people try to get up the corporate ladder and forget about the smaller things, family, friends.  While he travelled a long road to get back to Rachel it was definitely worth it.

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Summer I Dared by: Barbara Delinsky Review

Description via Goodreads:



On Big Sawyer island, life is as steady as the routine of the lobstermen who leave with the tide each morning and return with their haul each night. But for forty-year-old New Yorker Julia Bechtel, life and what's important in it are about to be forever altered when she survives a terrible boat accident en route to the island. Now, in the company of her aunt and daughter, Julia finds herself feeling strangely connected to the tragedy's other survivors -- Noah, a divorced lobsterman, and Kim, a young woman rendered mute since her rescue -- and newly outraged at the state of her marriage to a domineering man. Seeing the world with new eyes, Julia vows to embrace life with all of its joys and uncertainties. And the journey begins on Big Sawyer...

My Review:

This book was incredible. While three characters survive what 9 others didn't, you see them connect and help one another move on. It shows that trauma can help people reevaluate their life, and choices they have made. For Noah it was repairing a relationship with his son, for Kim it was finding her voice when she was so filled of horror, and for Julie it was deciding what she wanted and not what others wanted.

I really loved the island. Reminded me of a summer home I lived on as a kid. It had depth and warmth that isn't always felt when dealing with a vacation island. This one really captured so much. I couldn't put the book down, it gripped and held me for a long time. Definitely a great read and one I would recommend to anyone who's looking for a really moving story. Barbara Delinsky has really hit on something with this story.

With tragedy came greatness as the book moved on. The last two hundred pages really sailed by in my opinion. This is a book I would hold on to incase I wanted to reread and be inspired by the characters.

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1st to Die by: James Patterson Review

Description off Book Jacket:

Four women--four friends--share a determination to stop a killer who has been stalking newlyweds in San Francisco. Each holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.
But the usual procedures aren't bringing them any closer to stopping the killings. So these women form a Women's Murder Club to collaborate outside the box and pursue the case by sidestepping their bosses and giving one another a hand.
These four women develop intense bonds as they pursue a murderer whose crimes have stunned an entire city. Working together, they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered--before a shocking conclusion in which everything they know turns out to be devastatingly wrong.

My Review:
This book I thought was really well done and set up the relationships between the four women. While a murderer is running loose killing of newlyweds. This book really had me guessing who the murderer really was up until the end where everything I thought I knew backfired. Definitely a great mystery book from what I feel is a good mystery writer. Am currently starting 2nd Chance. This book was a great start of a series, loved the interaction between the women.

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Moon Dance by: J.R. Rain Review

Description via Goodreads:

Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire. Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.



Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head.

My Review:

I enjoyed this spin on Vampire Detective work. Samantha was bitten 6 years ago and in some ways lives a shadow of a life. Her husband is less than a man in my eyes. Instead of helping her he is grossed out by what she is. I like how it's like reading a Spencer novel or any other detective book plus paranormal. And how Samantha is able to bounce ideas off her internet friend Fang. Definitely a great start to a series. I enjoyed reading how Samantha interacts with her client and develops a love interest with him. Which I think helps her go through her separation from her family. Definitely a 4 cup book.

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The Lemonade Crime by: Jacqueline Davies Review

Description via Goodreads:


Following the laws of our legal system, Evan and Jessie’s fourth grade class concocts a courtroom on the playground, putting Scott Spencer, alleged thief, on trial. They create a legitimate courtroom—with a judge, witnesses, a jury of their peers—and surprising consequences.

As she explores the difficulties of fairness, Jacqueline Davies once again reveals how good she is at understanding the complex emotions of children this age.

My Review:

This was a great story about a brother and sister. They are both in fourth grade and Jessie (sister) wants justice to prevail against a local boy who seems to never get in trouble so she creates a court room in the playground to decide the fate of Scott, who has supposedly stolen money. Jessie has alot to learn about the fact that sometimes justice doesn't prevail. I enjoyed this story and could see grade school kids reading this and enjoying the minidetective work Jessie provides. Definitely a 5 cup book for children. Can't wait to see what Ms. Davies cooks up next for us.

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Blue Moon by: Alyson Noel Review

Description via Goodreads:


Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning. In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cur

e Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must chose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present andsaving Damen, who grows sicker every day...

My Review:

I enjoyed this story as we learn more about Damen and his history with Ever. We also learn that evil forces are always at play. While Ever is learning about her powers someone is set to alienate Ever, to remove her from her safe comfort of friends and family. While Ever finds herself having a hard enough time convincing her Aunt things are fine, she has to dig deep within herself to find out what is going on with her friends and boyfriend, who have seemed to turn their back on her. While Damen grows sicker by the day, Ever makes a deal with Devil so to speak. Roman has convinced Ever to make the worst deal possible. I did enjoy learning more about Summerland. Can't wait to read Shadowland. A four cup book indeed!

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Miranda, Queen of Argyll: Past Sins by: Julia Phillips Review

Miranda Tate knows leading a double life is hard. Keeping the lies and them facts straight is enough to drive one mad; especially when the worlds are mortal and magick. In one life, she's a computer consultant; in the other, she is the Queen of Argyll, immortal sorceress and leader of the Council of Magicks. While Miranda would gladly stay in her comfortable home in Denver, her duties call her out often; usually with frightening results. None more than her current assignment as mother and mentor to an eight-year-old child sorceress, Bryn. While in her keeping, the girl falls into an unnatural coma induced by enemies unknown; a list of infinite horrors waiting to be revisited. Forced to hide away in the sanctuary of Dalriada Castle, Miranda must untangle the clues and spells before harm befalls everyone she loves. With only seven days to solve the mystery of Bryn's illness and stop the threat, Miranda and her allies race to find the truth. Once again, the world of magick stands on the brink and she must stare down her own fears and face the apocalypse. Old hatreds and resentments must be put aside and new friends step to the front to help save the girl before her fate, and theirs, is forever lost.

My Review:

This book was very captivating. It's the story of Miranda Tate who has been living life for a very long time. She is the daughter of The Lady of the Lake and Merlin the Alchemist, her half brother is Tristan who's more known for his music and poetry then fighting wars. The story is told from various viewpoints. Mac a local detective trying to determine who Miranda really is. Samuel who is a local reporter who came across Miranda in 1997, and lost his chance with her. Miranda herself as she is dealing with the current battle at hand. Kadar who is bent on makingMiranda pay for past sins. Tessa who seems to be out for herself more than anyone else. Tessa has given birth to a baby named Bryn and then abandoned the young child, and now that she is coming into her powers has decided she wants her back. The council has decided that temporary custody would be best suited with the Queen of Argyll Miranda. Miranda knows nothing of child rearing. And while the child slips into a coma type sleep at the hands of Kadar. Miranda is stuck going into her memories of the best to figure out who would harm the child. You also learn alot about Miranda's husband Walwyn, a dragon Prince who met Miranda when she was a young woman. He was also best friends with her brother Tristan. This book was very interesting to say the least the way time bounced around. I could also see a romance blooming between Miranda and Mac. I can't wait to read the next book Miranda, Queen of Argyll Unlikely Saints. I rate this book a 5 cup book.

I was given this book by the author via NetGalley for a honest and fair review.

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The Iron Queen by: Julie Kagawa Review

Description via Goodreads:

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

My Review:

Ash, Meghan and Puck join up again to eliminate the Iron King, by this point Meghan is finding herself more attached to Iron then the other books. Meghan is also having more control issues with Summer against Iron magic. I enjoy this series and really love the characters the Ice Prince, and the ever lovable Puck who does anything for a laugh. I can only imagine how the Iron Knight will play out. As Ash seems on a mission and how it will turn out is anyone guess. I also find when I'm reading these books I can just breeze right through them. Definitely worth the read. I could see introducing this series to my kids when they are teenagers. I think they would enjoy this series. I rate this book a 5 cup book, I have loved all these books. Never a disappointment.

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Lumby's Bounty by: Gail Fraser Review

Description via Goodreads:

Tucked into the foothills of the Rockies lies the charming village of Lumby, where quirky but tolerant townsfolk usually make the best of any situation. Not a week goes by without some humorous mayhem occurring under the watchful eyes of the mayor, sheriff, and, of course, the town mascot, Hank, a pink flamingo who thinks he's a bald eagle...

How Lumby has come to host a hot air balloon festival is a long story, but the town's residents are jumping right into preparations. But in the Lumby tradition, it won't all be blue skies and smooth sailing...
My Review:

When Brian Beezer decides to enter Lumby into a Balloon festival while his heart is in the right place, he know next to nothing about the details. The Mayor decides instead of trying to back out and going broke in the process the best thing to do is to learn about balloon flying and make their own balloon. The monks at the Abbey are being over run with seekers, who aren't necessarily seeking anything other than free meals and lodging. The towns folk learn to lean on each other and utilize skills they each have. Brian shows the Monks how they can get rid of drifters than are using the Monks. Brian also learns about his great uncle Brother Benjamin and what happened to him way back when. Definitely solved some issues laying in Brian's mind. Another great book!

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Stealing Lumby by: Gail Fraser Review

Description via Goodreads:


Just a dot on the map of the northwest, Lumby looms big in the hearts of its residents. The townsfolk consider each other family as well as friends. And though the annual cow race can bring out the competitiveness in people, when times get tough, there is no better person to turn to than your nearest neighbor.

Lumby is thrown into the spotlight when one of the most important paintings of the twentieth century, The Barns of Lumby, is stolen. Town matriarch Charlotte Ross has a very personal connection to the painting-and to the artist, Dana Porter. And as a media frenzy descends on the little town, one of the actual barns disappears overnight from the rural landscape-and pieces of it begin showing up in the strangest places.

My Review:

I enjoyed venturing back to Lumby with all the great characters. especially the beloved Hank the Flamingo. Of course there were sad parts to this book, but the humor was overwhelming. I am always amazed and how Gail is able to write from various viewpoints like the Monks at the Abbey, the two trouble maker teens etc. A book I would definitely read again if I needed a good laugh.

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The Secret Hour by: Luanne Rice Review

The Secret Hour is by Luanne Rice Description via book jacket:

Beneath his careful and controlled demeanor, attorney John O'Rourke is a man whose life is in turmoil. Since the death of his wife, he has been juggling the rigors of a controversial capital murder case and the demands of raising two children. Eleven year old Maggie's crooked bangs and rumpled clothes eloquently reproach John's earnest but haphazard attempts at mothering. Teddy, John's stalwart fourteen year old has quietly assumed responsibilities far too weighty for his young shoulders, as he longs for the way things used to be and tries to ignore the hostility that has swirled around his family since his father took on the defense of a killer whose crimes have rocked Connecticut.

A brick through the window one autumn morning signals a dangerous new level of hatred. But a quieter event also takes place that day. A woman arrives on the O'Rourke doorstep to find a household on the brink of chaos but brimming with love--and, she hopes, answers. Kate Harris is searching for the key to her own mystery. Six months ago her younger sister fled far from their beloved home following a devastating confrontation. After mailing a single postcard from the New England shore, Willa Harris vanished. With only a postmark to go on, Kate takes a leave of absence from her job as a marine biologist to come to the seaside Willa adored--and discovers the one man who may be able to help her.

My Review:
What a great story. When John takes on the case of a murder on death row, he doesn't gain many friends in his community that he has known since childhood. John has lots of time separating his work from home life. When Kate walks in, you can feel the attraction the two have. Her story is just as sad as his. And the web of conspiracy all around them insane. Meanwhile with all that going on they are able to rescue a kidnapped woman, and bring the guilty to justice. A great book taking place in a small CT town. People are very similar to what you would see in small town living.

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Practical Magic by: Alice Hoffman Review

The bestselling author of Second Nature, Illumination Night and Turtle Moon now offers her most fascinating and tantalizingly accomplished novel yet -- a winning tale that amply confirms Alice Hoffman's reputation not only as a genius of the vivid scene and unforgettable character but as one of America's most captivating storytellers.

When the beautiful and precocious sisters Sally and Gillian Owens are orphaned at a young age, they are taken to a small Massachusetts town to be raised by their eccentric aunts, who happen to dwell in the darkest, eeriest house in town. As they become more aware of their aunts' mysterious and sometimes frightening powers -- and as their own powers begin to surface -- the sisters grow determined to escape their strange upbringing by blending into "normal" society.

But both find that they cannot elude their magic-filled past. And when trouble strikes -- in the form of a menacing backyard ghost -- the sisters must not only reunite three generations of Owens women but embrace their magic as a gift -- and their key to a future of love and passion. Funny, haunting, and shamelessly romantic, Practical Magic is bewitching entertainment -- Alice Hoffman at her spectacular best.

My Review:

This book was great filled with more than the movie had. You can actually see the bickering that the Owen's sisters had through the book and how everything wasn't always easy for them. How they ran from the aunts and what they taught them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Definitely made me appreciate the movie more. One that could be read again. Filled with humor, adventure, mishaps and love. A great story for anyone looking for fiction, magic and love intertwined. A 5 cup book.

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Train of Consequences by: Tom Jarvis Review

Back of the Book Description:

It is early 1991, and Shelton Cole has just turned thirteen. Barely surviving the aftermath of a car accident that has killed not only his brother but also his parents marriage, Shelton is thrilled when he becomes instant chums with Richie Kemp, a transplant from New York who has moved to New Hampshire with his mother to escape the stigma of his father's imprisonment. But after Richie's mother marries a man who revels in abusing Richie, the two troubled teenagers decide to embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.

My Review:

This book was sent to me via the author for a honest and fair review. And all I can say is wow, what a great ride to go on. While the bad experience the boys face and right in your face, the journey they take was great to say the least. They were there when the other needed someone to help make things better. When Richie can't take it anymore he flees with Shelton with him. They go through some pretty intense situations, the writing used in this story was great. Telling the story of two boys coming to grip with life. Shelton takes us on a great journey through what happened to them. Definitely a book I could read again and again. I can't wait to see what the author will write next. Definitely a 5 cup book.

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