The Dollmaker

The Dollmaker by Amanda Stevens ~~ And now a new clue has surfaced...a doll that is the spitting image of Claire Doucett's missing child, right down to the tiny birthmark on the girl's left arm. A chance sighting of the eerily lifelike doll in a French Quarter collectibles shop leaves Claire shaken to her core...and more determined than ever to find out what happened to her beloved Ruby.
When the doll is snatched and the store's owner turns up dead, Claire knows the only person she can turn to is ex-husband Dave Creasy, a former cop who has spent the past seven years imprisoned by his own guilt and despair. He let Claire down once when she needed him the most. Can she make him believe the doll really exists? She'll have to if they're to survive an encounter with a brutal psychopath— the dollmaker—who stole their future to feed an obsession that will never die.

Seven years ago a little girl names Ruby is kidnapped. Around the same time a stripper is murdered. And today, another dancer disappears. What brings them all together?? Claire happens to be shopping with her sister when she spots a doll in a window that looks exactly like her daughter Ruby, right down to the pink dress she was wearing when she disappers. No one believes Claire when she descirbes the likeness, and everyone wants her to let it go all ready, including her soon to be ex-husband. Clair's first husband Dave is also back on the scene -asked to investigate the disappearance of the dancer. Now a PI, Dave used to be a cop. Until his daughters kidnapping turned hin into a raging drunk. Now sober, he vows to find the truth. While the murderer of the first stripper and the "dollmaker" are revealed early on, this is more of a story of secrets, lies and finding your way back to the ones you love. While I really enjoyed this book, I didn't find it 'thrilling". Then again -I don't find Silence of the Lambs to be a scary movie either! A-

Books vs Movies

Books and films both tell stories, but what we want from a book can be different from what we want from a movie. Is this true for you? If so, what’s the difference between a book and a movie?

I'm a book girl all the way. I love to get into all of the fine details of a book. Movies leave so much of that out. I usually don't watch the movie at all. I'm too afraid I'll spend the whole movie comparing it to the book.

New Contest at Books For Free!

You've got to check out this blog ~ This Book for Free . She's given away a lot of books already. And the contest she hosts is SO FUN! You can win the not-yet-released book from your favorite author! Here are the rules ~~

1. Blog about a book written by one of your favorite authors. Tell us why you like it, what’s good about it, and your favorite parts. Make sure to post my button/banner in the post, or mention about this game in your post.
2. If you have no blog, you can post about it in a bulletin/message board of your choice. Leave the link in the comment form below.
3. Mention this site at http://thisbookforfree.com/.
4. Paste one of my buttons from the sidebar. (if you have questions about pasting buttons, please email me, or click on contact me at my navigation bar.)
5. Leave your comment with a link to your specific post to be eligible to win.
6. You can post more than once, about different authors, if you have more than one blog. (But only one blog post per blog).

************************************************************************************

I'd love to win Nothing to Lose by Lee Child due out on June 3rd. This is the 12th book in the Jack Reacher series.

I've always been a huge fan of this series and have read every single one. This author is on my "must by the day it comes out" list as I can't wait to see what drifter and ex-military cop Jack (think Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne) gets into with each new book. Hard to believe, but each book is better than the one befor it. And I just found out that each one has been optioned as a motion picture movie. That would be awesome!!!

Clubbed to Death

Clubbed to Death: A Dead-End Job Mystery by Elaine Viets ~~ Helen Hawthorne’s latest dead-end job is in a country club’s complaint department, dealing with the gripes of the rich and spoiled. Then Rob, her deadbeat ex-husband, sails back into her life aboard the yacht of his new lady, Marcella—known as the Black Widow for her string of dead spouses. The next day Rob’s reported missing. If the Black Widow has such a murderous reputation, then why is Helen led from the club in handcuffs?When Marcella helps Helen get released, the two form an uneasy alliance to find out what really happened. Helen’s barely begun digging when a club patron is discovered beaten to death with a golf club —his membership permanently expired. Someone got more than a little teed off and it’s up to Helen to get to the truth—without getting clubbed herself…



Another cute addition to the series. This time Helen is working at an exclusive country club where her husband and new wife are members. People start dying, others are getting robbed, and Helen's ex has disappeared. It's up to her to find him (how ironici since she's been running FROM him) and clear his name. Not one of my faves in the series - but a solid outing. B+

Tuesday Thingers

This week's topic: Discussion groups. Do you belong to any (besides Early Reviewers)? Approximately how many? Are there any in particular that you participate in more avidly? How often do you check?

My answer ~~ I've just started joining groups so I'm exploring and adding as I go :)

• On Library Thing ~ Early Reviewers, B&N First Look, Bloggers, Book Reviewrs
• On Shelfari ~ Paperback Swap, What Are You Reading?, Play Book Tag, Good Reads, Crime Thriller & Mystery, Suspense & Thrillers, Mystery, New Releases
• Readers Anonymous.Com
• Yahoo Groups ~ Cozy Mystery Corner, Cozy Discussion, Cozy First Mysteries

What's your pleasure?

Twenty Wishes

Twenty Wishes (A Blossom Street Book #4) by Debbie Macomber ~~ Macomber returns to Seattle's fictional Blossom Street of A Good Yarn (and others) for a hopeful tale of four widows who meet at 38-year-old Anne Marie Roche's bookstore. Separated from her husband after he refused to have a baby with her, Anne Marie felt certain they would reconcile until he suddenly died. Lillie Higgins lost her husband in the same plane crash that claimed the husband of their daughter, Barbie Foster. Elise Beaumont entered widowhood after cancer claimed her husband. Together, the four make life-fulfillment wish lists. With Elise's prodding, Anne Marie decides to fulfill one of her wishes do good for someone else and becomes a lunch buddy to an at-risk third grader. Anne Marie, meanwhile, must deal with the reappearance of her adult stepdaughter, Melissa, who always held her in disdain. Elise mainly serves as a catalyst for Anne Marie's journey, but there is plenty of focus on Lillian and Barbie, who find purpose in unexpected and difficult relationships.


Four widows gather at Anne Marie's bookstore to "celebrate" Valentine's Day. Each one of them continues to mourn the husbands that they lost. Each one is looking for something special in their lives - something they don't think is possible since they feel they'll never love again. The women decide to each start a list of "Twenty Wishes". Things that they would like to accomplish. And each one has "fall in love/find somone special" on their lists. Ms. Macomber takes you along as each of these women try and find that one thing they are missing. You're right there with them as they find new love, connect with people they never thought they'd have a relationship with and find the one thing that they're missing - that some one special. For some, it's a new love and for others it's the one thing they've been hoping and praying for all their lives. You will laugh and cry as you read this, because you're going to feel as if you stepped into the pages of the book and are right there with each one of them. A+

Scream for Me

Scream for Me by Karen Rose ~~ For her exciting debut in hardcover, New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose delivers a heart-stopping suspense novel that picks up where DIE FOR ME left off, with a detective determined to track down a brutal murderer.Special Agent Daniel Vartanian has sworn to find the perpetrator of multiple killings that mimic a 13-year-old murder linked to a collection of photographs that belonged to his brother, Simon, the ruthless serial killer who met his demise in DIE FOR ME. Daniel is certain that someone even more depraved than his brother committed these crimes, and he's determined to bring the current murderer to justice and solve the mysterious crime from years ago. With only a handful of images as a lead, Daniel's search will lead him back through the dark past of his own family, and into the realm of a mind more sinister than he could ever imagine. But his quest will also draw him to Alex Fallon, a beautiful nurse whose troubled past reflects his own. As Daniel becomes attached to Alex, he discovers that she is also the object of the obsessed murderer. Soon, he will not only be racing to discover the identity of this macabre criminal, but also to save the life of the woman he has begun to love.


Once again Karen Rose has done it - she grabs you from page one and doesn't let go until the very last sentence. Scream For Me continues where Die For Me left off. Daniel is still reeling from the deaths of his parents, at the hand of his brother, and the knowledge that his brother was a serial killer. Unfortunately the story doesn't end there. Just returning to work at the GBI after the burial of his parents, Daniel is drawn into a new case that has ties to his brother and a group of evil men. Alex Fallon is an ER nurse who becomes involved in the case when she gets a call her step-sister has gone missing and abandonded her child. Alex goes to her old hometown to care for the child and to find her sister. Alex struggles with going home, since 13 years earlier her identical twin sister was raped and murdered and she hasn't been back since. But she knows her niece needs her and she is desperate to find her sister. Little does Alex know that she is now the target of this new serial killer - who is killing people in the exact same manner as her sister was killed. Daniel & Alex both struggle to overcome their past while trying to save her life. And in the meantime, grow closer :) There are so many twists and turns in this book that you'll feel like you're on the most fantastic roller coaster ride of your life. You'll stay up late into the night to find out how it ends. I've always been a huge Karen Rose fan, and for me - this is her best to date! A+

Booking Through Thursday

Scenario: You’ve just bought some complicated gadget home . . . do you read the accompanying documentation? Or not? Only if I can't figure it out myself.
Do you ever read manuals? Not usually
How-to books? Nope
Self-help guides? Never
Anything at all? There is always a book nearby!

By Reason of Insanity

By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer ~~ After a series of kidnappings and murders in Virginia Beach, newspaper reporter Catherine O'Rourke experiences disturbing dreams that detail each crime. In an effort to aid the investigation, she shares them with her confidential source--a detective working on the case. Catherine's intimate knowledge of the crimes immediately makes her a prime suspect. When scientific evidence corroborates her guilt, she's arrested and charged with murder. As she begins to doubt her own innocence, Catherine turns to Las Vegas lawyer Quinn Newberg, a high-priced specialist in the insanity defense. Quinn believes in justice, Vegas-style. But he doesn't believe in the supernatural, or that Catherine's dreams are anything other than the result of a fractured personality disorder. Who can understand the human mind? Quinn knows that insanity cases are unpredictable, but nothing had prepared him for this! To win, or even survive, Quinn will need more than his famed legal maneuvering and biting skepticism. On this case, he needs a miracle.


Quinn Newberg, a Vegas lawyer, used to defend white collar crimes. Until someone dear to him was accused of murder. Now he's fighting for the insanity defense to get his client off. In the middle of this trial he's brought into the case of Cat O'Rourke - a newspaper reporter who was covering Quinn's trial. Now Cat is on trial for her life. While covering a another story, not only does Cat get fed confidential information, but she also starts having visions of the murder. Unfortunately the police think she is the culpit and arrest her for the murder. Is Cat a murderer, insane or a damn good actress or did she not even do it??? There are so many twists and turns in this story that you'll never see the end coming at you. A

The Last Time I Was Me

The Last Time I Was Me by Cathy Lamb ~~ I wrapped up my grandmother's tea cup collection and my mother's china, then grabbed a violin I'd hidden way back in my closet that made me cry, a gold necklace with a dolphin that my father gave me two weeks before he died of a heart attack when I was twelve and, at midnight, with that moon as bright as the blazes, I left Chicago. When Jeanne Stewart stops at The Opera Man's Cafe in Weltana, Oregon, to eat pancakes for the first time in twelve years, she has no idea she's also about to order up a whole new future. It's been barely a week since she succumbed to a spectacularly public nervous breakdown in front of hundreds of the nation's most important advertising and PR people. Jeanne certainly had her reasons--her mother's recent death, the discovery that her boyfriend had been sleeping with a dozen other women, and the assault charges that resulted when Jeanne retaliated in a creative way against him, involving condoms and peanut oil. Now, en route to her brother's house in Portland, Jeanne impulsively decides to spend some time in picturesque Weltana. Staying at a B&B run by the eccentric, endearing Rosvita, she meets a circle of quirky new friends at her court-ordered Anger Management classes. Like Jeanne, all of them are trying to become better, braver versions of themselves. Yet the most surprising discoveries are still to come--a good man who steadily makes his way into her heart and a dilapidated house that with love and care might be transformed into something wholly her own, just like the new life she is slowly building, piece by piece. As heartfelt as it is hilarious, The Last Time I Was Me is a warm, wise novel about breaking down, opening up, and finally letting go of everything we thought we should be, in order to claim the life that has been waiting all along

Takeover

Takeover by Lisa Black ~~ Forensics scientist Theresa MacLean is at the scene of a grisly murder when she gets the word that her fiance has been taken hostage in a bank robbery, along with seven others. She rushes to the scene where Cleveland's best hostage negotiator has been brought in. The handsome, high–profile Chris Cavanaugh hasn't lost a victim yet, but Theresa wonders if he might be too full of himself to save the day this time around. Not sure she can trust Cavanaugh, she seizes an opportunity to trade herself for her injured fiancé as a hostage. Theresa is inside the bank with her life in danger and must use all her training and skills to figure out what really is happening. Yet, even she is astonished at the final outcome. (LT - early reviewer)


Make sure you have a full day to devote to this book, because it will takeover your time. From the first page to the last. When Theresa MacLean, forensic investigator, met the two detectives (one her cousin and the other her fiance) at the scene where a dead man has been found, no one had a clue of the trouble that lay ahead. They had know way of knowing that the death of the man they were investigating was connected to the robbery of the Federal Reserve! Paul goes to the bank to talk with the manager regarding the murder of his employee, only to be taken hostage with several others by the bank robbers. Luckily the robbers do not know Paul is a cop, until something happens that makes him shoot at them. In return, Paul is wounded. Can Theresa trust negotiator Chris Cavanuagh to save her fiance, or does she need to take matters in her own hands??? This is exactly what she does. She trades her life for Paul's. And in the mean time tries to figure out if this is just a normal bank robbery, is it an inside job - or is there something more sinister going on! Will Chris keep is perfect record of getting everyone out alive? This action packed thriller will keep you turning the pages deep into the night as secrets are revealed and time begins to run out. A little innuendo at the end will leave the reader hoping the author writes more featuring these great characters. A+

May ~ Pay It Forward Book Exchange

Welcome to my first Pay it Forward Book Exchange.

Since this is my first giveaway I thougth I'd get started with a BANG. One lucky person will win 5 brand new books :) Sign ups end on May 30th and the winner will be announced on May 31st.

Back on Blossom Street (The Knitting Books #3) by Debbie Macomber
Belong to Me: A Novel by Marisa De los Santos

What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes
Dying Breath by Wendy Corsi Staub

The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner

If you'd like to win these books, here is what you must do:

1. On your blog, write a post about this giveaway, using my "Pay it Foward" button, and then link back to my post. I am sure your readers would appreciate learning about the chance to win a book. You must complete this step to be put in the drawing, unless of course you don't have a blog ;)

2. Sign the Mr Linky (the Mr Linky is that list of name at the end of this post - just type your name in the box) with your name and specific URL of your Pay it Foward post. Note, if you are not a blogger, you may still enter to win. Just sign your name on the Mr. Linky without a URL and then email me (lori @ frandanbolt dot com) your contact information. Please note on your email that it is for the Pay It Forward Book Giveaway.

3. If you’re the lucky winner of the book giveaway and you have your own blog I ask that you, in turn, host a drawing to give that book away for free to one of your readers, after you’ve had a chance to read it (let’s say, within a month after you’ve received the book). If you mail the book out using the media/book rate that the post office offers it’s pretty inexpensive. If you're a non-blogger who has won the book, please consider donating the book to your local library or shelter after you're done with it.

4. If you’re really motivated and want to host your own “Pay It Forward” giveaway at any time this month, feel free to grab the button above to use on your own blog. Just let me know so I can publish a post on my blog plugging your giveaway and directing my readers your way!

Make sure to visit Overwhelmed with Joy for other Pay it Forward giveaways.

If you have any books that you'd like to Pay It Forward yourself this month, please leave a comment below and I'll link you in this post.

No One Left To Tell

No One Left To Tell by Jordan Dane ~~ A Dark Message
The body of a brutally slain man is found on the holy grounds of a chapel, and a cryptic message pinned to his chest unravels the lives of people touched by a dark secret. Detective Raven Mackenzie and her partner uncover the dead man's connection to a powerful female crime boss, leading them to her mysterious head of security, Christian Delacorte, who soon becomes the prime suspect.
Triggers His Nightmares
Yet when Raven sifts through Christian's past, she discovers the man is plagued by deeply rooted nightmares—and a shadowy childhood tragedy linking him to the case. Convinced his past holds the key to finding the real killer, she defies her partner, following her gut instincts and trusting her undeniable bond with Christian.
And Arouses a Killer
But Raven shares her own date with destiny when she crosses paths with a heartless killer. And when he unleashes his rage, there will be no one left to tell.

Dying Breath

Dying Breath by Wendy Corsi Staub ~~ It's summer on the Jersey Shore. Children play on the beach. Husbands are off working in the city. And the surf echoes in the night. Here, in this perfect place, a serial killer has no worries in the world-except choosing the next victim.
HAS JUST BECOME.
Cam Hastings has come to Long Beach Island with her teenage daughter and the hope that maybe she can save her failed marriage. Cam has never stopped loving her husband Mike nor has she been able to outrun her flaws and demons-a vanished mother, a lost sister, and the ugly visions she has of missing children.
A KILLER'S FAVORITE PLAYGROUND.
Now, Cam is about to step over the edge. For once, she will act on one of her visions-and then face the consequences. For a killer has just struck again. And for Cam, and the people she loves most, fear has come home for good.

Years ago Cam starts having ugly visions - usually those of a child being murdered - before they happen. Unfortunately there is nothing she can do to warn these children - and save their lives. For a while the visions seem to stop - until Cam becomes pregant again. This time she fears for her own daughters life because children who look just like her are disappearing. This is one ending you won't see coming. Looking back, there are a few subtle hints that no make sense, but you're too busy wanting to see how it ends to pick up on them until you're done reading. Another book featuring one of the characters in this book is coming out later this year/early next year - Dying Light. A

Quicksand

Quicksand by Iris Johansen ~~ The action-packed 12th installment in bestseller Johansen's saga featuring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan (after Stalemate) is also a sequel of sorts to Pandora's Daughter, which chronicled the life of Megan Blair, an Atlanta physician with burgeoning psychic abilities. Intertwining the two disparate story lines intensifies both, as Johansen pits her two courageous female protagonists against a vicious serial killer who claims to have murdered Eve's seven-year-old daughter, Bonnie, years earlier. When Eve's love interest, Atlanta police lieutenant Joe Quinn, tracks down elusive child predator Henry Kistle to a small town in Illinois, Quinn alerts the local authorities and sets off a series of bloody events that lead Eve and Megan Blair to a remote area in the Okefenokee swamp where they'll either discover the whereabouts of Bonnie's body—or come face-to-face with a psychopath bent on killing and burying them all in unmarked graves. The adrenaline-fueled narrative will keep Johansen fans eagerly turning the pages.


This is one of her best to date. Vintage Eve Duncan. I couldn't put it down. A child serial killer taunts Eve into thinking he killed her beloved daughter Bonnie all those years ago. Eve, Joe & even Moltavno from South America are in on the hunt. Did Kistle really kill Bonnie or is he just playing with Eve? Joe continues to struggle with Eve's obsession of bringing Bonnie home. As much as he loves her, he doesn't know how much more of this search for her that he can take. The inclusion of Megan Plair from Pandora's Daughter adds an interseting twist to the story -- hold on for the last 2 pages!!!! A+

One Wrong Step

One Wrong Step by Laura Griffin ~~ SHE NEVER PLANNED TO GET INVOLVED WITH HER EX AGAIN, ESPECIALLY NOT IN HIS MURDER....
But that's just what happens when Celie Wells has an encounter with her former husband, and he turns up dead an hour later. Now, after working hard to distance herself from his crooked ways and shady connections, she finds she's smack dab in the middle of his murder investigation. And it isn't just the police who have their eye on her, but an enraged drug lord who is seeking payback.The only person who seems to be on her side is old acquaintance John McAllister. But the sexy reporter has a nose for news, as well as a reputation as a playboy. Is he helping Celie out because he wants a story...or a one-night stand? She knows John's interest is potentially hazardous to her heart. But not accepting his help could put her life at even greater risk -- and she can't afford one wrong step.


The author brings back some minor characters from One Last Breath and makes them the "stars" of this book. Anyone who is a fan of romantic suspense books will love this one. The author grabs your attention right from the beginning and takes you on a fantastic ride. A+

Hooked On Murder

Hooked on Murder: A Crochet Mystery by Betty Hechtman ~~ When bookstore event coordinator Molly Pink stumbles across the dead body of a crochet group’s leader, her complicated past with the woman makes her a prime suspect.But while Molly’s fending off a detective with a personal grudge and navigating the pitfalls of crochet group politics, the real killer remains at large. And it’s up to her to catch the culprit—before she winds up in a tight knot.


A great start to a new series. Molly is a recent widow, witha new boyfriend a job she loves, just joined a crochet group making squares for an auction to benefit charitiy, and is the number one suspect in the murder of her dead husband's partner. The female detective assigned to the case has it out for Mary because she's dating a fellow detective - one she has her eye on. She'll do just about anything to get Mary arrested for murder. The author does a great job of steering you away from the read murderer. Looking forward to seeing what Mary and her crochet buddies will get mixed up in next. . A

A Vision of Murder

A Vision of Murder (Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 3) by Victoria Laurie ~~ 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.


Abby, Cat and Dave go into the real estate business together - buying run down houses and flipping them for a profit. Unfortunately the first home they buy is haunted. Abby must find out what that ghost wants and help her find a way to "cross over". Abby & Dutch are still going strong. I really like this series. Abby is a fun, lovable character who can't seem to stay out of trouble. A

Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die

Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die: A Blackbird Sisters Mystery ~~ Nora Blackbird is no singing star, but she knows how to act like a diva, complete with the designer clothes and the little dog in her arms. But Nora is one thing most divas are not: she is broke. Determined to save the family manse outside Philadelphia, frittered away by her parents, Nora is forced (shudder) to get a job. As an assistant for fashion-writer Kitty Keough, she does grunt work for little recognition--such as covering the unveiling of the hot new "Brinker bra." After fighting the crowds for a seat, Nora is shocked to find that her sister Emma, supposedly in rehab, is the top bra model. She is even more shocked to return home and find her boss, Kitty, dead on her doorstep. It's perhaps not quite so shocking to learn that her "mobbed-up" boyfriend is the prime suspect.


It's been a while since I read the last Blackbird Sisters Mystery. I had forgotten how fun they are. Once again the Blackbird Sisters find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation - this time when the dead body of her boss Kitty is dumped on Nora's doorstep. Nora and Mike continue to see each, despite what every one else thinks. There was a nice little cliffhanger at the end - enough to make me not wait so long to read the next one ;) A

Still Life With Murder

Still Life with Murder (Gilded Age Mysteries (Berkley)) by P. B. Ryan ~~ Boston 1868: The wealthy are enjoying the height of the Gilded Age--but not all are wealthy. As governess to the Hewitt family, Irish immigrant Nell Sweeney is sent to discover the truth behind the rumor that their son--thought to be killed in the Civil War--is still alive and in prison.


I'm a big fan of the Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mystery Series, so I was really looking forward to starting this series. I enjoyed it even more because it's set in Boston. It was interesting to see what was there in the 1800's and if it is still around now (The Charles Street Jail for example). This book didn't disappoint. I'm interested to see what other trouble Nell is going to find in the upcoming books. A

Carbs & Cadavers

Carbs and Cadavers: A Supper Club Mystery (A Supper Club Myster) by J. B. Stanley ~~ James "Professor Puff" Henry may as well have "loser" stamped on his forehead. Divorced, overweight, shy, and living at home, he relies on books and his favorite snack-cheese puffs-for sweet relief from his problems. A former English lit profesat William and Mary, he moves back to Quincy's Gap, a small Virginia town in the Shenandoah Valley, to take care of his recently-widowed father. To improve his social life and waistline, he joins a supper club for dieters who lovingly call themthe "Flab Five." Avoiding carbs is nearly impossible in this deep-fried potato-loving land, so a mysterious death in their small burg provides an effective, if disturbing, distraction. While dodging delectable temptations, Professor Henry and his fellow dieters work together to shed pounds and find the killer who has struck fear in this tight-knit community

J.B Stanley makes counting calories and watching carbs fun! This was a very light, enjoyable read. While I was able to figure out the "who done it" before it was revealed, I enjoyed having lead me there. The next book is already in the mini TBR pile. B+

Friday Nights

Friday Nights: A Novel by Joanna Trollope ~~ When a British retiree invites two young single mothers from the neighborhood to her flat, a Friday night tradition begins. As their klatch widens, Trollope's memorable characters do more than just represent varying female predicaments: they develop as rich individuals who come to triumph over their pasts. Paula has a wary relationship with the married man who fathered their son, Toby: she must move on, yet stay in touch for Toby's sake. Struggling Lindsay was widowed before she gave birth, while her sister, Jules, is a careless aspiring nightclub DJ with a wild streak. Independent, put-together Blaise contrasts starkly with her often bedraggled business partner, Karen, who barely manages her role as mother and breadwinner. And then there is Eleanor, the catalyst for the gatherings, a no-nonsense older woman who, though full of wisdom and spunk, keeps her thoughts to herself unless asked. When a new man enters Paula's life, Trollope masterfully shows how work and romance can tip the scales in female friendships. The result is a careful and compelling examination of one man's insidious effect on a group of female friends, as memorable as it is readable


I had a hard time with this book. I'm not sure if it was the story itself or the author's writing style, but I found myself struggling to finish the book.

Hold Tight

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben ~~ Parents will find this compulsive page-turner from Edgar-winner Coben (The Woods) particularly unnerving. A sadistic killer is at play in suburban Glen Rock, N.J., outside New York City, but somehow he's less frightening than the more mundane problems that send ordinary lives into chaos. How do you weigh a child's privacy against a parent's right to know? How do you differentiate normal teenage rebelliousness from out-of-control behavior? When and how do you intervene if suicidal signs appear? Other issues include single parenting; career versus family; marital honesty; and how much information you should share with a child at what age. Coben plucks each of these strings like a virtuoso as Mike and Tia Baye try to deal with the increasing withdrawal of their 16-year-old son, Adam, after a friend's suicide. A pair of brutal, seemingly senseless killings, punctuate the unfolding domestic troubles that ratchet up the tension and engulf the Baye family, their friends and neighbors in a web of increasing tragedy. The this could be me factor lends poignancy to the thrills and chills

Hands down, this is one of the top 3 books he has written. A+++++

Poison Pen

Poison Pen: A Forensic Handwriting Mystery by Sheila Lowe ~~ Before her body was found floating in her Jacuzzi, publicist-to-the-stars Lindsey Alexander had few friends, but plenty of lovers. To her ex-friend-forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose-she was a ruthless, back-stabbing manipulator. But even Claudia is shocked by Lindsey's startling final note: "It was fun while it lasted!" It would be easier on the police-and Claudia-to write it off as suicide. But Claudia's instincts push her to investigate further, and she quickly finds herself entangled in a far darker scenario than she bargained for. Racing to identify a killer, Claudia soon has a price on her head-and unless she can read the handwriting on the wall, she will become the next victim.

Great book! Not a true cozy (it's got a little more gore, and a bit longer than usual) but a fantastic read. Claudia is determined to find out if her ex friend committed suicide or was murdered. Along the way, more bodies pile up as Claudia works with the police to figure out who is killing her friends and is now out to get her. I love how she weaves her "real life" knowledge of reading people's handwriting to figure out their personalities. It was very interesting to see how she explains what your handwriting says about you. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A

Murder Of A Sweet Old Lady

Murder of a Sweet Old Lady (Scumble River Mysteries, Book 2) by Denise Swanson ~~ Second in the delightful new Scumble River mystery series... When school pyschologist Skye Denison's beloved grandma is found dead in her bed, an autopsy proves it was murder. And Skye is determined to find out whodunit, even if the answer lies in the rotten roots of her own family tree.


Nothing has changed for Skye. The parents at her school still don't like her, her family still can't stand her, and she's once again determined to solve a murder. This time, the murder of her own grandmother. I'm so glad there are many more to come in this series for me to read. A

French Pressed

French Pressed: A Coffeehouse Mystery (Coffeehouse Mysteries) by Cleo Coyle ~~ Clare Cosi's daughter, Joy, is interning-and falling- for a top New York chef when his kitchen turns cutthroat, and Joy becomes a murder suspect. Clare knows she must catch the real killer-even if it lands her in the hottest water of her life.



Once again Clare gets caught up in a murder case. This time it involes her daughter Joy and she will stop at nothing to prove her innocence. In the meantime, eer ex-husband Matt wants her back and her new boyfriend Mike wants her in his bed. I know some people find this series on the "dark" side for cozies, but it's always been one of my favorites, and this is the best one yet. Keep them coming :) A+

At Wick's End

At Wicks End (Prime Crime Mysteries) by Tim Myers ~~ In the 1st book in the Candlemaking Mystery series, we meet Harrison Black, the new owner of At Wick's End, a candle shop in North Carolina. His great-aunt Belle has just died, and being her only relative, Harrison has inherited both the shop and the entire building in which it resides.

So I'm a little late in starting this series, but I'm so glad I have. I loved it. Harrison Black has been coasting along when he inherits his great-aunts shop. He's convinced her death was not an "accident" and sets out to find and trap the real killer. Great start to the series. On my way to order book 2. A

Where Are You Now?

Where Are You Now?: A Novel by Mary Higgins Clark ~~ Years ago, a college student named Charles ("Mack") MacKenzie walked out of his life for no apparent reason. Since then, once a year, he calls his mother to assure her that he's all right, and to ask her not to look for him. Now, Mack's younger sister, Carolyn, has decided to find him. Her search uncovers a lot of old secrets among the people closest to her, and someone is trying to prevent Carolyn from solving the mystery behind her brother's disappearance--by any means necessary....

Even though she's being threatened, Carolyn won't give up looking for her brother that has been missing for 10 years. Some of the secrets revealed might seem "life altering" to the person who holds them, but they're minor in the grand scheme of things. MHC does a great job of having leading you down one road, only to turn the corner and have an ending most won't see coming. Not one of her best books, in my opinion, but a solid read. B+

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye by E.C. Sheedy ~~ Fear...
She knew him only as the dark-eyed man, the one who put her in that dank basement. She was only nine years old when she stared into those eyes and understood that something unspeakable lived in them. Though she was saved at the last minute by an unlikely ally, she's never forgotten that fear. And fear has not forgotten her...
Never...
Now the woman who rescued April from that living hell long ago has disappeared, and it's no accident. Whoever came after her wants April--dead. April has one chance to save her guardian angel before it's too late. But to do that, she'll have to break the promise she swore she never would and contact the one man she knows she shouldn't...
Dies...
Joe Worth's horoscope said he was in for trouble, but the woman sitting in his office is the kind of trouble any guy would welcome--mile-long legs, blond hair, gorgeous face. She's also scared. Very scared. Protecting people is Joe's business, but this time it's also personal: the woman April wants him to find is the mother who abandoned him. He can only say yes, and that could cost him. A stone-cold killer is out for vengeance--a man who will do anything to keep his dark, twisted past behind him. Anything.

The Cluttered Corpse

The Cluttered Corpse (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries) by Mary Jane Maffini ~~ When Charlotte Adams agrees to help Emmy Lou Rheinbeck organize her stuffed animal collection, she never imagines she'll find herself fending off pranksters whose shenanigans lead to murder.

Poor Charlotte tries to help someone organize their overgrown collection of stuffed animals and once again ends up in the middle of a murder investigation. Fortunatley this time she doesn't end up in jail. But if her former BFF Pepper had anything to say about it - she would. The second book in this series was just as good as the first. A

Shakedown

Shakedown by Joel Goldman ~~ The lives of three people collide over mass murder at a Kansas City residence that Special Agent Jack Davis has carefully staked out for weeks. Kate Scranton, whose job is spotting lies for high-priced courtroom lawyers, is convinced that mild-mannered Latrell Kelly knows something about the crime. But Latrell is hiding far more than Kate can guess. And with Jack half-blinded by an imploding personal life, and someone on his own side leaking crucial information, they're headed straight for the ultimate danger zone...

Fast paced and keeps you guessing to the end. What does the murder of 5 people in a crack house have to do with an undercover cop and the missing daughter of an FBI Agent? Towards the end I figured it out, but that still didn't stop the OMG factor while reading it and seeing how it all plays out. My only issue is that it can get a little confusing at the beginning as to who all the "smaller" players are, but once you really get into the book - you'll have no trouble keeping track of who's who. Great read. A

Corpse Pose

Corpse Pose: A Mantra for Murder Mystery by Diana Killian ~~ Ever since her husband ditched her-for another man-A.J. hasn't exactly been on the road to inner peace. Then her yoga-guru aunt is found dead, and A.J.'s named the sole heir to her lucrative yoga studio-making her a multimillionaire, a prime suspect, and the killer's next target. First in a new series.

While dealing with the death of her beloved aunt and trying to find her kiler, AJ is also dealing with her former actress mother who she hasn't always had the best relationship, the woman who thought she was going to inherit her aunts yoga studio, an ex-husband who left her for another man and the most importantly the handsome detective assigned to the case! Well written and full of laughs - AJ and her hysterical supporting cast will have a lot to look forward to in upcoming books. A

Twisted

Twisted by Andrea Kane ~~ This chilling first of a new romantic suspense series from bestseller Kane (Dark Room) introduces 30-year-old Sloane Burbank, a former FBI agent trained as a crisis negotiator, now an independent consultant who works with law enforcement and others in need of her expertise. During a trip to Manhattan, Sloane receives a call from the mother of a childhood friend with whom she's lost touch, Penny Truman. When Sloane learns that Penny has been missing for almost a year, she turns for help to her former lover, Derek Parker, who happens to be the FBI agent in charge of Penny's case. Animosity between Derek and Sloane serves to increase the explosive romantic tension between the pair as more women disappear, evidently victims of a serial killer. A wealth of red herring suspects will keep the reader guessing until the conclusion of this no-holds-barred thriller.

Andrea Kane has done it again. What a great book. She drops enough hints to keep you guessing until about the last 30 pages as to who the "bad guy" is. She's working on another book that will feature Sloane and Derek. I can't wait! A

Murder is Binding

Murder Is Binding by Lorna Barrett ~~ When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries-and hunt down someone who isn't killing by the book.

What a great start to a new series. Not only does Tricia have to clear her name, but she also has to deal with her sister (whom she hasn't always gotten along with) coming to town - to stay!!! I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next book in this series. A+

Compulsion

Compulsion: An Alex Delaware Novel (Alex Delaware Novels) by Jonathan Kellerman ~~ Bestseller Kellerman serves up all the elements his fans have come to love in the 22nd entry in his Alex Delaware series (Obsession, etc.), including an intriguing plot, likable regular characters supported by an interesting secondary cast, diabolical villains, witty dialogue and a sense of humanity and justice. Alex and his LAPD detective partner, Milo Sturgis, are investigating several murders that, at first, appear to have only one thing in common: the perpetrator's use of expensive black automobiles while committing his crimes. Kellerman sticks to his usual modus, the patient and sometimes painfully slow accumulation of detail, as Alex and Milo build their case. A subplot involves a missing child last seen selling magazine subscriptions in a tony neighborhood 16 years earlier. On the domestic front, Alex is again living with his girlfriend, Robin, with whom he has broken up several times over the course of the series. In the end, a nice twist reminds Robin and Alex to be more careful in the future about drawing assumptions in their private life before all the facts have come to light

I've been a fan of Jonathan Kellerman since day one - and once again, he does not disappoint!! A+

No One Heard Her Scream

No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane ~~ In a dynamite debut from Dane, San Antonio Det. Rebecca Montgomery fears the worst when her little sister, Danielle, is abducted during summer break on the Texas Gulf's South Padre Island. Five months later, the discovery of a crime scene saturated with Dani's blood indicates she's been murdered. As more college co-eds go missing, Becca wants to stay on the case, but the department hands her a puzzler involving a young woman's remains found within a wall of the torched Imperial Theater. They belong to Isabel Marquez, who's been missing for almost seven years. Becca finds a surprising ally, and mutual attraction, in Diego Galvan, who works for slimy Hunter Cavanaugh, former owner of the Imperial and a prime suspect. Dane's smooth style, believable characters and intense pacing will remind readers of Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner and Tami Hoag. While Dane's debut is being marketed as romantic suspense, it crosses over into plain thriller country: the tight plotting and the male characters are exceptional, bad guys and good.

The synopsis above says it all! What a fantastic book. You know most of the story from the start, but with enough twist, turns and romantic tension to keep you reading. I loved this book and can't wait for the other two in the trilogy to come out. A

Needled to Death

Needled to Death (Knitting Mysteries) by Maggie Sefton ~~ Taking a troop of tourists to Vickie Claymore's alpaca farm doesn't earn knitter Kelly Flynn a warm welcome. Instead she finds Vickie splayed out on her original hand-woven rug, her blood seeping into the design. 2nd book in series.

Another cute edition to this series. Once again Kelly finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. With the help of her many friends she's determined to find the filler. She's also decided to stay in Fort Connor for the time being - and finds herself the sole inheritor of her cousin's RANCH!!! filled w/ cattle, sheep and yes alpacas! The only problem I have with this series is keeping all of Kelly's friends straight! Other than that, looking forward to the next one. B+

Trudy's Promise

Trudy's Promise by Marcia Preston ~~ An act of desperation divides a mother and her child. Only an act of faith can reunite them. Trudy Hulst has no idea if her husband survived his attempted escape past the newly constructed Berlin Wall. But she knows too well the consequences of his actions. Now branded the wife of a defector, she faces a life in prison. With no real choice, she is forced to follow, praying she can find a way to claim their child once she's in West Berlin. Trudy survives a harrowing break for freedom...only to learn her husband was shot during his escape. Terribly alone, she wanders the wall like a ghost, living for brief glimpses of her son, now out of reach behind barbed wire and armed soldiers. Desperate to regain her child, Trudy begins a journey that leads her to America, where she continues an odyssey of hope to find her son.

What an amazing story. I read this book in one afternoon. Trudy's quest to bring her son home to her is both inspiring and heartbreaking. A++++++

Murder on Mulberry Bend

Murder on Mulberry Bend (Gaslight Mystery) by Victoria Thompson ~~ In this all-new Gaslight Mystery, turn-of-the-century New York City midwife Sarah Brandt and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy discover how the squalor of the streets can breed madness and murder. 5th book in the series.

Once again Sarah and Frank get tangled up together in trying to solve a murder. Frank becomes jealous when an old friend of Sarah's starts spending time with her, and because of this, tries to keep his distance from her. Unforutanately that's impossible as they both try to solve the murder. The tension between them continues to grow. Will they finally give in to it??? I love this series. A

The Timer Game

The Timer Game (A Grace Descanso Novel) by Susan Arnout Smith ~~ Reading much like an extended episode of CSI, Smith's repetitive debut chronicles the travails of Grace Descanso, a San Diego crime scene technician and single mother who once had a promising future in pediatric cardiology. After a deadly shooting at a crime scene, Grace is plunged into a cat-and-mouse game that forces her to confront her traumatic past. When her five-year-old daughter, Katie, is kidnapped and Grace receives a series of cryptic riddles, she races against the clock to save Katie. Grace must also uncover the dirty secrets of the Center for BioChimera, a biomedical research institution and hospital with ties to her past and Katie's disappearance. Grace turns to her ex-lover, a CNN reporter, for help, and together they must figure out the full extent of a medical nightmare stretching from California to Guatemala.

Grace was thisclose to being a Dr, when something awful happens to her to change her mind. She becomes a forsensic tech as a way to support herself and her child. Someone brings Grace into a deadly game of cat and mouse - someone she least expects. She's sent on something called the Timer Game - she's given riddles and a certain amount of time to find the answer - or her daughter will be killed. An intersesting twitst to the mystery/thriller story. Hopefully we'll see more of Grace in the future. B+

Acts of Love

Acts of Love: A Novel by Emily Listfield ~~ After nearly a year of an uneasy separation, Ted Waring is hoping to persuade Ann not to sign the divorce papers. Dropping off his two daughters to the family home after a hunting trip, Ted loses his temper when he hears Ann has been dating another man. The gun he is holding accidentally discharges, killing Ann. Or was it an accident? Julia, the troubled older daughter, insists that Ted deliberately killed her mother. Both Ted and Julia try to persuade the younger daughter, Ali, to corroborate their different versions of what really happened. Using a technique of alternating flashbacks with accounts of Ted's arrest and trial, Listfield gradually fleshes out each character, so that words like guilt and innocence are not so easy to assign.


Ann & Ted have been separated for a year. Ted is hoping to convince Ann not to sign the divorce papers, and even tries to enlist his daughters help. Upon returning from a camping trip with his girls, Ted & Ann get into an arguement and Ann is shot and killed. The oldest daughter Julia is a witness to the shooting, Ali - the youngest daughter was in the kitchen. The book is filled with Ted, Julia and Sandy (Ann's sister) all trying to manipulate Ali into say ing what they want her to say when Ted goes to trial. We also get glimples into the lives of Ann & Sandy when they were younger, and how both sets of sisters relationships brings us to an emotional conclusion! A+

Hey Diddle Diddle, The Corpse & The Fiddle

Hey Diddle Diddle, the Corpse and the Fiddle: A Callie Parrish Mystery (Callie Parrish Mysteries) by Fran Rizer ~~ Mortuary cosmetologist Callie Parrish and her friend take off for a bluegrass festival on Surcie Island. But when a fiddler turns up dead, Callie has no choice but to take center stage in the investigation.

Callie gets caught up in not one, but two murders while at the bluegrass festival. And not only that, but something happens to her best friend Jane. I liked the first book in this series better. I think, for me, there was too much focus on Jane and not enough on Callie. I"ll definitely be checking out the next one though. B

Charley's Web

Charley's Web: A Novel by Joy Fielding ~~ Jill Rohmer, a convicted child killer with a borderline personality disorder, lures Charlotte Charley Webb, a popular columnist for the Palm Beach Post and single mom, into a web of danger and deceit in this spine-tingler from bestseller Fielding (Heartstopper). When Jill invites Charley to collaborate on the true story of what really happened to the three children she was convicted of murdering, Charley at first thinks it sounds like a great idea. Her sister Anne is, after all, a bestselling romance author, so why couldn't Charley have a nonfiction bestseller? Charley meets with Jill's attractive lawyer, Alex Prescott, who secures a book contract. After committing to the project, Charley begins dating Alex. Then Charley learns Jill had an accomplice, someone on the loose whom Jill calls Jack. Fielding pulls out all the stops as the identity of the ruthless murderer becomes obvious, and Charley must race against time to catch the horrible Jack and save his next target—her son.

Charlotte Webb (who has 2 sisters - also called - The "Bronte" sisters) has shut herself off from feeling anything. She writes a "controversial" (brazillian waxes and passion party) column, she has 2 children by 2 differnet fathers, neighbors who hate her, a mother who just came back into her life after abandoning the family 20 years earlier, 2 sisters she barely speaks with, a drug addicted brother - and a child serial killer on death row who wants Charley to write her story. But there is more to this killers story than meets the eye. There is only one killer, but the author does a great job of making you think one thing and then leading you down a whole new road! A

The Dark Tide

The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross ~~ Charles Friedman, a New York hedge fund trader, perishes in a bombing at Grand Central Station that destroys the railroad car in which he was riding one morning from his home in Greenwich, Conn. Ty Hauck, head of the Greenwich police's violent crime unit, enters the picture when a hit-and-run victim turns out to have a vague connection to Friedman. Soon, Friedman's widow and her kids are threatened by men searching for vast sums of money her late husband never earned. The stakes rise as Hauck's involvement shifts from professional to personal. While the reader will occasionally see the next drop, tunnel or curve looming far ahead, the roller-coaster thrills are still there in abundance.

What an incredible ride. As the synopsis states, there are times you can see where the book is headed, but the enjoyment is seeing how the author takes you there. Andrew Gross used to co-write books with James Patterson. His first book The Blue Zone was absolutely amazing. And he continues his "streak" with his latest. I'm so glad he broke away from Patterson to write on his own. He deserves the praises of a solo writer! A+

Through a Glass Deadly

Through a Glass, Deadly: A Glassblowing Mystery by Sarah Atwell ~~ Glassblower Emmeline Dowell has made a home for herself among the artists of Tucson's Warehouse District. But her friendship with troubled newcomer Allison McBride takes a dangerous turn when Allison's husband turns up dead in Em's studio. Now Emmeline is involved in a murder investigation that reaches beyond the sunny Southwest. And when the killer acts again, it's up to her to pick up the shards of Allison's life before it's too late. First in a new series.

This series definitely has potential. It started out a little slow with all of the explaining of the glass blowing details. While it's interesting to learn how it's done - I think there might have been too much detail. The story picks up pretty quickly and I'll definitely be looking for the next one. B+

Spying In High Heels

Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday ~~ L.A. shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion. Fashion. Fashion. But when she stumbles upon the work of a brutal killer, her life takes an unexpected turn from Manolos to murder. And things only get worse when her boyfriend disappears—along with $20 million in embezzled funds—and her every move is suddenly under scrutiny by LAPD's sexiest cop. With the help of her post-menopausal bridezilla of a mother, a 300-pound psychic and one seriously oversexed best friend, Maddie finds herself stepping out of her stilettos and onto the trail of a murderer. But can she catch a killer before the killer catches up to her?

I laughed through all of this book. I love how Maddie can't seem to stay out of trouble - and can never get any where on time! I can't wait to see how things go with her and Ramirez.

Change of Heart

Change of Heart: A Novel by Jodi Picoult ~~ Freelance carpenter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival—an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart.

Another amazing book! Shay Bourne is sentenced to die for the murders of a father and his daughter. Meanwhile, the unborn child (at the time of the murder) of the wife/mother is now 7 years old and will die with out a heart transplant. Shay Bourne wants to be that donor! The story is told from the points of view of June (the mother), his spiritual advisor (who has past ties to Shay), his ACLU lawyer who is fighting for his execution be be by hanging so they can harvest his organs, and his Tier mate in prison Lucius who is dying of AIDS. Strange "miracles" start happening and people begin to wonder if Shay is Jesus, the messiah or just a fraud. While there are some twists to the story that make you think this is Jodi PIcoults typical "big thing" - the final OMG moment doesn't come until the very end. And it's up to you to decide what to believe. While some people may have issue w/ all of the religion talk in the book (tt is necessary to the plot) I loved the book. I took my time reading it today so that I could absorb it all. And I'm sitting here wondering - is it really possible! A

Turn Up The Heat

Turn Up the Heat: A Gourmet Girl Mystery (Gourmet Girl Mysteries) by Susan Conant and Jessica Conant-Park ~~ Chloe Carter has a lot on her plate-exams for grad school are coming up, and her chef boyfriend needs her support as his fledgling trendy restaurant comes into its own. The staff of Simmer gets along like petits pois in a pod, everyone pulling pranks on one another now and then. Everyone, that is, except for Leandra, a waitress who treats the busboys like chopped liver-and can never take a joke. One morning, Leandra's dead body is found in a fish truck. So people start to wonder: was this just a prank gone awry? Or did somebody actually want her to sleep with the fishes? 3rd book on Gourment Girl Mystery Series.

When Chloe's friend is a "person of interest" in Leandra's murder, she'll do whatever it takes to find the real kiiler. I thought this was another great addition to the Gournet Girl Mystery series. And the last sentence is leaving me dying for the next one. A

A Killer's Wife

The Killer's Wife: A Novel by Bill Floyd ~~ Six years after Nina Mosley discovered evidence linking her husband, Randy, to a string of murders across the country, she's finally settling into a new life with their seven-year-old son, Hayden, in Cary, N.C. Now calling herself Leigh Wren, Nina hopes that she's heard the last of her ex-husband, who's on death row in California. But when the father of one of Randy's victims tracks her down and exposes her identity, Nina knows her troubles are far from over. As friends shun her, Nina struggles to come to terms with her past. When Hayden's life is suddenly put in jeopardy, Nina must revisit Randy's crimes and uncover who's continuing his killing spree before it's too late.

An intersting twist to the typical serial killer story ~ told from the point of view of the wife. How much did she know and when did she know it. Also, there seems to be a copycat killer at large - someone you'd never expect it to be. Good first book. B+

A Vicky Hill Exclusive

A Vicky Hill Exclusive! (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries) by Hannah Dennison ~~ Introducing Vicky Hill, a suffocatingly single reporter whose attempts at finding the right man and the scoop of a lifetime take a backseat to murder. The debut of a brand new series set in the sleepy English town of Gipping-on-Plym features sweetly bumbling investigative journalist Vicky Hill, who will do anything to get that front-page story. But the unusual death of local hedge-jumping enthusiast just may lead to Vicky's own deadly downfall.

Double Abduction

Double Abduction by Chris Beakey ~~ An abducted child, an innocent but suspected kidnapper and a serial killer watching it all --- what more can be said.

What a great book. Not only do you have the child abduction and serial murder tied together some how - you've also got a police captain hiding a secret. And it's not the one you think. Loved it. A

Carrot Cake Murder

Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen Mysteries) by Joanne Fluke ~~ Book #10 in the Hannah Swensen series. Gus Klein comes back to Lake Eden for a family reunion 30 years after disappearing. Everyone is wondering how he heard about the reunion and why he showed up after all this time. When he doesn't show up for the family portrait Hannah, of course is the one to find him dead (w/ pieces of her carrot cake near by). And will Hannah finally choose between the dentist and the cop???????

I enjoyed this book. There was were some nice twists and maybe a resolution to her ongoing personal saga :)