Taft by Ann Patchett

Taft by Ann Patchett
Fiction/Literature

John Nickel gave up his musical career to become a bar owner in Memphis, trying to prove to his girlfriend that he could support her and their child. Despite how hard John tried to prove his worth to her, she left for Miami, taking John's child with her.

As John gets used to a life of managing a bar, Fay Taft walks into the bar looking for a place to work. John offers her a job and trouble follows. Fay's father died of a heart attack recently, which brought Fay and her brother Carl to Memphis to stay with their aunt and uncle. Carl becomes a regular at the bar, bringing bad customers with him. Meanwhile Fay is reaching out for a fatherly figure and John is the only prominent male in her life.

This book is very easy to get in to, as all Ann Patchett books seem to be. It was interesting how John, a large black man, surveyed his relationship with Fay, a petite white girl, and what it would look like to others. That being said, I found the ending unsatisfying. Though I suspected things would climax the way they did, nothing much resulted from it which left me wanting something more.

First Line: "A girl walked into the bar."

Rating:

(4/5)

The Last Temptation

The Last Temptation by Val McDermid
Mystery

Carol Jordan is now working undercover in Europe trying to catch a mastermind drug trafficker. She is still reeling over her breakup with criminal profiler, Dr. Tony Hill. Carol is working at getting into the confidence of the drug trafficker.

A serial killer is on the loose in Europe, always striking near waterways. The serial killer is psychotic because of Nazi atrocities. Carol ends up being on the serial killers death list.

Carol needs help in order to get 'into' the mind of the drug trafficker. Who can she call? Dr. Tony Hill, who has retired from this line of work, comes to her rescue. She also is investigating the serial killer and who better to help her but Tony Hill.

This book has a lot of twists and turns as McDermid always delivers. A great psychological thriller!

First Line: "Blue is one colour the Danube never manages."

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer
Young Adult

Demons are starting to appear all over the world. It seems that the spell sending the demons to Limbo is eroding. If a human gets hold of a demon who knows what will be revealed or what will be unleashed. Holly Short is brought back by Foaly to help with the investigation. Holly and Diggums had teamed up to do some private investigations. Foaly has some new really neat technological stuff.

Artemis is already on the path to trying to capture a demon. But so is his counterpart, a beautiful 12 year old girl who happens to be his equal in the intelligence department.

The addition of new characters really brings this story to life and I found I liked this book the best so far in the series. Can't wait to see if these new characters stick around for awhile

First Line: "Happy was not a word often used to describe Artemis Fowl's bodyguard."

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer
Young Adult

Artemis Fowl's knowledge of the underground was wiped clean in the last book. Opal Koboi, a really bad gal has cloned herself and broken out of prison. Artemis is trying to steal an impressionist painting in Berlin and now Opal is after him for putting her behind bars. To make matters worse it looks like LEP Captain Holly Short is being investigated for killing her commander and will not be able to ride to the rescue.

This is a light entertaining read. I love Mulch Diggums, the tunnel-making dwarf. He and Holly really banter back and forth. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

First Line: "This article was posted on the fairy Internet, on the site www.horse.gnom."

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Loyalty in Death

Loyalty in Death by J. D. Robb
Cozy Mystery

A terrorist group by the name of Cassandra is bombing NYC. Eve Dallas must decipher the taunting letters and try to stop this group. They are killing thousands of people and seem to have no remorse. Dallas must save the people and the landmarks of the city.

A wealthy tools & toy manufacturer is killed by his jealous girlfriend(Lizabeth). She seems to get off light and Dallas still continues the investigation hoping to find some fault in Lizabeth's story. In the meantime Peabody's brother has been commissioned to do some carpentry in NYC for none other than the deceased's brother. Coincidence?? Of course not!

While still a good read, I found the protaganist to be so obvious so there were no surprises. What makes this a good read are the steamy sex scenes!! Including the one with Peabody!!!

First Line: "Dear Comrade, We are Cassandra."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

High Five

High Five by Janet Evanovich
Cozy Mystery

Stephanie Plum doesn't have much bounty work to do so she tries to find her uncle who went missing after going to the garbage company to complain about $2. Soon she find herself being followed and a lot of cars being destroyed.

This is an amusing series and this book (5) still delivers. Stephanie, this time, is hired by Ranger to do some work which in her inevitable way never seems to quite get done as the reader would expect.

Two deliciously sexy men, attitude from Stephanie, a family as crazy as your own, what more can a reader want. Looking forward to six.

First Line: "When I was a little girl I used to dress Barbie up without underpants."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

The Day The Falls Stood Still

The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
Historical Fiction

The year is 1915. Bess Heath is brought home from private school for the summer to learn of her father's dismissal from the Niagara Power Company. Her mother now takes in sewing in order to feed the family. Bess's sister Isabel is a former shell of her vivacious self, having been dumped by her fiancee.

On the way home from boarding school Bess meets Tom Cole who helps her and her mother with her trunk. Bess is drawn to Tom but he is not of their social strata and therefore unsuitable. Tom is a riverman. He understands the river and its vagaries. He becomes a local hero in performing several daring river rescues. Tom hates what the power companies are doing to the river.

This story weaves the Niagara River around the lives of Tom and Bess. It is simply a wonderful read. The history of World War I and the start-up of electric power at Niagara Falls was fascinating to read about. There were several times I had to tell other people what I had just learned. Did you know.....?

The Niagara River is a big part of the book and almost seems like an additional character. Buchanan has written a wonderful piece of Canadian historical fiction. I live near to Niagara Falls and can only wonder if double the water were to be flowing down the river what the falls would look like today! Loved, loved, loved it!!!

First Line: "The stone walls of Loretto Academy are so thick I can sit curled up on a windowsill, arms around the knees tucked beneath my chin."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Hour Game by David Baldacci

Hour Game by David Baldacci
Mystery

The quiet town of Wrightsburg, Virgina is rocked by a serial killer on the loose. The killing of each victim is made to represent a past notorious serial killer, including the Zodiac Killer. Ex-Secret Service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell help the police and FBI track the killer and try to catch him before he kills again. All the killings don't quite seem to fit the MO of the killer though. Are there multiple killers? What are the motives? How can Sean and Michelle stop more people from being hurt?

This book was an incredibly easy read, but I didn't find it as gripping as some of Baldacci's other books. Absolute Power by Baldacci was a book I couldn't put down. This one was easier to walk away from because you could get an inkling for what was going on and who was responsible.

Some things in the book did not make sense to me. For example, Michelle found the body of the first victim and because of this she was allowed to learn more case details and help with the case? This made no sense. How come Michelle and Sean were allowed to lean what should have been kept within the police department?

This is not the first book in the series that follows Sean and Michelle, but could act as a stand alone. In the end, there was one twist that caught me by surprise, which is always welcome with a mystery book.

First Line: "The man in the rain slicker walked slightly bent over, his breathing labored and his body sweaty."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn

The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell
Historical Fiction

Elizabeth I is queen and in love with Robin Dudley when she receives a diary written by her mother, Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn changed the course of English history.

After returning home from being in the French court Anne is seen by King Henry VIII. Her sister is already the king's mistress and Anne has no wishes to be another of his mistresses. She aims higher. She 'holds' out with granting the king any sexual favours and thus starts a six year engagement.

The pope refuses to dissolve the king's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The king declares himself head of the Church in England and dissolves his marriage himself. Upon marriage to Henry, Anne bears him a daughter and not the promised son. Their relationship sours and finally Anne is beheaded.

The book explores: the politics surrounding Anne's marriage to King Henry, each of the machinations the king must go through in order to wed Anne, the schemes of Anne and her father, Anne's relationship with her brother George and her father. This book also shows how woman were chattels only to be used as pawns in the game of power.

Elizabeth after reading this story realizes the love her mother had for her and learns from her mother's mistakes in trusting any man.

First Line: "God's Death! roared Elizabeth."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Pen Pals

Pen Pals by Olivia Goldsmith
Women's Fiction

Jennifer Spencer, financial whiz, agrees to take the 'rap' for her fiancee Tom on insider trading charges. Tom has agreed to make appeals and get her out quickly and in the meantime she will be at a country club jail. Not so!! Tom is a rat and soon Jennifer, besides being dumped is at Jennings Correctional Facility in an orange jumpsuit. Jennifer is rich, spoiled and self-absorbed.

After a very rocky beginning, Jennifer finds herself on Movita's team along with Suki, Cher, and Theresa. Jennifer starts to learn how to help other people by first getting a guard fired. Upon learning that Jennings is going to be privatized, Jennifer starts to think about making the biggest investment of her life.

This book is a very interesting story about female correctional facilities and turning your life around. Jennifer starts out as a snob and find out what really counts in life and who your real friends are.

First Line: "All Rise."

Rating:

(4.0/5)