Friday, August 31, 2012

Review and Giveaway of Dangerous Past by A. F. Ebbers

 
Giveaway Guidelines Are Below The Review
 
What did Frank Braden do that caused someone to plant a bomb in a plane, purposely leave him unconscious on the railroad tracks, and point a gun right into his face and make it look like he was trying to commit suicide.

Someone definitely had a grudge, but who? And how could Frank prove all of these things were not suicide attempts and get his job back.  Could it be someone from his Viet Nam days?

DANGEROUS PAST is a very suspenseful mystery that focuses on the frightening fact that someone can frame you.  I was on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.
 
The first few pages did have me thinking that I wasn't going to want to continue because it was about war, but it was simply background information for the book, and I was proved wrong....the book was an outstanding thriller.  It was action packed and gripping with many twists and turns that kept you guessing along with an inside look at how cruel, crafty, and evil some people can be. 

The ending will have you turning the pages faster than you thought you could ever read.  :) 

Anyone who enjoys an intense, mysterious plot will want to read this book.  The only drawback for me was the war information, but the rest of the book's suspense and plot made up for those sections.  A Warning.....don't read this book when you are on an airplane.  :) 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review.






                                                                        
Contest has ended.
Contest will run from 
August 31
through
September 8
Giveaway Guidelines:

1.  Please be a NEW or OLD follower of my blog.

2.  Please complete the giveaway form by clicking here.

3.  You must be a resident of the USA.

Good luck to all entrants.


Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Book of Sylvia by Michael Scott Miller


A whispered name to James' casual friend as he was yanked out of the police cruiser and as she was yanked out of the other door turned out to be Sylvia's quest for finding Richard Witherspoon.  Sylvia wasn’t sure what the significance of the name was or if it was a puzzle for her to solve, but she definitely was going to find out.

After Sylvia left the prison and was free to go, she ventured on her own back to London, but during the return trip, she noticed a church and decided to stop. Aren't churches supposed to help the weary and down trodden? 

At the church, she found Father Christopher and his five-parishioner church to be inviting, and so she boldly asked if she could stay in the rectory.  Much to his own surprise, he said yes.  

Sylvia’s stay definitely livened things up as she tried to solve the puzzle of the name Richard Witherspoon.  As time went on, Sylvia and the priest realized they were good for each other....two lonely souls helping each other and becoming friends with Sylvia leading the way and helping Father Christopher to get his parish back and she trying to solve the mystery of the whispered name.

The book's characters were delightful.  The priest was funny, lonely, and questioning his fit as a priest.  Sylvia was inquisitive, determined, and quirky.  Father Christopher’s cook was definitely stuffy.  

If you need a break from serious, this is the book you will want to read.  It is quite enjoyable in terms of characters and plot….something different.  It will also remind the reader about the human traits of caring and concern.    

ENJOY!!!  I definitely did. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the author in return for an honest review.


Friday, August 24, 2012

Her Honor's Bodyguard by Johnny Ray

 
 
Judge Noella Peterson, her former lover Vance, the Police Department, street gangs, and an attempt on the judge's life are all mixed together for an interesting mystery.

No one had any clue as to why Noella was being targeted and being shot at in her home and on the street. Of course she was a judge and had put people away, but she couldn't imagine what case would have caused someone to want her dead.


Now that Vance was hired as her bodyguard, he and Noella were working together trying to sort out cases that might give them a clue about what was causing this sudden interest in having Noella eliminated, and he definitely was going to try to clear his name for good with the information Noella had.  When she hired Vance for her bodyguard, she indicated she had some inside information about Vance's conviction seven years ago that had gotten him kicked off the police force and most likely framed.  This information about being framed was definitely of interest to Vance, and he wanted to know more.

I can't say the book was suspenseful, but it did keep your interest because of learning how things work in the background in the police force, in gangs, and in the courts.  As Vance worked with the police force to help solve the case, he sensed that they really were not willing to let him in on the information they had, and they may even be trying to get his own case reopened and tried again.  Along with all the investigation on this case, there was also another connection that was closer than Noella, Vance, and Noella's father knew.....or maybe someone did know the connection and wasn't giving out any details.

It was a quick, enjoyable read with a surprise ending  along with another major theme of the rekindling of the relationship between Noella and Vance, but who doesn't like a little romance?
   ENJOY!!!  4/5

This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
 

Giveaway of THE LOVE SONGS MURDERS by Kelly Marshall

 
Contest  has ENDED.
Giveaway begins on 
August 24 
and 
Ends on September 8
                                            

An Autographed Print Copy of:
THE LOVE SONGS MURDERS 
BY
KELLY MARSHALL

Seattle homicide detectives Nick Winston and Pat Strom dig working together. Their lively banter gets them through the daily dark side of their business. After all, dead bodies dominate their workload.
He's straight, she's gay. In politically liberal Seattle, that's not a problem until...they both find the same woman irresistible. Suddenly their wonderful working relationship is intolerable.
 
At the center of their attention is radio announcer, Jasmine James. Beautiful and sultry, James has a sexual appetite big enough to satisfy both detectives. The two officers are not the only ones obsessed with the Love Songs host.

Click on the link below for another preview and then complete the giveaway form in Guideline #2.

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:

1.  Please be a NEW or OLD follower of my blog.
2.  Please complete the giveaway form by clicking here.
3.  You must be a resident of the USA.

THANKS for entering.  Best of luck to everyone.


Friday, August 17, 2012

Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society by Amy Hill Hearth


A nostalgic look back to when women stayed home and men went to work.

Jackie Hart and her family moved from Boston to a town in Florida that was definitely old fashioned.  You will meet Jackie and you will also meet an unmarried librarian, an unmarried lady who secretly writes sex novels for a publisher in New York, a divorced woman who works in the Post Office, a woman just out of jail for killing her husband, a maid, and an eccentric male. This group met once a week for a book club which they call The Collier County Women's Literary Society.

The characters are all quite diverse but warm and caring.  Out of the blue, one of the book club members decides to do a late night radio show, and the entire town is in an uproar trying to figure out who it is especially since her name is none other than Miss Dreamsville.

This book was so fun, and took you back to a different lifestyle that our mothers probably were a part of.....well, at least my mother. :).  It was a simpler life but also one that was strict.

It isn't a book I normally read, but I did enjoy it.....a nice light read and change of pace.  It will make you laugh, but it will also make you wonder if it really would be a time period where you want to live. 

The characters were all different and showed that “different” is what makes the world go round.  How could it all work out if we were all the same?  The characters worked together perfectly in the book.  It did get a little dramatic at times, but overall a fun read and one that makes note that all of us are different yet all of us are the same.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


Monday, August 13, 2012

Abdication by Juliet Nicolson

 
Abdication has such wonderful descriptions of characters as well as scenes, that you can actually see the detail of each…..so many incredible words put together to make a great picture of the scene, character, or comment.

You will follow boat trips across the ocean carrying two different women from different locations but both ending in London and meeting by chance.  You will meet May, Sam, Evangeline, Wallis, and other family members and friends that are weaved into a beautiful, historical story with delightful characters.

You will learn of life in London in the early 1930's as a person in the "big" house or as a person who works for the "big" house.  If you enjoy this time period and hearing the escapades of both sides, you will thoroughly enjoy Abdication with all its properness of privileged English families as well as the poverty that abounds.  You will definitely learn of British Society and their customs and, of course, the British Royalty.

The book does get a little confusing with so many characters, but it all comes together in this appealing book.
   The ending pages also bring out the start of the horrors and hatreds of the beginning of WWII as well as the story of King Edward VIII.   

I enjoyed this historical book.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.