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Blue Labyrinth (Pendergast, Bk 14)
reviewed on + 5 more book reviews


This thriller is a wild ride, as usual! It will make you want to stay up all night to finish it. FBI Agent Pendergast almost dies, again. He must have the proverbial nine lives.


Pacific Vortex! (Dirk Pitt, Bk 1)
reviewed on + 3 more book reviews


Unbelievable story line. The hero would have to be a "superhero" to do these things without sleep and wounds.


Where He Can't Find You
reviewed on + 3064 more book reviews


FYI--this is a YA book

I wanted to like this, it started out creepy but as I turned the pages I found it to be more on the boring side for me but the teens will probably love it

There's just too many pages of nothing and makes for over 400 pages and that is way way too long


Best Loser Wins: Why Normal Thinking Never Wins the Trading Game ? written by a high-stake day trader
artemis16 avatar reviewed on


Excellent book on trading psychology! Very easy to understand with concrete steps to improve your trading mindset.


The Woman with the Blue Star
starvinArtist avatar reviewed on + 56 more book reviews


4,5 listened to on Libby

First Jenoff book I've read and I would definitely read another. Kept me interested from the first page. Story is about a group of Jewish people living in a sewer to escape the Nazi's in Poland. Caught my attention as this is how my inlaws escaped during the Holocaust. The main character is Sadie, who befriends Ella, a polish girl who helps her in many ways. Highly recommend.!


The King Tides (Lancaster & Daniels)
reviewed on + 361 more book reviews


Jon Lancaster is a bit of a rogue and I love his character and am so glad this is a series. He smart and tough and a good guy. He works for 'stuff'. On one job he works for a set of dishes from Wal-Mart. On another, a very high-end refrigerator - depends on what his clients can afford. He's an ex-Navy Seal and an ex-cop and he doesn't take crap from anyone and likes working independently because if he has to, he'll shoot your ass with no paperwork to write
afterward. In this story, his main focus is protecting a teen who is being vigorously stalked by professionals trying to kidnap her. I'll recommend this to my book group and read the next.


The Butterfly Collector
VolunteerVal avatar reviewed on + 548 more book reviews


I really enjoy dual timeline novels; those I read usually have a contemporary and a historical storyline. The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper, an Australian author, is unique for me because both plots take place more than a century ago, in 1868 and 1922. The novel explores events in Australian history, primarily baby farming and the unexpected migration of monarch butterflies to Australia.

Baby farming was the shocking practice where infants were taken from poor parents and sold to wealthy families resulting in tremendous profits for the criminals arranging such "adoptions." The appearance of monarch butterflies was extraordinary because at this time they were believed to exist primarily in North America.

It's interesting to read a novel about history with which I'm completely unfamiliar, and it's evident the author researched her subjects thoroughly. However, it was challenging for me to connect with this book due to the large cast of characters, the timeframes being in such close proximity, and the multiple connections between the intertwined stories. The plot develops very slowly and unevenly; the baby farming topic didn't arise until quite late in the story and then all of the action happened all at once.

I appreciated the audiobook narrated by Emily Barrett. Her Australian accent kept the setting top of mind for me. Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for access to the advanced listening copy of it.


Holly (Holly Gibney, Bk 3)
Bonnie avatar reviewed on + 416 more book reviews


This would have been a whole lot better if he didn't have Holly spouting his own political beliefs. We can read enough of that for free in the articles he writes or on social media. I don't need to pay to hear it. I read to escape this crap. He ruined the book, and maybe my favorite character, for me.


Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
reviewed on + 330 more book reviews


Was hoping for more. He rambles on about stuff that has nothing to do with Parkinson's. He has been fighting the battle for many years and has taken it to National recognition. He has the money to ease the disease effects and live a full life.


Monsterland


Teenager Wyatt Baldwin, his little brother, and his friends are invited to the opening of a new unusual amusement park. It is similar to Jurassic Park but with vampires, werewolves and zombies. It's not just one park but many all over the world will open at the same time. What sounds exciting and fun soon turns scary and life-threatening.

This is my first time reading this author, Michael Phillip Cash, and I did enjoy it. It was written well and the characters were memorable. The amusement park was described very much like Disneyworld only much darker which I found funny. I could see this as a PG-13 movie.

I liked it but I did not love it, because it was predictable. I am not sure how it could have gone any other way than it did. It was okay.

It was a quick read and had some fun moments and I could see this book getting a sequel. It is certainly set up for one. I have a pile of books from this author that I will be delving into soon.


Westward Winds (Montana Mail Order Brides, Bk 1)
jjares avatar reviewed on + 3150 more book reviews


Tessa O'Connor is bored with her privileged life and wants some adventure. She declares that she wants to write about her travels -- but that soon disappears. She wants to be a creative writer for about fifteen minutes. After corresponding with a rancher for a few months, she leaves her family in Pittsburgh to "visit with Dean and his two kids." Without any word to her family, she sneaks away.

Tessa arrives in Montana, and everyone loves her, including the two children. I can accept that they would be tired of living without female interest and support. However, Dean had to keep his two brothers in line because they were interested in her, too.

After two months, Tessa and Dean marry. Almost immediately, the couple have problems. The issue Tessa makes a mountain out of is ridiculous. Then Dean is upset when Tessa has not written to her family about her marriage.

When one of the brothers used the phrase "defense mechanism," I knew we weren't in Kansas anymore. That is a very 20-21st century phrase. Who proofread this book? Of course, Tessa can do everything. But what got me was the wallowing in emotions. I've read enough American historical fiction to know that life in Montana (and almost all Western Territories and states) was a hard-scrabble existence.

Yet, they spent hours discussing emotions and feelings. Ridiculous. This author planted some Western characters on a plot of land to wallow in emotional difficulties. This smacks of 20th-century whining. They did not have time for such foolishness.

This author needs to read a few thousand more books and learn what life was really like. She missed it with this one.


Bookworm
Bookworm
Author: Robin Yeatman
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Paperback
njmom3 avatar reviewed on + 1331 more book reviews


Based on the title, cover, and description, I expect to be the reader for Robin Yeatman's debut novel, Bookworm. However, sadly, I am not. Unfortunately, I do not find it funny, and I do not find the main character at all relatable or likable. For me, books are a way to travel the world, see alternate realities, and imagine other possibilities. Unfortunately, I was not the right reader to travel that road with this book.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/bookworm.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.


The Black Angel (Reprint)
perryfran avatar reviewed on + 1141 more book reviews


Cornell Woolrich was a prolific American novelist and short story writer who is considered by many to be one of the best crime writers of his day along with Dashiell Hammett, Erle Stanley Gardner and Raymond Chandler and was one of the inventors of noir fiction. Many of his novels and short stories were made into movies including Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, The Bride Wore Black, Black Angel, and many others.

This is the first Woolrich novel I have read. I've had this one along with a few others of his on my shelves for several years. I first heard about Woolrich after reading about some of his collectible novels in the magazine "Firsts" but for some reason hadn't gotten around to reading any of them until now.

BLACK ANGEL was published in 1943 and takes place in New York. It is told in the first person by a female protagonist, Alberta Murray, whose husband has been convicted of the murder of his mistress. Alberta is convinced that her husband is not guilty of the murder and basically the novel deals with her trying to track down the real murderer. To do this she uses a clue that she found at the murder site before the police arrived that indicates the murderer's name starts with the letter 'M'. While she was there, she also took the murdered woman's address book and she uses it to track down the men listed under 'M'. As she does this, she gets involved in the shadier side of the city including down-and-outs on skid row, drug dealers, gangsters, and murderers. But is she able to find the real killer?

This was really an unusual crime novel. Being told from a woman's perspective was definitely different and a little strange for a noir story. Some of what Alberta did in her quest was very bold especially for a woman of the 1940s. Also, I didn't understand why she continued looking for the killer after she discovered who left the clue with the "M" at the murder scene. After that, it seemed like anyone in the address book could have been the killer. There were also some things included in the story that were not fully explained including a blackmail storyline involving one of the suspects. I did enjoy the writing with Woolrich painting a vivid picture of the underside of New York. I can see why he is considered one of the great crime writers of the 40s. This was also made into a movie in 1946 starring Dan Duryea, June Vincent and Peter Lorre but a lot of the story points were changed. Cornell Woolrich disliked the film version and stated after seeing it, "I was so ashamed when I came out of there ... it took me two or three days to get over it. All I could keep thinking of in the dark was: Is that what I wasted my whole life at?" Based on this, I'm not sure if I will try to find and watch it online.


Colton's Undercover Seduction (Coltons of New York, Bk 4) (Harlequin Romantic Suspense, No 2227)
scoutmomskf avatar reviewed on + 2473 more book reviews


Good book with intriguing suspense and an unexpected romance. Eva is the youngest of the New York Colton siblings, with three overprotective older brothers. The oldest brother, Sean, is the head of detectives in the precinct where Eva is a rookie cop. Eva frequently feels like she's fighting for respect from her brothers and coworkers. When her partner goes on medical leave, she is assigned a new partner - the one cop she has a crush on.

Carmine has been there a few years and has a reputation for occasionally stretching the rules, which makes the prospect of working with the by-the-book rookie less than ideal. Their first day together stirs up unwanted feelings in the commitment-phobic Carmine. Matters become more complicated when they are sent undercover as a married couple to see if they can uncover a link between two cases.

I liked Eva and Carmine. Eva's devotion to her work is undeniable, though she is sometimes impatient and impulsive when she feels things aren't moving fast enough. This isn't unexpected in someone on the job for less than a year. With his greater experience, Carmine is a good partner for her, as he can rein her in or point out alternatives. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The sparks between them are undeniable, and I loved seeing how quickly they connected. I especially liked Carmine's support of Eva and how he bolstered her belief in her abilities. I also loved Eva's sensitivity to Carmine's relationship issues, even when it went against what she wanted. I loved the emotional ending and how her push helped him face the past that haunted him. I also liked the realism that showed it was an ongoing process.

The suspense of the story was well done. Eva and Carmine use their time on the couples cruise to attempt to extract information from a murderer's family without giving themselves away. Their investigation takes an unexpected turn when Eva witnesses a murder, but no one except Carmine believes her. There are some intriguing twists to their investigations, both the original and the onboard murder. I was on the edge of my seat as Eva's confrontation with the shipboard killer turned deadly. That resolution was a nail-biter.

The series arc mystery of Humphrey Kelly's disappearance made some significant progress in this book. An unexpected connection between that case and another opened a new avenue of investigation and brought in a Colton cousin to help. I look forward to the next book and seeing where this path leads.


Once a Rebel (Rogues Redeemed, Bk 2)
reviewed on + 5 more book reviews


It was enjoyable and easy reading.


A Royal Christmas: A Christmas Novella
Moonpie avatar reviewed on + 1170 more book reviews


It is a difficult Christmas for Adelaide. She has no family since the passing of her mother. Struggling to get by working at a coffee shop and finish law school she hopes for a better future. Scrimping and doing without is nothing new, being the daughter of a single mom. She never knew who her dad was, a seemly closely guarded secret of her mother's.
Then one day a very official letter arrives in the mail from the country of Montovia telling her that through a DNA match, she is the daughter of King Maximillian Konig V, and heir to his throne. She would have tossed it in the trash had it not being for her friend Maya. After investigating she decides the letter is legitimate. What does she have to lose? She decides to accept the invite and meet the father she never knew.
Upon arriving she finds her father is on his deathbed. Anton the courier assigned to take care of her was a real blessing. He helped her in every possible way to make her visit as easy as possible. He even protects her from those who are not happy the heir to the throne has been found.
The story beautifully unfolds making the reader a part of all the glamour and excitement of discovering her country and heritage. I found myself saddened that she found her so near to the end of his life. In reading about her experiences seeing the shops, traditions, and festivities delighted an overwhelmed my senses and emotions as I cannot imagine how it did hers. The splendor the royal life that lavished upon her was surreal to Adelaide after living such a simple life.
I love that in all opportunity and honor, she did not lose sight of her values and what was truly important. Doing what was right was more important to her than any amount of wealth or position of importance.
Not everything was glamour and glitz,. She was faced with mysteries and even danger. A true Christmas Cinderella story! Delightful and entertaining!
I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program and Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.


Second Act: A Novel (Random House Large Print)
oldrockandroll avatar reviewed on + 261 more book reviews


Another great easy read by Danielle Steel. Andy is the son of movie stars and has been the head of a movie studio for 19 years. The studio is bought out and he loses his job. He is devastated and goes to a tiny town in England to get away and lick his wounds. He meets Violet, whom he hires to take care of his correspondence while in England. Prior to becoming a studio head, he was a screenwriter and loved doing it. Violet accidentally leaves a manuscript that Andy reads. Then everything takes off. Great Read!!


The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I
reviewed on + 125 more book reviews


Great read in historical non-fiction. He does a great work on developing Rudolph Diesel, the most underrated inventor of the last 150 years. I loved where he went with what happened mysteriously to Diesel. Lots of information in a fairly concise read.


Midwinter Break: A Novel
MKSbooklady avatar reviewed on + 893 more book reviews


A quite sad story of a marriage possibly on the rocks. He makes fun of her faith, her religion, and he sneaks a drink whenever he can. She's tired of it, and wants to leave but doesn't know how to tell him. A vacation to Amsterdam sets it all in motion.


Luckiest Girl Alive
flyinggems avatar reviewed on + 417 more book reviews


I really did not care for the main character and it was hard to stand by her and root for her.


Coming Out to Play
reviewed on + 97 more book reviews


Extremely well-written. The narrative fully expresses the noncertainty involved in this man's life and professional career. I highly recommend wide readership, but this book needs to be given to any youth facing uncertainty.


Reykjavik Nights (Reykjavik, Bk 10)
justreadingabook avatar reviewed on + 1687 more book reviews


This is a great book, love this series and style of writing.


Sharpe's Honor (Sharpe, Bk 16)
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2469 more book reviews


I really hate to say this, but the story in this book had me on the edge of my seat turning the pages. Plus, I wished I was there at the end when the French wagon train was looted in a free-for-all. Even the defeated French soldiers participated. Harper was right to ignore the gold coins and take the diamonds.


Vertical Coffin (Shane Scully, Bk 4) (Audio CD) (Unabridged)
reviewed on + 361 more book reviews


Shane, the protagonist of this story, appears in other Cannell novels, and he's as good as any I've read. He's gritty, full of human foibles and just like life, he doesn't always come out on the other side unscathed. In Vertical Coffin, Shane gets the job of re-investigating the murder of a Sheriff's deputy who takes a bullet in the doorway (vertical coffin) of a home while serving a warrant. During this riveting ride through the alaphabet soup of ATF, LAPD, LASD, IAD, SRT, SEB, etc. we follow Shane as he starts at the beginning, the way he was taught by Jigsaw John, following the evidence trail. His temprorary partner, a good looking blonde named Jo, fights him most of the way. Finally, Jo, who hasn't worked many homicides but has good instincts, decides to follow Shane's lead.

As they make their way through the rubble of the first crime scene, a burnt out house; and through the rubble of life, they begin to trust each other and earn each other's respect. This leads them to discover that the perp isn't dead and puts them on the roller coaster ride that can only end in death, destruction, pain, and victory for many of the players. And, believe me, there are a lot of players in this novel. You'll have to read this thriller to find out who dies, who's wounded and how coming out on the other side isn't always the best deal. Cannell has a fine ear for gritty dialgoue and plot twisters. Never knowing exactly where you're headed, you'll follow Shane through a fast paced storyline full of flesh outed characters, family dynamics, and enough plot twists to keep you on edge. You won't want to put this one down til you know how it ends and yet you'll also not want it to end. As in real life, solving the case doesn't always bring a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction but it can bring growth and reflection. This book crackles with suspense and personality and Cannell doesn't take shortcuts--the mark of a true storyteller who seems to really enjoy his craft.


Maame
Maame
Author: Jessica George
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
njmom3 avatar reviewed on + 1331 more book reviews


In so many ways, Maame by Jessica George is a coming of age story. The word âmaameâ in the Twi language means mother or woman. Maddie's journey of self-discovery is a slow read and tries cover a lot of issues â perhaps, a few too many issues for any one to be developed in full depth. An interesting premise, a relatable lesson, but ultimately a story that proves to be a challenge.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/maame.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.


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