Twelve Sharp

It's been a while, so I have a stack of books to review. In memory of my mother-in-law who introduced me to so many great reads, the next few reviews will be authors from her stash. Thank you, Jo. I will miss your gentle wisdom!

Twelve Sharp is another winner from Evanovich. Ranger's jealous wife is after Stephanie. The bail bond's office is short-handed, Stephanie is working overtime to clear up the backlog of fugitives from justice, and Ranger's daughter has been kidnapped. And speaking of Ranger, where the heck is he? As Stephanie works desperately to find Ranger's daughter, she learns much about this man of mystery. Still she's torn between Joe and Ranger. The whole gang is here, Grandma, Sally, Lula, and Connie, along with some new additions. More laugh-out-loud humor. Four out of four bookworms.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

A can't-put-down read, this is my first Philippa Gregory book, but I can't wait to read more. Through the eyes of Mary Bolelyn, Gregory tells the story of Anne Boleyn's rise and fall. We know how it ends, but getting there is fascinating. Siblings Mary, Anne, and George Boleyn are pawns in the Howard family quest for power. George is already a courtier in King Henry's court when his sister, Mary, catches the king's eye. Never mind that she is married. In fact, that's a plus since any pregnancies resulting from the affaire can be pawned off on her husband who must forgo intimate relations with his wife in the meantime. Since Mary's husband is one of Henry's courtiers, he must watch and encourage the affaire. The Howard family and Mary's husband benefit from the liaison with titles, positions, and land awards. Anne coaxes her sister through the affaire and fills in for Mary when she is indisposed because of her pregnancies. After Mary loses the king's interest, Anne finds herself in the king's favor, but she won't be content with an illicit affaire. She will settle for nothing less than replacing Katherine of Aragon as Queen of England. Roles are reversed as Mary now advises Anne on how to win and keep the king. Anne will stop at nothing, not even murder and incest, to achieve her goal. While this sounds like a soap opera, all the political and religious machinations are dealt with as well as a woman's place in the world during that time period.

It's the characters that make history interesting. Unfortunately, when I was in high school, the teachers didn't seem to understand that. It wasn't until I got to college and took history classes from professors who were passionate about history and the people who made history that I developed a love of history. Gregory understands this as well. This book is all about the characters, what makes them who they are and what motivates them--everything behind the dates and places and events that you had to memorize in high school without learning why they happened. This is Tudor historical fiction at its best. Four out of four bookworms.

Certain Prey by John Sandford

My second John Sandford read was another fast-paced adventure. Clara Rinker is a successful hit woman. Carmel Loan is a successful criminal defense lawyer. Carmel has fallen for a married man. Enter Clara, whom Carmel hires to dispense with the wife. One hit leads to another and another and another and another and another and another. (There may be more, but I lost count.) Will they ever clean up the mess they’ve made, or will Lucas Davenport stop them before dying himself . . . of boredom while serving on the Equality Commission?

I hate to say this, but Sandford makes murder sooo satisfying. I loved Clara, despised Carmel. My only problem was that Clara was so smart up to her involvement with Carmel. She got stupid and sloppy with Carmel. Still, the relationship that developed between the two women intrigued me. This Lucas Davenport story centers more on Clara and Carmel than Lucas. Fast-paced and fun. Three out of four bookworms.

Kell’s Creative Musings

I have a good friend who is absolutely the most talented person I know. Kelley has just started her own blog—Kell’s Creative Musings—which showcases her artwork and discusses inspiration, perspiration, and technique. Just when I think Kelley can’t surprise me anymore with her talent, she begins designing jewelry. I’m not even a jewelry person, but she’s hooked me. My daughter, who is a jewelry person, loves her work as much as I do.

Kelley is also a fabulous writer, as you’ll see from her blog. Learn more about her books and works-in-progress at Kell’s Creations.

Thomas Jefferson

Anyone know of a good book on Thomas Jefferson? I’m looking for something dealing with his beliefs and how they impacted his work on the constitution and his presidency. Something not too dry. There’s so much out there on him that I don’t know where to start.

Any direction would be welcomed!

Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich

Before Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich wrote romances for the now defunct Loveswept line. None were as successful as the Plum series, but they’ve been recently reprinted by HarperTorch to take advantage of Evanovich’s fame and to give demanding Evanovich fans more Evanovich to read.

In Back to the Bedroom, divorcée Kate Finn and her new neighbor, David Dodd, meet when part of a helicopter falls through the roof of Kate’s house. Fortunately, David is an unemployed, nurturing, take charge kind of guy who not only puts Kate’s house back together, but her life as well. Back to the Bedroom is a fun read, showing flashes of the quirky characters and humor which Evanovich perfected in the Plum series--Finn’s new boarder, Elsie, and Plum’s grandma have a lot in common. The plot is simple, the conflict easily and quickly resolved as befits a short category romance, but the writing lifts it above the simple plot. Three out of four bookworms.

Shadow Prey by John Sandford

Thanks to my mother-in-law, I have discovered John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport series. My mother-in-law reads different types of books than I do, so reading her cast-offs is a great way for me to learn about authors I normally wouldn’t read. She introduced me to Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, which I love.

Shadow Prey is apparently the second Davenport book. Men across the United States are dying in what looks like ritual slayings. As Davenport soon learns, these killings are a statement. Two Mdewakanton Sioux, Aaron and Sam Crow, are protesting the treatment of Native Americans in the United States by ordering the killings of men known to prey on Native Americans. Their goal is to lure in bigger prey, a prominent politician with a penchant for underage girls. However, the Crows soon lose control of the protest when their son decides to help things along. Davenport loses control as well when the FBI becomes involved and really screws things up. In the end, law enforcement never truly understands what was going on, even after the killings stop. Fortunately, the reader gets both sides of the story. For this reason, I found myself rooting for the “villains” in this novel. I don’t know if I was supposed to root for them. Maybe this is a Sandford trademark. I suppose I’ll find out after reading more of his books. All in all, a fascinating read. Four out of four bookworms.

Stephanie Plum Rides Again

Can’t wait for the paperback release of Lean Mean Thirteen? Can’t wait until it hits the used book store? Can’t wait until your name pops up on the waiting list at your local library? Yesterday, I picked up the hardback at Target for $20.00 ($19.56) AND received a $5.00 Target gift card with my purchase, effectively bringing the price down to $15.00 ($14.56). Amazon.com has Lean Mean Thirteen for $16.77, a good deal if you buy enough ($25.00 in qualified purchases) to qualify for free shipping, but if you have to pay for shipping . . . . I also picked up the paperback of Twelve Sharp for $5.99, a two dollar discount. I’m sure that longtime Plum fans have already read the hardback of Twelve Sharp. But if you’ve just recently discovered this tenacious bond enforcement agent, this is a good deal on a new book.

I haven't read either, yet. I'm trying to save them for vacation. I love summer!!!

Hot Dish by Connie Brockway

Connie Brockway's first contemporary romance has a promising start. Jennifer Hallesby desperately wants to win the title of Buttercup Queen so she can get out of small town Fawn Creek, Minnesota and back to her home state of North Carolina to go to college. Unfortunately, a technicality brought to light by one of her high school rivals gets her disqualified. Still she must have her likeness sculpted in butter by Steve Jaax, an up and coming artist currently hiding from the law. The law catches up with Steve just as he hides the key to his best work (hidden in a mausoleum to escape the clutches of his soon-to-be ex-wife) in the butter sculpture of Jennifer. Steve goes to prison, gets out, and becomes a famous artist. Jennifer becomes even more determined to get out of Fawn Creek. Twenty years later, all of her dreams are coming true. She is set to become the next Martha Stewert when she is forced to return to Fawn Creek’s sesquicentennial celebration where she once again runs into Steve Jaax. Steve wants to retrieve the key from the butterhead which he thought had been destroyed 20 years ago. Jennifer just wants to get in and out of Fawn Creek with all of her secrets in tact. The story becomes a Keystone Cops plot of people trying to take possession of the butterhead anyway they can.

As with all Connie Brockway novels, I was immediately drawn into the story. However, with all of the back story, my interest waned as I read. Other than her writing style, I love the sensuous romance in Brockway’s novels. I found that sensuousness missing in this novel. I didn’t feel any connection or sexual tension with Jennifer and Steve. Their romance seemed incidental to the story. I also had some problems with the plot. At the end of the story, Jennifer is playing Texas Hold ‘Em in a poker tournament. We are aware that there are five kings in play, yet we don’t know who is cheating—Jennifer or her opponent. I assumed it was her opponent, but I don’t know for sure. Jennifer knows there are five kings in play, but we don’t get any indication from her that this is even an anomaly. Of course, everyone lives happily ever after, but I really didn’t care. I finished the book, but will stick with Connie Brockway’s historical romances from here on out. I hope she keeps writing them. I hate it when my favorite historical romance writers abandon historical romance for contemporary mainstream! Two out of four bookworms.

The Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James

Yes, I’ve been reading a lot of romance lately. I’ve been in the mood. The Taming of the Duke is another Essex sister romance, one I’ve been wanting to read so I could find out what happened to the Essex sisters' guardian, the Duke of Holbrook.

Imogen, Lady Maitland, has decided that she has mourned the death of her husband long enough. She is determined to have a very brief, very discreet affaire. She finds the perfect man in her guardian’s illegitimate brother, Gabe Spenser. Gabe has other ideas. So does Imogen’s guardian who has secretly carried a torch for Imogen since he first met her just weeks before she eloped with Draven Maitland. A comedy of disguised identities ensues. I like Eloisa James’s sensuous writing style and quick dialogue. Although I enjoyed this book, I had some problems with it. I found it difficult to believe that Imogen, the heroine, couldn’t tell the difference between Rafe (the Duke) and his brother, Gabe, when they decide to switch places. After several passionate encounters with the Duke posing as Gabe, she still doesn’t get hot and bothered by the Duke when he is himself. Wouldn’t she still feel the sexual attraction? The writing, as always, is excellent and James includes a secondary romance, two for the price of one. Three out of four bookworms.

The Prince Kidnaps a Bride by Christina Dodd

The last book in The Lost Princesses series doesn’t disappoint. Dodd once again brings sexy and funny to the table with a hero who isn’t afraid to let a woman “do a man’s work.” Prince Rainger trusts no one, with good reason. Those reasons are revealed a little too late in the story for my tastes—my only complaint. Princess Sorcha trusts everyone. Her intelligence and openness charm not only the prince, but the reader. Can they overcome their differences, fall in love, and save their country? Of course, but with all of Dodd’s romances, getting there is all the fun! A nice ending to the trilogy. Four out of four bookworms.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

My daughter and I recently read The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a Newberry Medal winner. Set in 1687 in the Connecticut Colony, this is the story of Kit Tyler who has come from Barbados to live with her aunt and uncle after her grandfather’s death. After a life of education and freedom in Barbados, Kit is woefully unprepared for the restricted lifestyle of early Puritan settlers. Predictably, her freethinking ways result in accusations of witchcraft. Fortunately, this book isn’t just about witchcraft, but of colonists first uprisings against British rule, the very beginning of the American Revolution. Speare wraps a compelling story in interesting lessons of early American history, the harsh lifestyle of early colonists, tolerance for those with different values and backgrounds, and adaptability. Full of adventure and sweet romance. My daughter couldn’t put it down. Four out of four bookworms.

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus

One of my husband’s coworkers loaned me this book when she learned that I like historical fiction. The premise intrigued me. History notes that the Cheyenne Chief Little Wolf asked the United States government to send 1000 women to marry Cheyenne men and teach them how to live in the white world. The United States government declined. In One Thousand White Women, Jim Fergus poses the question, “What if the government declined publicly, but secretly sent 1000 women to marry Cheyenne men?” Thus begins an exploration of cultures. Through May Dodd, one of the white women who volunteered to marry an unknown Cheyenne man, we live the atrocities committed by Cheyenne and white, men and women, rich and poor. We also live their compassion. Although I had trouble accepting the premise, I eventually released my doubts about white men sending their white women to mate with “animals.” Those doubts were never overcome, but I became so engrossed in the story that I simply didn’t care any longer. Other than that, I only had one problem with the novel. Midway through the story, the white women are kidnapped by an enemy tribe. They are raped before their husbands rescue them. During the rescue the women kill and scalp their kidnappers and glory in their revenge. Fair enough. But later, the white preacher, sent with the women to help “civilize” the Cheyenne, rapes a Cheyenne boy. The boy’s family beats the preacher. The white women feel pity for the preacher, tend his wounds, and try to comfort him. When they were raped they wanted revenge, but when a child was raped they didn’t. This happens after the women have come to see the Cheyenne as people and not animals. Their sympathy for the preacher isn’t logical. If anything, the women would have been more outraged at the child’s rape than their own. Three out of four bookworms.


Disclaimer: My great great grandmother was Cherokee. I wear a t-shirt with a photo of Geronimo and company that says “The Original Department of Homeland Security: Fighting Terrorists since 1492.” No, I didn't design it, but you can get your own. Just click on the t-shirt at the left.

The Chinese in America by Iris Chang

This narrative history of Chinese Americans is fascinating. Why did Chinese citizens leave China? Why did they come to America? How did their experience with Anglo-Americans differ from that of other minorities? Did you know that many Chinese men married Irish women? I didn’t. Ms. Chang covers a lot of territory in this book. The newest Chinese immigrants—boys and girls adopted from China—got short shrift, only six pages for thirty plus years of history, while Wen Ho Lee got six pages for his two years in the news. I would have liked as much depth with the adoption issue as we got with the Wen Ho Lee issue. I liked that Ms. Chang went into quite a bit of depth regarding the attitudes and conflicting cultures of Chinese American children and teen-agers. Ms. Chang also addresses the racial limbo of Chinese Americans—in some instances regarded as white, in other instances regarded as people of color. Americans have a history of discriminating against people of color because of the conduct of the citizens in their country of origin. Japanese Americans were imprisoned in WWII while German Americans remained free. Chinese American citizens and immigrants have at different times in American history been imprisoned or sent to China depending on the whim of our government. I see the same thing happening with Hispanic and Arab Americans. Ms. Chang also discusses racism among different ethnicities in China. Four out of four bookworms.

Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James

I don’t know exactly how or when I stumbled across Eloisa James. I know that I found her a couple of years ago, and that’s it. I also know that I love her romances. The characters are intelligent, (as intelligent as characters in love can be) and her stories are fun, funny, and sensuous. Pleasure for Pleasure is no exception. This is the last novel in the “Four Sisters” series. I must admit to not having read the middle two novels, yet, but the first in the series, Much Ado About You, was my introduction to Eloisa James. I will read the other two, probably sooner than later.

The year is 1818, and Josie, the youngest Essex sister, has made a less than successful debut. A spurned suitor has labeled her “The Scottish Sausage.” Consequently, she spends a lot of balls dancing with her sisters’ husbands’ friends. I’m not going to tell you who the hero is in this novel because half the fun of the plot is waiting (in my case not so patiently) to find out who Josie will end up with. Unlike other authors, Ms. James often doesn't reveal who the heroine will end up with until well into the novel. My only complaint is the cover of the book. I like for the characters on the cover to look like the characters the author describes in the book. Neither the hero nor the heroine on the cover looks even remotely like Ms. James’ descriptions. The hero’s hair is the wrong color, and the heroine is way to thin. To all of you publishers out there, “Read the friggin’ book! Heck, you don’t even have to read the book, just the character descriptions. Give me a break.”

Thank you Ms. James for giving us two romances for the price of one. The Essex sisters’ chaperone, Griselda, finally finds the love of her life, and her story is every bit as compelling as Josie’s. Four out of four bookworms.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Once again Avi gives us a compelling historical novel for young adults which adults will enjoy as well. Crispin has just buried his mother, but his grief is compounded when he is proclaimed a “wolf’s head.” Anyone may kill him and receive a reward. As Crispin runs for his life, he learns that all is not as it seems—with his life or with the world around him. This novel is reminiscent of The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle in that a stranger who Crispin initially distrusts opens Crispin’s eyes to the truths of how people treat each other. Avi gives us a lesson in English medieval history wrapped in an exciting story that will leave readers breathless and ready for the sequel. Four out of four bookworms.

Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich

Okay, so it was a really bad week, and I couldn’t stop at just one Stephanie Plum novel. I read right into Eleven on Top. I’m glad I did. Stephanie quits her job as a fugitive apprehension agent--much to her mother’s delight. Joe’s happy about it, too. Stephanie figures once she finds a normal job, people will stop trying to kill her. Yeah, right! Can Stephanie survive Kan Klean Dry Cleaners and Cluck-in-a-Bucket? More accurately, can those stellar businesses survive Stephanie? Can her relationship with Joe survive her job with Ranger? This is another fast-paced winner from Janet Evanovich. Now, I can get some work done because Twelve Sharp isn’t on my bookshelf, yet, and likely won’t be until it comes out in paperback. Four out of four bookworms.

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich

Last week was a really bad week. First, it was my oldest daughter’s birthday. She would have been 13 years old, but she died when she was five. Every year we celebrate her birthday. I don’t know if that’s considered morbid or not. Every year, I ask my kids if they still want to celebrate her birthday, and every year they say yes. So I make her favorite cake and prepare her favorite meal. I’d just gotten the pizza in the oven when I heard a pop and an “Uh oh!” I figured my son had electrocuted himself. He’s always playing with electricity.
I yelled, “What happened?”
He said, “This can’t be good.”
I yelled again, “What happened,” and started for the computer room.
My son made it to the kitchen before I got to the computer room. He was holding a very bloody thumb. I ran water over it to check the depth of the cut. He needed stitches. So we headed for the ER where he spent the next seven and a half hours—most of that time in the waiting area. Sooo, we didn’t celebrate my daughter’s birthday until the following day.
After such a lousy week, I needed some fun. I needed Stephanie Plum. I got just what I needed in Ten Big Ones. This time, Stephanie is standing outside the local deli with Lula when trouble finds her in the form of the notorious Red Devil robber. Her life is seriously on the line, and the only place she feels safe is Ranger’s bat cave. Yes, folks, we finally get a peek inside Ranger’s private life. One of my favorite characters, Sally Sweet, returns, so you know this is gonna be good. Four out of four bookworms.

Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught

I love Judith McNaught. Her historical romances are my favorites. I’m always reluctant to read her contemporaries. I don’t know why. I always enjoy them. Every Breath You Take was no exception. McNaught understands that sexual tension does not arise from the characters having sex. It arises from the characters not having sex. Unlike many contemporary romance authors, she does not throw her hero and heroine into bed immediately. They get to know each other first. They don’t bicker. They have real problems and real obstacles to romantic happiness. Such is the case with Kate Donovan and Mitchell Wyatt. They meet while Kate is waiting for her boyfriend to join her on the island of Anguilla. In fact, Kate has just finished a list of pros and cons to help her decide whether to break off the four-year relationship. The attraction is instant. The sex isn’t, much to Mitchell’s disappointment. Unfortunately, Kate’s boyfriend shows up, and Kate trusts him more than she does Mitchell. She believes her boyfriend’s lies about Mitchell over what her heart tells her. I have to admit, the boyfriend is convincing—he is, after all, a very skilled lawyer. Three years later, a kidnapping brings Kate and Mitchell together again. But is it too late? Four out of four bookworms.

The Marcelli Princess by Susan Mallery

I loved the first four Marcelli books: The Sparkling One, The Sassy One, The Seductive One, and The Marcelli Bride. So when The Marcelli Princess came out, I picked up a copy with confidence. I knew I would enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I didn’t. As I’ve said before, I'm not real big on royalty in contemporary romances. However, that wasn’t my biggest problem with this book. My biggest problem was the hero planning to steal the heroine’s son. The only reason he didn’t get away with it was because he got caught. I’m sorry, but there are too many men out there stealing children and hiding them in countries where Mom will never find them. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an unforgivable offense unless the mother is abusing the child. That was clearly not the case here. I can’t imagine ever trusting such a man again, much less desiring him physically. However, Mia Marcelli doesn’t seem to have the same problem that I do. This man has lied to her twice—first when he lets her believe he is dead and again five years later when he tells her he loves her and wants to marry her. And she still wants to have sex with him, and she still loves him. It’s like a woman who still loves and desires the man who beats her or her children. It doesn’t work for me. How do you trust a man like that? Sure, he’s sorry, and he’s charming and kind and considerate and loving for a day or two, maybe even longer, but who knows when Mr. Hyde will strike again? With my child at stake, I wouldn’t want to find out. I finished the book because I wanted to know if Ms. Mallery could wrap things up to my satisfaction. She didn’t, and in truth, I don’t think there’s any way she could have. Yes, this is fantasy. But too many women live with abusive men whom they believe have changed or will change, only to be beaten again. Romances should not perpetuate that fantasy. One out of four bookworms.

Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean Sasson

Sultana (not her real name) is a member of the royal family in Saudi Arabia. This is the horror of her “privileged” life and the lives of women in a country that our U.S. government calls friend. How fathers can treat their daughters this way escapes me. That my government can claim friendship with a country that treats its women this way infuriates me--executions for perceived wrongs, purdah (solitary confinement for the rest of a woman’s or girl’s life), arranged marriages to abusive husbands, allowing men and boys to rape young girls and women then stoning these women to death. Sultana’s constant battles against her trivialization as a human being simply because she is a female are beyond frustrating. I wonder how she continues to fight. Or has she given up? Four out of four bookworms.

To the Nines by Janet Evanovich

I needed a fun book for a road trip last weekend, so picked up To the Nines. Stephanie Plum never disappoints me. This book was no exception. When Stephanie tries to track down a visa bond violator, she becomes the target in a deadly game. Even Ranger’s tough guys can’t keep her safe. In fact, they can’t even keep themselves safe. A little slow to start, but soon I was riding the Stephanie Plum roller coaster at full speed. And I enjoyed the change of scenery when Stephanie and the gang headed to Vegas. Three out of four bookworms.

Trouble in High Heels by Christina Dodd

Christina Dodd's historicals are my favorites, but I also read her contemporaries when I’m in the mood. Trouble in High Heels was my car book for the past week. I was so hooked at the beginning that I took my car book inside the house and read. I know. That’s cheating, but I couldn’t help it. About two-thirds of the way through, I took it back to the car and finished it there. I liked Brandi Michaels, for the most part. She becomes a little ditzoid around jewelry. In fact, she gets so ditzoid at a pawn shop that she doesn’t realize the salesman is in big trouble. It was so obvious that I was a little put out with the author at that point, but I got over it. (It is a fantasy, after all.) The hero, Count Roberto Bartolini, didn’t do a lot for me. Firstly, I’m not into royalty. Secondly, he was something of a door mat. No matter how bitchy and unreasonable Brandi got, he just smiled indulgently. (Yes, it is a fantasy.) Thirdly, we didn’t really get to know him. Still, the story was fast-paced, especially in the beginning. It didn’t keep me up all night, but it did keep me reading. Three out of four bookworms.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

My daughter and I loved this book. The BFG is the Big Friendly Giant who kidnaps Sophie from an orphanage. Turns out, he’s not so big compared to other giants, but he is very friendly. Now, he must protect Sophie from these other giants who would love to eat her. These giants roam the world every night gorging themselves on the different flavors of human beans. BFG doesn’t eat human beans, only snozzcumbers, so Sophie is safe with him. The language in this novel is delightful--human beans, whiffsquiddler, frobscottle, trogglehumper and more. Want to know what they mean? Read the book. You won’t be sorry! Four out of four bookworms.

Bertie and the Seven Bodies by Peter Lovesey

This has been my “car book” for the last two months. Why did it take me so long to finish it? Because I really didn’t care if I finished it or not. Spoiler!!! The plot is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, even down to planting a child’s nursery rhyme with the victims. However, Lovesey’s characters are shallow and obnoxious, so I really didn’t care if they all died. In fact, I prayed they would and quickly! Bertie is the Prince of Wales who fancies himself a brilliant detective. When guests at a country shooting party begin dying, he tries to solve the mystery himself and puts everyone at risk by not calling in the proper authorities. If you want to read a good mystery, read or reread And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Skip Bertie and the Seven Bodies. One out of four bookworms.