Monday, July 25, 2011

Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg

Though long-divorced, Irene and John share the custody of their daughter Sadie. When Sadie disappears from a rock-climbing trip, Irene and John come together to find their daughter...
Berg has weaved suspense and darkness into her latest novel, along with the celebration of friendship and the ups and downs of life. The ending of the story is a bit flat compared to her previous books, but it is still a good read if you are a Berg fan.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

Smokin' Seventeen is the latest installment in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. This is an excellent series if you like a good measure of humor mixed in with your mysteries. It features Stephanie Plum, accidental bounty hunter, and her crazy family and friends. Smokin' Seventeen finds Stephanie working out of a bus after her Uncle Vinnie's bail bond office burns down. A serial killer is dumping bodies on the construction site of the new office. The cops are on the case, but when it looks as though the killer is sending Stephanie a message, she has to get involved. Stephanie tracks the killer in her usual haphazard style. Meanwhile, Stephanie's family has decided she needs a new man and attempts to set her up with an old high school classmate, with disasterous results.

This book is much the same as the other Stephanie Plum mysteries. They are formulaic but funny. The characters are hilarious. If you liked the others, you'll probably like this one too. If you haven't read the series, start with the first book: One for the Money.

Friday, July 15, 2011

If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't) By Betty White

In Betty White's latest book she writes about things that mean something to her or things that she just wanted to get straight before it was too late. I had not ready any of her previous books, so all of her stories were new to me. I laughed and cried while listening to this book and fell in love with Betty White more than ever. After listening to this book , I respect her as a person and not just some actress on the TV. The library has this title in both audio and hardcover. I am glad I listened to it, as it is White reading it. Whenever there is an option of listening to the author read their own book, I take it. I feel that you get more out of the book by listening to an author saying their own words than just reading them off the page. This is especially true with White, as she often talks about timing when telling a story. If you are looking for a quick read or going on a road trip with others, this is a great book!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

The judgment by Beverly Lewis Book 2 of the Rose Trilogy

Beverly Lewis was one of the first of the Amish Christian Fiction Writers and in my opinion remains one of the best. Her stories flow well but are not always predictable leaving the reader hungry for more. Her characters have depth and complexity. In the Judgment we continue to follow the Kauffman family. Rose is engaged but can not forget Nick Franco, who left the Amish community under a cloud of suspicion. Rose's Mother is paralyzed from an accident years ago and her condition is going down hill. Also Hen; Rose's sister has returned home after leaving her "Englisher" husband. I can't wait for the final book in this series. Another winner for Beverly Lewis!