The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain is an average book.  It is a mystery, but it's a mystery from the past that has resurfaced.  The main character is a little annoying, but with what she's going through trying to find out if her sister is still alive may be the reason for it.  I won't go into too much detail, but her decisions are questionable.  I didn't like the fact that she was letting people into her childhood home that she didn't trust.  I guess that's just what the author wanted for her.  She did develop into a likable character by the end.  I ended up rooting for her by the final pages.  The twist in the book was not completely predictable early on, so that was nice.  It's written in the point of view of two of the characters.  So, if you don't like those kinds of books, then this one might annoy you for that fact alone.  It also jumps from the present to the past to the present, etc.  Overall, it wasn't bad at all.  I don't regret reading it.  However, it just didn't have that extra something for me to give it more than an average score.  I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke is the second book in the Hannah Swensen series.  Hannah is a cookie store owning crime solver.  There's nothing special about this book, but it's a good read.  Hannah does her thing investigating a murder even though she is just an ordinary citizen.  She doesn't always abide by the law to get her information either.  The silliest part to me about this series is the fact that she opens her cookie shop first thing in the morning... because people eat cookies for breakfast.  That just makes me chuckle.  I'm not sure why.  However, the murder story is fine.  It doesn't give too much away too early.  It is a little predictable, but it's ok.  It's a typical, average murder mystery book.  Nothing special.  I do like the recipes thrown in there though.  I've never made any of them, but who knows.  Maybe one day I will.  I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Yes, My Accent Is Real by Kunal Nayyar

I read Yes, My Accent Is Real by Kunal Nayyar because I am a huge fan of the show The Big Bang Theory.  I enjoy his character, Rajesh Koothrappali.  Apparently, he is a lot like his character, or at least, his book portrays him to be.  His stories were very sweet, there was a lot of mild humor thrown in and he comes across as being an emotional individual.  He mentions a couple of "chick flicks" and very much seems to be a romantic.  His mutant immigrant comment was too funny.  The only part that doesn't seem like Raj is Kunal is not an astrophysicist.  Other than that, it was hard not to view it as a book about Raj.  I'm not sure if Kunal would consider that a compliment, but I don't consider it a problem.  Raj is a beloved character.  I can't believe Raj was almost named Dave.  That's a funny story in the book, too.  Overall, I enjoyed the book.  I think those who are a fan of Raj would enjoy the book.  If someone isn't familiar with The Big Bang Theory, then the book is still enjoyable simply for being an autobiography written by what seems to be a really sweet guy.  I give the book 3 out of 5 stars simply because it takes a lot for me to go above a 3 for any book.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke is another novel with a mystery solving food professional like the Goldy Bear series.  It even has the cookie recipes in the book just like the recipes in the Goldy Bear series.  This is the first book in the Hannah Swensen series.  Hannah owns a cookie shop and bakes cookies for a living.  Her brother-in-law is on the police force, and that's how she gets into solving a murder case, not to mention the fact that she finds the body.  It's an easy read.  The characters are like-able.  It's nothing super special though.  It keeps you guessing long enough to want to complete the book.  I like the fact that there is a possibility for romance in the books to come.  It was good enough for me to seek out the second one.  We'll see how far into the series I stay interested.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

If you're expecting The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer to be funny, think again.  It's not really funny.  This is more of a story of her life with some funny moments thrown in.  I don't think I laughed out loud even once.  However, I'm not sorry I read it.  She's been through some horrible things.  Some of her stories were very touching.  For example, the stories about her dad and his MS.  She went from being well off as a kid to losing most of it and now she's famous.  She's very much a girl power kind of person.  Not that she's anit-man though either.  She's not.  It just feels as though she wants to empower women to be strong on their own.  I get that.  Despite her wealth, a lot of her stories have a very "I'm just like you" kind of feel.  She seems like a very likable person.  The one surprising thing that she revealed is that she is an introvert.  I would have never guessed.  It was interesting getting to know her as Amy the human being instead of Amy the comedian.  I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

If you're looking for a book that is unlike any other book you've read before, then The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson is probably a good pick for you.  It jumps around from past to present like some other books, but I've never read a book about this subject matter.  It's the journey of a man who basically doesn't exist.  He has to take on the life of others but he does it without wanting to.  He's not a spy.  He lives in North Korea.  It was quite eye-opening to what life is like there.  It's a work of fiction, but a note from the author at the end of the book tells you that he got a lot of his information from talking to people who have lived there and told him their own stories of life there.  Jun Do is forced to become a kidnapper.  However, that is only the beginning.  His life takes so many turns after that.  The story even becomes somewhat of a love story by the end of the book.  He has to find a way to save the woman he loves, but the question is, can he save himself, too?  It's a good read.  It reminded me how lucky I am to have the freedoms I have in my daily life.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Time To Get Tough: Making America #1 Again by Donald J. Trump

Time To Get Tough : Making America #1 Again by Donald J. Trump took me forever to read.  If you're a fan of Mr. Trump, maybe it won't take you as long.  It felt as though this is a culmination of everything Trump has been saying at his rallies and appearances.  It was published in 2011.  Therefore, he has been saying all these things longer than I thought.  The book is basically a preview of his campaign, or so it seems.  He talks about how bad he thinks Obama is doing.  He talks about what a great negotiator he is.  He talks about America's missed opportunity of getting oil.  He talks about how China is mistreating our country by undervaluing it's currency.  He even shows the schedule A and Summary of Net Worth as of June 30, 2010.  He also talks about frivolous stuff like how successful his TV show The Apprentice has been. He has a lot of information for which he sites his sources.  I have not gone through and researched those yet, but there are also points he makes for which he has no sources, points where he might even say something like "People are saying it."  What people?  Why does "people saying it" make it true?  I still can't say that I know what Trump will do as President.  However, if you feel at all unsure about his stance on things, then definitely read this book.  I didn't enjoy it, but I'm glad I read it even though I still can't say that I am 100% sure of my decision in the November election.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 simply for being informative.

Think Big and Kick Ass In Business and Life by Donald J. Trump, Bill Zanker

I'm not sure there was anything I enjoyed about Think Big and Kick Ass In Business and Life by Donald J. Trump and Bill Zanker.  I felt as though everything that was said was directed toward someone who is already at least somewhat successful.  At one point Donald Trump literally says, "If you can't raise a million dollars, then you've got a problem."  Say what?  How am I supposed to do that?  The book didn't answer that question.  The only thing it did say was a lot of "love what you do," "follow your passion," "never give up."  I could have gotten that from a children's book and probably would have enjoyed it more.  There was also a discussion about instinct, and that you should trust your instinct.  I'm sorry, but I disagree on that one.  I know a lot of people that should RUN from their instincts and quickly.  I felt as though Donald Trump has absolutely no humility.  He loves to tell people how awesome he is and how FANTASTIC his golf courses are and how his book (Trump: The Art of the Deal) is the number one best selling business book of all time.  I think if I actually met him I might have to go shower after I left.  He just comes across as very icky to me.  He even tells the reader that if someone screws you, go screw them back harder.  He told a story about a woman who worked for him that he asked for a favor because she knew some of the big banker people with whom he had loans.  He did not mention the nature of the favor, but said she refused.  She later parted ways with his company (I can't remember if he fired her) and failed at her endeavor.  She lost her house and her husband.  Trump said he was so happy to hear about that.  He thought it was great.  I'm sorry, but I just don't think I could be that vicious.  Also, Donald says at one point that he's not conceited.  Let's ponder that... conceit (noun) - vanity, an exaggerated opinion of oneself, self-importance.  You can decide for yourselves.  I am just having a hard time finding anything to admire or even like about the guy.  I find this funny because he mentions in the book that Bill Clinton is his "good friend" and that Hillary Clinton is a great person.... and now he just refers to her as Crooked Hillary.  All this after referring to himself as a good judge of character.  Whatever.  The book was just not helpful, especially for a self-help book.  I give it 1 out 5 stars.

Why We Want You To Be Rich by Donald J. Trump and Robert T. Kiyosaki

I did not really enjoy Why We Want You To Be Rich by Donald J. Trump and Robert T. Kiyosaki.  I picked it up to try to get to know Donald Trump just like I'm trying to get to know Hillary Clinton.  I'm hoping by reading books they've written or that are written about them will help me make my decision in the presidential election in November.  I'm not sure I will vote for either of them, but we'll see.  If you're looking for a book that will help you figure out how to become rich, this book is not it.  It truly is a "why" book not a "how" book.  The two authors kind of tell you how they made their millions, but I didn't really walk away feeling as though I could do the same.  There were many parts of the book to which I just could not relate.  For example, the part about going into the military or attending military school.   I never did.  So, asking me what I got out of it... it was just pointless in relation to me.  However, the stories they told were a little interesting.  Therefore, I give the book 2 out of 5 stars.

Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

I liked Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton a little better than Hard Choices.  It had slightly less politics in it.  This book was more about her adjustment to living in the white house, her experiences being a mother and her feelings about what happened with Monica Lewinski.  The fact that she and Bill both took out student loans to pay for law school was hard to fathom knowing how wealthy they are today.  The story about Chelsea going off to college was endearing.  This book shows her as much more human than anything I've seen in the media, especially lately.  Once again, I listened to it.  It was read by her.  I like hearing her speak her own written words.  I feel it portrays meaning better than having someone else interpret it and read it.  I think if I had read this book without the curtain scandals surrounding her I might be convinced to vote for her.  Did this book help me decide to vote for her as president?  No, not quite.  Do I feel I know her a little better now?  I think so.  It's just so hard to know if someone is being sincere without truly knowing them personally.  That's one reason I hate politics.  I don't REALLY know any of the politicians.  Anyway, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton

I read Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton to try to help me make a decision in the upcoming presidential election.  I'm still uncertain.  However,  I did find the book informative.  It was interesting to hear what she had to say about Benghazi, to get her side of the story.  I listened to the audiobook.  I liked having her read it to me for most of the book.  I think it helps show the particular emotion she wanted to convey rather than someone else interpreting what they THINK she is trying to convey.  Unfortunately, I don't enjoy politics.  Therefore, I found most of the book really boring and tended to have my brain wander off to other matters.  I had to listen to probably half of the book twice.  I do think the book somewhat helps her show her dedication to what she does.  There were certain points that I thought she was bringing in simply to "check a box," so to speak.  For example, she uses the term public service/servant quite a bit.  I felt it became a little disingenuous.  I did come away from the book feeling as though I know her a little better now.  Simply for the subject matter, I give the book 2 out of 5 stars.  It was ok.  It served it's purpose for me, somewhat.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides was not quite what I expected it to be.  I read it because I was fascinated by it's subjected matter.  It's said to be about a girl who discovers that she is part boy and part girl.  I was intrigued.  It's a work of fiction, but it feels like a non-fiction book.  I had to keep reminding myself it wasn't true.  Because of the events happening in the towns that were referenced, it felt real.
I wanted to read it because I thought it would be interesting to see how someone like this would be portrayed, how the person behaves, how the person feels.  It just felt like an interesting topic.  Don't get me wrong, it was.  However, the majority of the book is not about that.  It's about the genetic mutation that caused the condition in Calliope and how that mutation came to be.  The majority of the story is about her grandparents.  Then, a large portion is about her parents.  Then, a little bit of the story at the end was about her.  It was ok, I guess. I didn't completely hate it.  I just wanted it to be more about Calliope and her experiences with the condition.  I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

I am a fan of the Harry Potter series.  I loved Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling.  I'm not sure if the book stands on it's own without having read the series.  I think there is too much information that requires having read the series in order to understand the lingo.  If you haven't read the series, I recommend it... then read this one.  This book still has the characters I loved from the series plus their children to whom we were briefly introduced at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It focuses mostly on one of Harry and Ginny's children as well as the child of another character from the series.  Their adventures throughout the book are very reminiscent of Harry, Ron and Hermione's adventures.  The fate of the world is in their hands.  It was a much faster read than the books of the series.  I didn't even mind that it was in playwright form.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.  Love it.

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson is the ninth book in the Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery series.  I had already read the other 8 quite awhile ago, but came across this one and grabbed it up.  I've enjoyed this series.  It reminds me of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich except Goldy is a chef not a bounty hunter.  This series has similar comical moments, but doesn't really focus on it as much.  This series is more about the suspense of solving the mystery.  They can be a little predictable, but there is enough out there that keeps you unsure until the end.  Goldy always gets herself into sticky situations.  This book finds her wrapped up in a murder that seems connected to a death on the ski slopes 3 years before.  It has good mystery, nice comic relief, AND they throw in a few recipes of the things she cooks as well.  The main character is likable, too.  It's a fun and easy read.  I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

When The Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi

When the Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi was a long process for me.  It's a fiction novel, but it feels like a memoir.  Therefore, I had to keep reminding myself that these statements aren't true.  It's a touchy subject matter as well.  There were also times where it just didn't feel worth the effort of finishing it.  I hate to not complete a book once I've started.  I toyed with the idea of not seeing it through many times.  I did though.  Do I think it was worth it?  I'm not really sure.  The ending did not finalize the story.  I didn't walk away knowing that all 4 of them made it safely to their destination.  Reading about the things refugees have to endure was ugly to say the least.  If you're looking for a lighthearted book with a happy subject matter, this is not the book you're looking for.  However, it is current to the times of the world right now.  Despite it being fiction, I feel I learned something about matters of which I knew very little before reading it.  It made me feel as though I may want to find a non-fiction book about a refugee's true life story.  So, because of this stirring of something inside of me to make me want to delve more into the topic, I give it a 3 out of 5 stars.  If it weren't for that, I would have given it a 2.  It was a very dry read for me.  It was as though I were eating saltine crackers with nothing to drink.  I wanted the satisfaction of the water, but it never came.  I'm not sure what satisfaction I was looking for in this book, but it never came.

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Bird Box by Josh Malerman is one of those books that left me saying, "You've got to be kidding me."  It's a book where the ride is much better than the destination. The premise is that there is something "out there" that causes people to go crazy and kill themselves if they look at it.  The suspense level is good.  The story is well written.  I wouldn't say that the character development is all that great, but the suspense and idea make up for that.  I spent the whole book thinking what are these creatures?  Where do they come from?  Why don't they attack anyone?  What do they want?  Why are they here?  How did they get here all of a sudden?  What do they look like?  Well..... NONE of those questions were answered.  Not a single one.  I was so disappointed that I wanted to give this book only 1 star.  However, I took a step back and looked at the whole picture.  Like I said, the suspense level was good.  The idea of the story was intriguing.  I wanted to complete it.  It was just the ending that was lacking, in my opinion.  With that in mind, I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

Wildflower by Drew Barrymore

Wildflower by Drew Barrymore is definitely a book for Barrymore fans.  The stories about her experiences are heartfelt and personal.  The ones about her daughters are very sweet as are the ones about her dogs.  She's a very passionate person.  I thoroughly enjoyed her book, the crazy stories about finding herself as well as the way she went from E.T. to her typical romantic comedy of today.  She comes across as a person I would enjoy hanging out with and getting to know better.  I will warn about listening to the audio book.  Drew's passion comes across loud and clear as she literally screams some of the book in those moments of her life where she was screaming on the inside or really screaming.  Overall, Wildflower by Drew Barrymore is a must read for fans and a good choice even for those who aren't fans but enjoy heartfelt, touching autobiographies.  I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sunquist

We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist is not a book I would recommend.  I pretty much considered it a waste of my time.  It's real life stories about his history with females.  There were a few funny moments, but overall, it just wasn't really interesting.  I'm not even sure any of it is really worth me going into detail about it.  I give it one out of 5 stars.

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater is the fourth and final book in The Raven Cycle series.  I'm going to try to do this without giving too much away from the other books.  I read the other three a few years ago.  Then, I had to wait for this one to be published.  This series is a young adult series.  There are some topics that are not suitable for kids or tweens.  The first one in the series was my favorite.  The whole series is full of paranormal elements... magical locations, clairvoyants, psychics, other worldly entities and even a demon.  The series is well written and the characters are well developed.  I would definitely recommend reading the series.  However, don't just pick up this book or any of the others and think it will be fine to read it out of order.  It won't be.  These books build on each other and have topics that if you don't get the background from the previous book, then you will be very confused.  I will say that there were several things about this book in particular, being the last, that left me still confused as to the how and/or the why about certain aspects of the storyline.  But, overall, it was not enough to make me not enjoy the series or even this book.  I would definitely recommend this book and series as long as you can deal with the juvenile tendencies of the teenage characters. 

I give this book a 3.5 out 5 and the series a 4.5 out of 5.

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware was a decent book, in my opinion.  It was a little predictable, but still enjoyable for the most part.  The character Claire reminded me of Darcy from Something Borrowed.  They were both the beautiful, manipulative female who always gets what she wants character.  That was a bit cliche, but I see why the author did it that way.  I added In a Dark, Dark Wood to my must read list because I found it on the same list of the most suspenseful books as The Fear Index.  I wouldn't say that this book was super suspenseful, but it was definitely more so than The Fear Index.  I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat, but it had the usual standards for suspense... a house in the middle of the woods with a lot of windows, no cell phone reception, darkness, footprints, ouija board, a door swinging open and shut in the wind, and a crazy person.  Overall, it was enjoyable enough.  I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Fear Index by Robert Harris

I'm sorry, but The Fear Index by Robert Harris was a waste of my time.  I decided to read it based on a list I found of the most suspenseful books.  This book was not suspenseful.  I figured out what was going on in chapter 5.  The main character is a jerk and is not someone you want to cheer for.  The premise of an artificial intelligence learning all about human emotion and human activities and making money for a hedge fund was just boring despite sounding like a really cool idea.  The activities occurring throughout the book were boring.  Like I said, it was a waste of my time.  I give it a 1 out of 5 stars.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg has me on the fence a little bit.  I found it extremely interesting as far the reasoning behind habits.  However, I'm not sure it would really do the people who need it the most any good.  I guess it's not really aimed at those people... the people who have an addiction per se but don't have the will power to beat it.  That's basically what the book says about some addictions, that they are actually habits and if you can find the true underlying reasoning behind your habit, then you can change it.  I'm not convinced that it could work for everyone.  Like I said, the science/psychology behind the subject matter and several of the example stories were very interesting to me.  Also, if you are a nail biter, a knuckle popper, or maybe a habitual eater, then I would suggest giving the book a try.  However, I'm not convinced it would work for something as serious as a habitual drug addict.  I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin was an annoying book for me.  I have a hard time with "romance" stories that involve betrayal from a best friend.  Sadly, that was not even my biggest problem with this book.  The main characters have been best friends since they were young children.  Best friends should be used loosely to describe them though.  One girl is a best friend.  The other is a nightmare.  She's the type of woman who is so insecure that she has to "one-up" her best friend to feel good about herself... ALL. THE. TIME.  Case in point, Rachel gets a 1300 on her SAT test.  Darcy says she got a 1305, too ignorant to realize that the scores only increase by 10s not 5s.  This relationship survives to see Rachel's 30th birthday.  WHY?  I'm sorry, but I would never have a "best friend" such as this woman and I do not understand people who do.  I have a different definition of friendship apparently.  Therefore, I spent the whole book just being angry at Darcy for being a horrible person and at Rachel for not getting a backbone and standing up to Darcy.  Then, there was Dex who was mixed up in the middle.  Without giving away too much of the story, we'll just say that I just couldn't come to terms with some of his decisions.  I don't understand people who cheat on significant others in the first place.  I just don't like that "game."  People need to learn to communicate better and own up to their feelings.  It just irritates me when they don't, even in a book. I give Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin 2 stars out of 5.

The Racketeer by John Grisham

I thought The Racketeer by John Grisham was pretty stupid honestly.  I hate to say that, too, because John Grisham is highly acclaimed, and I like many of his books.  However, The Racketeer just didn't cut it.  I spent the whole book trying to figure out if the main character, Malcolm, was a good guy or a bad guy.  I'm still not sure.  Malcolm was supposed to be a lawyer who had been in a prison camp for several years.  Yet, the way he talked about things made me feel like he could have never been a lawyer.  He claims he never made much money as a lawyer, which I guess could be true depending on your definition of "much money."  However, what got to me more was how he kept talking about freedom as if he had never been free.  He made it feel as though he had been in jail since birth or something.  Then, without giving anything away, the things Malcolm did throughout the book were extremely intelligent and perfectly planned scenarios.  If he's so smart, how did he get put in jail for something he didn't do in the first place?  It just all felt contrived.  I'm not even sure I can say that the story was at least good.  Then, the ending felt very cliche.  I give The Racketeer by John Grisham 2 out 5 stars.

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Arther is where I catch up with the currently published books.  It's ok though.  This cliff hanger is not as interesting to me.  Plus, I'm wondering if it's even what it seems to be.  Jeffrey Archer likes to play tricks on his readers with his cliffhangers.  I'll have to wait until November to see if I'm correct.

This book was yet another good book.  It's another scenario where you feel the bad guys get what they deserve, eventually... at least some of them.  I must say though that my favorite part of this book was Jessica, Sebastian's daughter.  She's such a delightful character that brings a bit of youthful fun to the series.  I really hope Jeffrey Archer spends more time on her in the next book.  She has the wit and charm that just endear you to her instantly.  I can't wait to see where he goes with her.  The author also sets us up to possibly find the answer we've all wondered about from the very first book.  Did Harry's father really die in that ship hull?  I really hope that gets addressed at the beginning of the next book and not further along.  It's the ultimate cliffhanger that has been hanging in the air throughout all the books, and I thought we'd never know for sure.  Looks like that might not be the case, and I can't wait to find out in November when the next book in the series is published.

Mightier Than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer

Mightier Than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer was not my favorite of the Clifton Chronicles books. There was not as much suspense in this one.  It felt like this book was trying to tie up loose ends for some of the plot and setting up other parts.  It's not to say that it's not necessary.  It's just not as interesting as the others have been.  However, the plot concerning Sebastian was somewhat interesting when he found out about his daughter, but it was not a huge part of the plot at all.  The part about the Russian guy that Harry is trying to save is not fascinating at all.  I was tempted to skip over those parts.    Mightier Than the Sword didn't even have much in the way of a cliffhanger.  As much as Jeffrey Archer gets me with those, I missed it with this book.  It almost felt like it didn't belong. It was still a good book.  It just felt like a placeholder for the next one.                                                                                                                        

Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer

I should have known to expect a bombshell when I started Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer, and yet, I was still taken aback be the ending.  I really don't know what people who read these when they were actually published did.  I am not as perturbed because I can just get the next book because it has already been published.  When I catch up to the author, that will be a different story.  The ending of this one leaves not only a life in the balance, but the lives of almost the entire family minus the one that already died earlier in this book.  Yes, someone dies, but there is so much possible death suspense that I don't feel like I'm giving anything away with that.  Just when you feel like the bad guys are getting what they deserve, boom! Everything changes in the last sentences of the book, literally the last sentences.  I do have one pet peeve to mention though.  Sebatian.   He's continually talking about how poor he is and how little he has to his name.  Yet, his mother is the chairman of Barrington Shipping.  His father is a best selling author.  His uncle is in politics.  His aunt is a professor.  What am I missing here?  I guess I'm supposed to believe that his parents just totally cut him off, but I just can't.  They would never leave him high and dry.  So, that part of the story line is just not believable to me.  However, it doesn't take enough away from the story for me not to keep reading.  If you've read any of the previous books, then I don't see how you can't continue on with the story.  If you haven't read any, don't start with this one.  Definitely start at book one and go all the way through.  It's definitely worth it despite the slow start with the first book.

Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer

My reaction to the ending of Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer was literally, "Oh dear God."  Mr. Archer has definitely perfected the art of a cliffhanger.  I can't believe how he ended this one.  It's even more shocking than the first even though I saw it coming.  I still just couldn't believe he went through with it.  This poor family has already gone through so much, and this is only the third book.  I'm not even halfway through the series.  Where on earth can he go from here?  I'm intrigued for sure.  This book mostly focuses on Sebastian Clifton, him becoming a man basically.  But it starts with him getting a sister while he's still young who's more than a sister really.  I'm guessing one of the books to come will be her story to tell.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi is a true account and a decent book considering the topic.  It's not for those who can't handle death and sadness.  That's all this book is basically.  The baby was difficult for me.  I can see it from both angles... wanting to have that experience before you die yet feeling selfish for going through with it even though you know you're dying. Then, the spouse wants to have that part of him to carry on with her after his death.  It must have been a difficult decision.  The ending comes quickly with this book because he dies before completing it.  The epilogue by the wife takes the reader through those final days.  It seemed like a very loving and courageous group of people that surrounded him in his final days.  It was very touching.  I could definitely relate to this book in the fact that I've seen a relative take her last breath because of cancer.  It was a very similar scene as the last one is this book.  So, overall, When Breath Becomes Air is well written and is a touching story if you can handle the sad topic.

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer is the second book in the Harry Clifton series.  This book is only 48 pages shorter than the first book, yet somehow, it ended very quickly.  The first book droned on, and I felt it had little purpose.  This one does not have that problem.

I was taken on a roller coaster ride with the character that angered me the most, Hugo Barrington.  I couldn't believe that things seemed to just turn out well for him.  He's the character you want to see punished for all of his deception and just plain jerkishness.  Then, I couldn't wait to see when and how Emma was going to find Harry.  I was a little disappointed that what should have been the biggest moment in Harry's life was just brushed over.  He met his son, but there was no real substance to that moment.  I'm confused as to why the author would feel that to be unimportant.  There was also a small detail that just kind of rubbed me the wrong way.  How is it that Harry doesn't know that his mother can't read?  Was he just expecting her to have someone else read the letter to her?  That would completely ruin his desire for secrecy.  I just didn't understand that part.  Overall, I liked where this book went and look forward to continuing it's story with the next one.  Will they ever truly discover if Hugo was Harry's father?  If I read this whole series only to find out that they never REALLY find out, I'm going to be a little perturbed.  We'll see.

The 6th Target by James Patterson

I didn't really enjoy The 6th Target by James Patterson.  I'm not even sure I'm going to read any more of the Women's Murder Club series.  It hasn't gotten any better.  This story had three different crimes being investigated.  Half of the time I had a hard time keeping track of which mystery was being discussed at any given moment.  On top of that, Lindsay is confusingly developing feelings of some sort for her current partner even though she still loves Joe, but Joe has a job that keeps him away all the time.  Not to mention, Joe LIVES on the other side of the country.  I'm just not a fan of stories that have stupidity in relationships and the woman always seems to be the culprit.  If you don't want a long distance relationship, why start one in the first place?  If you're open to it, then be open to YOU moving if need be.  Then to top it off, don't get angry and pout when it's time for him to leave.  You signed up for it.  Deal with it or cut loose.  It really irritated me that when Joe shows up in this book telling her he's asked for a transfer to her city but he can't stay "right now," she gets mad at him and literally runs away from him.  The man just told you he was uprooting his life for you and that's all you've got for him?  And you supposedly love him?  And, you recently thought you were getting hot and heavy for your partner?  I just hate it when women are always portrayed as being confused when it comes to love.  It's cliche and annoying.  There's no place for it in the life of such a decorated cop who always gets the perp.  As for the crime side of the plot, the 3 crimes were interesting enough, but they all felt like side plots.  None of them felt well developed.  Also, Claire got shot AGAIN.  Are we really going to have to suffer through Claire getting shot every few books?

The 5th Horseman by James Patterson

Honestly, I think The 5th Horseman by James Patterson has been my favorite in the

Women's Murder Club series up to this point.  The story felt more captivating to me.  That may be because there are a couple of stories in the plot at the same time.  They're kind of related, but not completely.  So, it really keeps you guessing as to who the murderer is.  It's in a hospital setting where the hospital involved is being sued for multiple deaths due to incorrect medicines. When in reality, it's murder.  However, deciding who is guilty is difficult because there is a twist that I won't give away.  Like I said, this one has been my favorite in the series so far.  They are quick reads and I'm plowing through the series unless something else catches my attention.

4th of July by James Patterson

I had a couple of issues with 4th of July by James Patterson.  It's the fourth book in his Women's Murder Club series.  Like pretty much every book I've read of his, it's well written.  However, with this being the 4th book, I expected that I knew the main character, Lindsay Boxer by now.  Nope.  Apparently, she not only plays guitar, she also is into cars and can work on them herself.  It just didn't fit for me.  It felt weird for her to have those characteristics.  Then, he throws in the fact that her father abused her as a fleeting thought.  It was there for just a second and then gone.  That's not a piece a person that is small.  That sort of thing makes a person who they are.  So, why didn't we know about that before?  I say again, it felt weird to not know that about her.  Was I surprised about the dad part?  No.  The cars and guitar, yes.  Then, there is that fact that this so-called women's murder club is missing a member after the death of Lindsay's lawyer friend in the last book.  It just felt cliche that the new member introduced in this book is a lawyer as well.  Why get rid of one just to replace her with another?  It felt as if it were a little bit of a sacrilege, as if Jill had not really mattered in the first place.  I get that you might not feel as though you have much to pull from as far as members of a murder club go.  However, why not add a stay-at-home mom who watches too much CSI?  That could even add a bit of a comedic spin to the books.  Despite these annoyances, I still enjoyed the plot.  It won't deter me from reading the next one.

3rd Degree by James Patterson

Third Degree by James Patterson is the third book in his Women's Murder Club Series.  This one was much like the other two.  The story is well written.  The characters are likable.  However, this one had a completely unexpected twist that made me flummoxed.  I couldn't believe it about a main character.  I'm not sure where the series will go from here.  It definitely has me curious.  I will absolutely read the next one.  Also, this one ends with a budding romance that could bring some sweetness to the suspenseful stories.

2nd Chance by James Patterson

Second Chance by James Patterson is the second book in his Women's Murder Club series of books.  It's a book that might disturb you if you are sensitive to racist situations  as several black people are murdered in what appear to be hate crimes.  There is also a father-daughter relationship that tugs at the heartstrings.  It's well written.  However, like the first one, it's nothing super special.  The culprit ends up being not the one you expected, of course.  So, that's always good.  There were allusions to him, but I totally missed them.  I had already pinned it on someone completely different in my mind.  It's a pretty quick read.  I wouldn't consider it a waste of time.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer was a bit of a conundrum for me.  I spent most of the book thinking there was no real point to the book and wondering why I was continuing.  It's well written but the plot was just pretty pointless to me.  It's set in the early 1900s in England.  It has a "possible" incestuous relationship that made my skin crawl throughout the story.  There is a young boy who is lower class.  His father died in the war... or did he?  Is that man even his father?  Parts of the plot ARE intriguing, and the characters are likeable enough.  However, it just felt like it was going nowhere... or maybe just nowhere good.  I could have stopped reading at several points in the book, but I hate to leave a book unread once I get started.  Then, I got to THE VERY LAST SENTENCE.  Until I refreshed my memory that this book is the first of a series of 5 books, I was literally irate that I had invested all that time for THAT ending.  Now, I HAVE to read the next one.  Since I know the story actually does continue, I can't just leave it as it is.  So, if you're going to read this book, make sure you're ready to start a 5 book series.  The ending is a total cliffhanger, and there is a second part of the story that is left completely unaddressed and is even easily missed if you're not paying attention.

1st To Die by James Patterson

1st To Die by James Patterson was a pretty quick read for me.  It wasn't awesome or anything, but was a good book.  It's a murder mystery with total girl power.  It's nice to have a group of 4 women being the solvers of crime.  It was a good book, but I'm guessing I would forget it if it weren't a series.  The culprit was pretty predictable.  However, it's well written.  I will try the 2nd one in the series and see how it goes.

Low Pressure by Sandra Brown

Low Pressure was a surprisingly good find for me. Honestly, based on the book's cover, I was not expecting it to be this good. I know, it's the first rule of being a "good" reader... never judge a book by it's cover.  I apologize.  It's about a woman who writes a book about her sister's murder just before a tornado hits.  Unfortunately, there are doubts as to whether or not the correct man was convicted. A tornado CAN make a crime scene more difficult.  There is one big part of the story that I could do without. The incestuous manner of a couple of the relationships kind of made my skin crawl.  I don't want to give anything away, so that's all I'll say about that except, no, there were no actual incestuous relationships as far as true definition of the word goes.  It was just a detail of which I could not let go.  It does not cause the book to be unreadable though.  On the contrary, it kept me engrossed the entire time.  If you come across this book, grab it.  It's completely worth the read.  The ending had me going, "Say what!?" I did not see it coming.  Low Pressure is a really good whodunit.

The Help

I'll start off by saying that if you can listen to this book as an audio book, then do so. The readers really made the book even more endearing for me. I feel as though it made it more "real" for me listening to it. It felt as though I knew these women and could just walk over and talk to them if I so chose. The book tugged at my heartstrings. I love a book that makes me feel... something, anything, it doesn't matter. This book did that. The Help is about black women who worked as maids for white women in the early 1960s. I felt compassion for the women of color who had to endure such lives of disregard and contempt. Women who had to walk on eggshells with their white employers and, sometimes, even their own husbands at home. I'm not sure if many men would love this book. The circle of women and their closeness definitely lends itself to a good female bonding book club option. I would definitely recommend this book.