REVIEW: Run For Your Life by James Patterson

Title: Run For Your Life (Michael Bennett, #2)

Author: James Patterson

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Publication Date: February, 2009

Hardcover: 400 pages

Genre: Thriller

Rating: 8/10

Description: A calculating murderer who calls himself the Teacher is taking on New York City, slaughtering the powerful and the arrogant. Everyone is his potential student - from the loud-mouthed girl on her cell phone to the city's snooty upper crust. His message to them is clear: remember your manners or suffer the consequences. For some, it seems that the rich are finally getting what they deserve. For New York's elite, it is a call to terror.

There is only one man in the NYPD who can tackle such a high-profile case: Detective Michael Bennett. For anyone else, the pressure would be overwhelming, but Mike is ready to step up - taking care of his ten children has prepared him for the job. As the media frenzy escalates, all of Mike's children fall victim to a virulent flu bug - almost as challenging an assignment for Bennett as tracking down the killer.

A secret pattern emerges in the Teacher's lessons, leaving Detective Bennett just a few precious hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history.

My Thoughts: NYPD Detective Michael Bennett and his ten children are back in an intense, action packed thriller with Michael facing a grim reality. Raising his ten children as a single parent and cop is stressful enough, but as each child comes down with the flu, it appears Michael is burning the candle at both ends.

The story begins with a hostage negotiation that goes awry when the suspect is gunned down seemingly from out of nowhere. A woman blathering away on her cell phone is shoved into the path of an oncoming subway train. A salesclerk at a Ralph Lauren clothing boutique is murdered in cold blood in front of his coworker who is left alive. The maitre d’ at the 21 club is murdered in the middle of the afternoon during the lunch hour. An Air France stewardess is killed in front of her colleagues as she exits the elevator in her hotel. And there are more to come. The problem is Mike doesn’t know who is behind the killings and time is running out.

He gets a break when he learns that the killer, who has dubbed himself “The Teacher,” has contacted the media and Mike begins to put the puzzle pieces together. Unfortunately, The Teacher doesn’t appreciate Mike’s interference and may have to alter his plans to teach Mike a lesson.

I’m really enjoying this series on so many levels. The hero is a regular guy facing the challenges and struggles of life: stressful job and raising his family as a single father while mourning the death of his wife. He is portrayed as a “regular guy” and is very likeable. I feel great empathy for him and the aura of sadness around him, but he doesn’t wallow in self-pity, which makes the reader like him more.

I also liked Mike’s Irish nanny, Mary Catherine and his grandfather-turned-priest, Seamus. I am looking forward to future books to see if the chemistry between Mike and Mary Catherine turns into a romance.

The only problem I had with this story is the murder at the beginning of the story doesn’t seem to be resolved. We are led to believe that the shot was not fired by one of the police officers so who did it?

Otherwise, if you are looking for a book that delivers a high suspense story that keeps the reader riveted to each page wondering where the next “bullet” will strike and filled with characters you can feel connected to, then look no further than Run For Your Life. Run, don’t walk, to the book store and get this book. Your life doesn’t depend on it, but you will be glad you did.

REVIEW: Forget About It by Caprice Crane

Title: Forget About It

Author: Caprice Crane

Publisher: 5 Spot

Publication Date: August, 2007

Paperback: 351 pages

Genre: Chick-Lit

Rating: 10/10

Description: How hard is it to knock down a pushover?

For twenty-five years, Jordan Landau's life has been eminently forgettable. From her combatively critical mother to her cheating boyfriend to her idea-stealing boss --- there's almost no one in Jordan's life who hasn't taken advantage of her near-pathological desire to avoid conflict.

Everyone's about to find out.

After a freak accident leaves Jordan in a hospital with a head injury, inspiration strikes. What's the best way to get out of a bad life? Pretend you can't remember it! Faking amnesia makes it easy to dump the boyfriend, trump the boss, and turn the tables on a family that never appreciated her. The Great Jordan Life Makeover is looking pretty good, until things take a surprising turn. Forced to start over for real, Jordan must soon figure out how to create a truly unforgettable life...and how far she's willing to go to do so.

My Thoughts: This is the first time I’ve read a Caprice Crane novel. I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed Jordan’s story immensely. I liked that with Jordan, any reader can relate to her as we all have walked in her shoes at some point, whether it’s the toxic family or the lousy love connection or the less than satisfying career or maybe all areas, even. So, here we have a heroine who sheds new light on being a doormat. I even began to feel a little frustrated with her that she allowed this treatment for so long and sad that she felt her only solution was to lie.

After Jordan is hit by a car, she decides to fake amnesia thinking this will be the best way to change her life. She even drags her best friend, Todd, into her deception. I liked that Jordan does begin to take charge of her life with some very interesting results. Unfortunately, she doesn’t plan on falling in love with Travis, the driver of the car that hit her. The bad news is he believes she has amnesia, so Jordan has really gotten herself into a pickle.

The situation appears to go from bad to worse when Jordan’s mother files a lawsuit against Travis and, obviously he doesn’t take the news very well. Unfortunately for Jordan, she is involved in another mishap and this time really gets amnesia. Is this karma coming around for her earlier deception? If you are into that kind of thing, then I would say it’s possible.

At any rate, I loved watching how Jordan tries to navigate the path her amnesia now takes her and I laughed myself silly at her attempts to pitch advertising jingles to her boss that ring the gong of familiarity.

If you are looking for a very funny read filled with interesting and complex characters that you will love and some you will dislike intensely and a story that keeps you anticipating what will happen next, then I highly recommend this one that will make Caprice Crane an author to be on the lookout for.

REVIEW: Salvation In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Salvation In Death (In Death, #27)
Author: J.D. Robb

Publisher: Putnam

Publication Date: January, 2008

Hardcover: 353 pages

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Rating: 10/10

Description: In the year 2060, cutting-edge investigative tools can help catch a killer. But there are some questions even the most advanced technologies cannot answer ...

At the most solemn moment of a Catholic funeral Mass, the priest brings the chalice to his lips. Seconds later, he is dead on the altar. For the mourners packed into the pews, Father Miguel Flores's sudden demise is an unimaginable shock. When Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas confirms that the consecrated wine contained enough potassium cyanide to kill a rhino, she's prepared to plunge in and find out why, despite her discomfort with her surroundings. It's not the bodegas and pawnshops of East Harlem that bother her, though the neighborhood is a long way from the stone mansion she shares with her billionaire husband, Roarke. It's all that holiness flying around at St. Cristobal's that makes her uneasy.

A search of the victim's simple, sparsely furnished room reveals few personal touches, except for a carefully hidden religious medal with a mysterious inscription, and a couple of underlined Bible passages. The autopsy reveals much more: faint scars of knife wounds, a removed tattoo - and evidence of plastic surgery suggesting "Father Flores" may not have been the man his parishioners thought. Now, as Eve pieces together clues that suggest identity theft, gang connections, and a deeply personal act of revenge, she hopes to track down whoever committed this unholy act. Until a second murder - in front of an even larger crowd of worshippers - knocks the whole investigation sideways.

The way Eve sees it, vengeance may be the Lord's business, but if there's going to be any earthly justice in this case, it's up to her.

My Thoughts: This installment moved a lot slower for me than other Eve Dallas books, but the story was still very intense and thought provoking.

What starts out as a routine investigation into the murder of a neighborhood priest during a funeral mass turns into a case of identity theft, greed and retribution and linking to multiple unsolved murders seventeen years prior. Eve tackles this case with the same tenacity and determination she gives to every case. As more layers are revealed, the more complex this case becomes.

When a televangelist is murdered the same way during a sermon, I immediately thought Eve would be tracking a serial killer targeting religious leaders. When the second murder is solved fairly quickly, I realized that the murders are not connected, other than cause of death.

Not a lot of sparring with Somerset in this story, unfortunately. I am looking forward to Eve losing her mind over hosting Louise's bridal shower. She would much rather get into fights with criminals than come within a hundred miles of giggling women. I can't wait to see how it plays out.

After 27 installments of this series, I feel like I'm putting on a comfortable sweater when I'm reading an Eve Dallas book. The characters are so well written that the reader feels a deep rapport with them. Luckily for the readers, this series does not appear to be running out of steam.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In July

I can't help but think if all of these books were on a Kindle, how much less the TBR mountain would weigh...

Impossibly Tongue-Tied by Josie Brown

Description: All over Hollywood, men are dialing O—for orgasms. Her steamy naughty talk fills them with lust and longing, and helps them perform like the studs they claim to be.

In truth, the industry's favorite "erotic phone operatrix" is Nina Harte, a struggling actress who has put her career on hold so that her husband, Nathan, can pursue his own dreams of stardom. When Nathan's career takes off, so does he, leaving Nina and their four-year-old son, Jake, for his diva costar, Katerina McPherson. Then "Kat 'n' Nat" are crowned the media's newest celebrity sweethearts, and Kat labels Nina an unfit mother in order to win custody of Jake, just so that she can have that highly-coveted celebrity accessory—an adorable child—sans any unsightly stretch marks.

The one person who does care about Nina is Nathan's agent, Sam Godwin. In fact, he's in love with her. And because he has both a heart and a conscience, Sam feels guilty for having put Nat in Kat's path in the first place . . .

Then again, how will he feel when he learns that Nina and O are one and the same?

Salvation In Death by J.D. Robb

Description: In the year 2060, cutting-edge investigative tools can help catch a killer. But there are some questions even the most advanced technologies cannot answer ..." "At the most solemn moment of a Catholic funeral Mass, the priest brings the chalice to his lips. Seconds later, he is dead on the altar. For the mourners packed into the pews, Father Miguel Flores's sudden demise is an unimaginable shock. When Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas confirms that the consecrated wine contained enough potassium cyanide to kill a rhino, she's prepared to plunge in and find out why, despite her discomfort with her surroundings.

It's not the bodegas and pawnshops of East Harlem that bother her, though the neighborhood is a long way from the stone mansion she shares with her billionaire husband, Roarke. It's all that holiness flying around at St. Cristobal's that makes her uneasy." "A search of the victim's simple, sparsely furnished room reveals few personal touches, except for a carefully hidden religious medal with a mysterious inscription, and a couple of underlined Bible passages. The autopsy reveals much more: faint scars of knife wounds, a removed tattoo - and evidence of plastic surgery suggesting "Father Flores" may not have been the man his parishioners thought. Now, as Eve pieces together clues that suggest identity theft, gang connections, and a deeply personal act of revenge, she hopes to track down whoever committed this unholy act. Until a second murder - in front of an even larger crowd of worshippers - knocks the whole investigation sideways." The way Eve sees it, vengeance may be the Lord's business, but if there's going to be any earthly justice in this case, it's up to her.

Reconstructing Brigid by Lee Nichols

Description: When the daughter of a politically connected CEO is found dead in her car off the Maine coast, her father wants the best investigation money can buy.

He demands that Brigid Ashbury determine the cause of death: was it a simple car crash or did someone force his daughter off the road? For the country's premiere accident reconstructionist, it should be an open and shut case. Except for one minor problem: Brigid is afraid of cars. While struggling to overcome her motorphobia, the result of her own recent collision, Brigid is trying to determine whether this really was an accident.

A wealthy family, a possible kidnapping and questions of inheritance muddy the waters. The prime suspect, Aaron White, is the boyfriend of the dead girl's sister. He even admits to sleeping with the victim…twice…but insists he didn't kill her. Determined to keep her suspect close, Brigid enlists Aaron as her chauffeur. And although he may be trying to seduce Brigid (and everyone else in his path) they do make a good team. But if they're going to crack this case, Brigid must first get herself back on the road to recovery.

Mrs. Whippy by Cecelia Ahern

Description: A woman in trouble turns to ice cream, and just might find love in its pursuit. Emelda is 46 years old. Her husband, Charlie, has just left her for a 23-year-old dancer. Her five difficult sons worship their father and blame Emelda for his departure. On top of everything else, she has to struggle with a new job at the local supermarket. For comfort she turns to her only true friend ice-cream. But lately there's a handsome man driving the ice-cream van. Could romance be about to blossom?

Heaping Spoonful by Shauna Glenn

Description: Heaping Spoonful will make you believe in the power of starting over!

When Claire Hamilton lost her husband to cancer, her self-image shattered overnight. Once a happily married and financially secure mother of two, Claire suddenly finds herself a single parent trying to keep her small bakery running smoothly. While she manages to continue her daily duties as mom, boss, sister and daughter, Claire's anger and inability to move on have her emotionally crippled. Luckily for Claire, the people who love her refuse to stop pushing her to really live--and love--again. Claire's family is impossible to ignore: Lucy, Claire's man-crazy younger sister and employee, prides herself on being blunt and brash, but amazingly lovable. Claire's father is an ex-high school principal who, though he is a great help with the business and his grandchildren, can still make her feel like a teenager. Claire's mother, a southern belle suffering from Alzheimer's, helps Claire most of all by providing her with a surprising gift from her own past.

Eye To Eye by Grace Carol

Description: Doris

Gig: newly minted lit prof transplanted to Atlanta.

Currently: butting heads with Southern-fried brownshirts, resisting the faculty's sonnet-writing Mick Jagger figure and—God help her— braving the shark-infested waters of online dating.

Ronnie

Gig: aspiring novelist returned to L.A.

Currently: back home, but not at home; tutoring an obnoxious Beverly Hills "homeboy" and hating the bartending bimbo hitting on her good-ol'-boy boyfriend (who's fitting in better than she is).

Turns out that coasting through life after grad school can feel a lot like just spinning your wheels—but Doris and Ronnie are determined to find their true paths. It's going to take heavy doses of IM, Chardonnay and one mantra: true friends can head in opposite directions and still see eye to eye.

Confessions Of Super Mom by Melanie Lynne Hauser

Confessions Of Super Mom by Melanie Lynne Hauser

My Rating: 8 *'s

Description: “Every superhero has an Origin. To tell the truth, it’s a little embarrassing. I wasn’t put into a rocket and sent to Earth by my parents just as my home planet exploded. I wasn’t given a special ring by visiting aliens. I wasn’t bitten by a radioactive spider. No, it wasn’t anything nearly so glamorous; my beginnings are quite humble. I was merely the innocent victim of a Horrible Swiffer Accident.”

Meet Birdie Lee, clerk at Marvel Fine Food and Beverages and an average, middle-aged single mother of two teenagers. Until one ordinary morning when, on the floor of her bathroom, Birdie discovers a Stain of Unknown Origin—a stain so intense that nothing can remove it. When all her attempts fail, Birdie does the unthinkable: She loads her Swiffer with every cleanser she owns, aims, and shoots. Suddenly, Birdie becomes endowed with extraordinary powers. Now Birdie must somehow balance it all—her smug ex and his overachieving new wife; two teenagers and a string of PTA meetings; her own budding romance; and her beloved town of Astro Park, whose very existence is threatened by a mysterious force sneaking its way into every household. A delightful, well-earned escape, Confessions of Super Mom is an amusing vindication of the overlooked everyday heroism that is a woman’s life.

My Thoughts: I've never read anything by this author before and was very pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was drawn into the story and the character's personalities and lives. I thought the arrival of a membership packet from the Justice League of America was entertaining and I'll be curious if Wonder Woman makes her presence known as Super Mom's assigned mentor / trainer in the next book. For some reason, I had a hard time picturing Birdie in my mind's eye as I read the book. She is described as being in her early 40's with two teenagers but I kept envisioning a grandmother. I think her name conjures up that image.

A quick and enjoyable read for anyone, Super Mom, or mortal.