REVIEW: Delusion In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Delusion In Death (In Death #35)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: Putnam
Publication Date: September, 2012
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crow seemed oppressive. some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving.

Then the madness descended. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn't explain who would unleash such horror—or why. Eve's husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he's convinced the attack wasn't directed at him. It's bigger than that. And if Eve can't figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it's airborne....

My Thoughts: Well, bless your cotton socks, Eve Dallas! After 35 books, I was pretty much convinced that there wasn’t a case or crook out there that Eve wasn’t shocked by. Angered, enraged, yes; determined to solve and catch, absolutely. Shocked, never, but she definitely is shocked with this case. In addition, she’s worried and a little frightened by the turn of events her new case has brought down on the city of New York. That’s what made this book so enjoyable for me. The plot was believable and frightening in its realistic delivery. Day to day activities like going to happy hour or grabbing a bite to eat at lunch time takes on a whole new apprehensive angle. Nobody is safe, nobody is exempt and the killer is virtually invisible.

If you have been with Eve and her crew from the beginning, you already know that she doesn’t let a lot of people get close to her. You have to be invited into her inner circle, which is where you get to see the real Eve. The woman cares about her friends, family, cat and yes, even Summerset. Go ahead and pick your jaw up off the floor; I’ll wait. As much as Eve and Summerset enjoy getting under each other’s skin hurling insults and looks of disgust toward one another, I loved seeing this side of Eve and Summerset. In Delusion in Death, Eve and Summerset sit down together to a meal, having polite and civilized conversation and sharing a bond over this case. A truce has not been called and they will probably be right back at each other’s throats in the next book, but this was my favorite part of the book. I enjoyed seeing two adversaries come together over a common goal to work together to achieve successful results.

We also see Eve being proactive trying to protect Mavis, Leonardo, Bella and Dennis Mira. Most of the time, she reserves her worry exclusively to Roarke, usually because he is neck deep in the case with her. I got an excellent sense of how deeply Eve feels for the people she truly cares about, though she has a hard time expressing it most of the time.

As usual, Eve quickly figures out who is responsible, though she is in store for a few twists and surprises near the end. I thought the twists were brilliantly executed. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly Eve deduces who the responsible parties are for each case. She must have some kind of a super computer brain instead of the thought patterns of a mere human. By the time I come even remotely close to being comfortable with just a guess, Eve has already identified her suspect and taken steps to bring them to justice.

My Final Verdict: If you are already a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed by this very good installment. If you are new to this series or have never read the series, I highly recommend it and not trying to sound like a broken record, but starting at the beginning of the series is the best place to begin. Meeting Eve for the first time and seeing how her relationships with Roarke, Mavis, Mira, Peabody and everyone else all began is a treat. J.D. Robb has done a brilliant job of creating characters you get to know and care about in a series so rich with detail that illustrates vividly in my mind’s eye what it truly is like living in New York City in the mid-21st century.

REVIEW: Love You To Death by Melissa Senate

Title: Love You To Death
Author: Melissa Senate
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Publication Date: January, 2007
Genre: Chick-Lit

Description: When did Abby Foote's life become an episode of "Law and Order?" First, a former boyfriend (who dumped Abby in the most humiliating way imaginable) is found murdered the day his engagement is announced.

Then two other ex-boyfriends report attempts made on their lives right after breaking up with her. Coincidence? Detective Benjamin Orr, of the Portland Police Department (and Very Probing Questions and Incredibly Delicious Face), doesn't think so. Neither do Abby's friends, family, coworkers and other exes--who are suddenly shaking in their shoes. Soon everyone is sucking up to her as though the Abby they know and supposedly love to death is capable of poisoning their drinks....

Is someone trying to frame her?

Who? And why? She has to find out fast. Because by-the-book Ben is bound to break her heart.

Which makes him next on someone's list...

My Thoughts: Could Abby Foote’s day get any worse? She already has the worst luck with men and discovers that her ex-boyfriend has been found murdered. The cop investigating the murder happens to be the guy she had a major crush on in high school. She soon learns that attempts were made on two other exes and she is the prime suspect for all three crimes. It’s bad enough that you’re being investigated by your high school crush for crimes you did not commit, but adding insult to injury, he doesn’t even remember you! Your family claims they believe in your innocence but they start acting strange, don’t want you around your newborn nephew and even insist you be accompanied by a police escort to your bridesmaid’s dress fitting for your sister’s wedding!

I completely understand that Ben is just doing his job, but I started to get annoyed at his insistence that she “could” have done it and “it’s possible” instead of not appearing to look at anyone else as the suspect. Even when there’s evidence that someone Abby knows is committing the crimes, Ben still asks Abby if she planted it! If it wouldn’t have made her situation worse, I would have cheered Abby slapping him a good one!

The list of possible suspects is large. It could be anyone starting with the dead ex-boyfriend’s new fiancée, to Abby’s family, to her co-workers and even her friends. Sadly, everyone seems to believe it’s Abby and people are walking around on eggshells around her, which I found highly insulting, but there isn’t much to be done to help the situation except prove her innocence. It was next to impossible for me to figure out who did it as I was likely to believe any of the people in Abby’s life were capable. When the culprit is revealed, I was surprised and a little disappointed that I didn’t pick up on it sooner.

The story moved very slowly for me until Ben starts to entertain the possibility that someone close to Abby could be responsible for the crimes. By then I was pretty frustrated at Abby’s insistence of innocence falling on deaf ears and more agitated that there were no signs of interest in Abby coming from Ben, except as a perp. Probably a good thing as there is a killer watching and Ben could have ended up on the killer’s list of targets.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a good book. I really enjoy the mix of chick-lit and mystery. As frustrating and annoyed I as I was at the lack of passion in this story, I have to applaud Ben’s ethics and integrity. Fortunately, he steps up when Abby finds herself face to face with the killer so all ends well. I recommend this to fans of both the chick-lit and cozy mystery genre that are looking for something light to read and don’t mind the lack of passion and romance for our heroine.

At The Movies: The Call

The Call

In Theaters: March 15, 2013

Starring: Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, Michael Imperioli

Director: Brad Anderson

MPAA Rating: R (for violence, disturbing content and some language)



Plot Summary: When veteran 911 operator, Jordan (Halle Berry), takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.

My Thoughts: As soon as I saw this trailer, I knew this movie was going to be intense. Halle Berry delivers a remarkable performance as Jordan, a 911 operator for LAPD who at first glance appears to love her job and is quite good at it. She is in a relationship with Officer Paul Phillips (Morris Chestnut) and seems to be at the top of her game. Everything changes suddenly for Jordan one evening when she takes a call from a frantic teenager who calls 911 to report an intruder. Jordan takes the call very calmly and professionally walking the girl through the steps to hide while awaiting police arrival. Everything appears to be going well and the intruder is leaving the home when the call is disconnected and following procedure, Jordan calls the number back, alerting the intruder to the girl's presence in the house. Of course, the intruder (Michael Eklund) locates the girl's hiding place and grabs her taking the phone from her. Jordan begs with him to leave the house and not to hurt the girl, but he states "It's already done" and disconnects the call. Several days later, the girl's body is recovered. Jordan blames herself and decides she can no longer do the job.

Six months later, Jordan is now a trainer of 911 operators and is in the process of giving a tour to a new batch of trainees when a call comes in from a frantic girl who says she has been kidnapped. Jordan is forced to take over the call from the frazzled call-taker and though it's painfully obvious she is on the verge of losing it herself, her instincts kick in and she begins to offer assistance to the young girl, Casey (Abigail Breslin), who is inside the trunk of a car calling on an untraceable cell phone.

The majority of this movie revolves around Jordan on the phone with Casey, trying to help her remain calm and figure out ways to get help to her, including kicking out the tail light and waving her hand through the hole and pouring paint out of the same hole in the hopes of leaving a trail. Up until this point, the movie is very fast paced suspense but when a fellow motorist sees the paint and tries to get involved, the movie skyrockets into terrifying when we see several times how far the killer is willing to go. Michael Eklund delivers a very gripping performance as the disturbed and psychotic kidnapper.

This movie gives a very good sense of realistic and true events, which is what makes the subject matter so frightening. It can and does really happen to real people and the 911 operator is holding someone's life in their hands. Like most 911 operators, Jordan can handle herself very well and periodically gets calls that are very difficult and emotionally painful but she has to hold herself together the best she can to help the person on the other end of the line. Lives depend on it.

Unfortunately, that is where all common sense and reality ends. When the call with Casey ends, Jordan is ordered to go home by her supervisor but instead starts listening back to the call trying to figure out where the killer took Casey. Then Jordan takes it upon herself to get in her car and drive up into the hills to look for her by herself! Unarmed and no police officers backing her up, she only has a cell phone with no signal! I found myself asking repeatedly, "What the bloody hell is she going to do when she finds this lunatic?!?" In addition, we never got a good understanding of the killer's background and why he's kidnapping and murdering young blonde girls. There's a hint of an explanation involving the killer's sister, who appears to be a cancer patient and has been deceased for a very long time, but we are never told or shown if she died from the cancer and he's doing this trying to cope with her death or if he killed her himself.



My Rating: For a movie that starts out quite well and holds up with the adrenaline and suspense, this film takes an abrupt nose-dive in the last 20 minutes leaving me with more questions than answers. I don't recommend spending the big bucks to see this at the theater. Wait until it goes to the dollar theater or wait for the DVD instead.

A Bookworm's Passion

I've always been a bookworm and I was outed at a very early age when I was caught reading (or trying to anyway) the newspaper.  Back then, I read anything, anywhere or anytime.  Cereal boxes, road signs, the newspaper; didn't matter really.  Always reading and if I couldn't read the word, I was asking my parents what a specific word was.

For the most part, they indulged this habit, as they should since it's their fault I'm this way.  Trust me people, genetics don't lie.  There were times, however, threats of corporal punishment were issued when I was caught reading in bed with a flashlight when it was supposed to be lights out.

On my 8th birthday, I was introduced to my new best friend, Nancy Drew.  She introduced me to her friends, The Hardy Boys, though we never really hit it off like Nancy and I did.  I loved Nancy and hanging out with her, Bess and George always made my day better.

Almost 40 years later and I don't hang out with Nancy anymore but I will always cherish those times.  It got me to thinking about what motivates me as a bookworm when I choose the books I read.  I still love a good mystery and over the years I became a romance junkie and I devoured most historical romances.  If they featured a kilt wearing Highlander with a Scottish accent, I was sure to pounce on it.  My romance reading branched into many paranormal sub-genres like time travel, vampires, werewolves and ghosts.  One of my all time favorite time travel series was The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  As all fans of this wonderful series have done, I have often pictured Jamie in my mind's eye and my mind hasn't let me down yet.

A kilt wearing vampire with a Scottish accent...yes, it's been done, probably overdone, but I don't care.  I can't get enough of them.  I adore chick-lit, both British and U.S.  I love cozy mysteries and the more whimsical the theme, the better.  Urban fantasy have been a favorite for a while and it turns out a lot of the books I have loved for a while fall under that category.  Thriller and suspense like James Patterson and Harlan Coben also top my list.

One genre that surprised me is the Young Adult.  I admit it.  I was a snob when it came to reading those kind of books.  I thought, quite incorrectly, that I was not going to be interested in something for the younger set.  I had even turned my nose up to Harry Potter for many years.  I have thankfully seen the light and enjoy the young adult / teen genre too.  There are many great reads and several authors I love have crossed over to this genre as well.  Just to name a few are The Chronicles Of Nick Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon or The Darkness Rising Series by Kelley Armstrong and The Princess Diaries Series by Meg Cabot.

The important thing for any serious bookworm to remember is our love of reading.  It crosses time and space and yes, even genre.  So, my fellow bookworms, the next time you find yourself in your favorite bookstore perusing the shelves and contemplating your choices, don't dismiss any or you may be missing a wonderful opportunity to find something spectacular.

Women Of The Otherworld Series Optioned For Television

Fans of Elena Michaels and her werewolf pack can now rejoice as the series is being brought to the television screen! The 13-part series is currently shooting in Toronto and will air on Canada's Space channel in 2014. I have never heard of any of the actors but fans of Smallville should recognize Laura Vandervoort who has been cast as Elena Michaels.

Laura Vandervoort

I am so excited about this as I have been a long time fan of the books. I am hoping fervently that the show will be picked up here in the U.S. Please join me in praying to the television gods to make it so!

The Hollywood Reporter

REVIEW: Deadly Legacy by Robin Burcell

Title: Deadly Legacy (Kate Gillespie #3)
Author: Robin Burcell
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: January, 2003
Genre: Mystery / Thriller

Description: San Francisco P.D. Homicide Inspector Kate Gillespie's investigation into a bizarre apparent murder/suicide is threatening to careen out of control. A dead man might not be dead. The families of the deceased are hiding something. And there are blood-soaked threads reaching into some very lofty places. But most perplexing of all are the shocking revelations of one of the "victims" dark and dangerous history -- the more Kate learns, the less she knows. It's a case that has placed Kate Gillespie on the hot seat as her investigation gets bigger by the moment -- and puts her perilously high on a rabid killer's hit list.

My Thoughts: When I first met Kate Gillespie in Every Move She Makes, I knew I would like her and I have not been disappointed. With the follow-up book Fatal Truth, I was even more intrigued by this character. In the third installment, Robin Burcell reveals a side to this character that I enjoyed. The human side. Gillespie is not just a cop; she's human and comes with all of the imperfections we all have within us. Gillespie makes a poor choice, showing a lapse in judgment that could have cost her the badge and career she loves. She's not a bad cop, she's human and she made a choice rooted in her human emotions. It's sad when good cops make bad decisions but it happens all the time. I enjoyed this plot dynamic because Robin Burcell wrote it with such stark clarity that the reader can't help but feel bad for the position Kate has put herself in. The good news is that Gillespie has a high moral code and is ethical so she does the right thing and comes forward with her transgression. She then spends the majority of the rest of the story trying to get past it while wondering if she will have a career waiting when this case is completed. Add into the mix that Torrance is assigned to Internal Affairs and it makes for some very awkward and uncomfortable encounters. I certainly am not alone in wondering if Kate's career will survive this cloud and if she and Torrance will find their way to one another.

This case was quite interesting as Kate learns that one of the victims used to be a good friend of hers. Kate is obviously shocked but it doesn't end there as Kate learns more about the dark side of the double life the victim was living and the people involved. I enjoyed this story line as it once again showed me Kate's human side as she tries to put aside the past and focus on the investigation. Kate's old partner, Scolari, briefly comes out of retirement to lend a helping hand and I quite enjoyed their interactions. I like to be surprised and maybe a little shocked when the bad guy's identity is finally revealed in a book. Of course, I am trying to figure it out as I go along, but having the plot twist out of nowhere is a lot of fun and keeps me on my toes. I was beyond shocked at who was behind the killings and maybe a little more shocked that I was happy that my guess was wrong.

For me, the toughest part of this book were the nails I was chewing in anticipation of what would transpire with Torrance. I think he and Kate are great together and belong with one another but his announcement that he is leaving to take a position with the FBI really deflated me. There are a lot of loose ends with these two and I hope to get some closure in the next book, as it appears to be the last book in this series.

My Final Verdict: Though I am quite bummed that this series is nearing the end, I am still intrigued with the characters and absolutely love that the author draws on her own personal law enforcement knowledge to make this series and the characters realistic and believable. I felt completely drawn into the story and connected with the characters. This is a very good book that will appeal to readers who enjoy romantic suspense, mysteries and thrillers, but I really recommend the complete series.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In March

I was alot more productive on the acquiring side of things in March than I was in the reading side of things, unfortunately. One-third of 2013 has now passed and my reading slump continues. Maybe it's just spring fever but I'm surprised at how long it is taking me to finish a book these days. Here are the new arrivals that I welcomed into my home in March...

Title: Skipped Parts by Tim Sandlin
Description: Banished to the hinterlands of Wyoming, rebellious Lydia Callahan and her thirteen-year-old son Sam have no choice but to cope. But while Lydia drinks and talks to the moose head on the wall, Sam finds a friend in local girl Maurey Pierce.

One of the wildest, raunchiest, most heartfelt coming-of-age novels of the past thirty years, Skipped Parts puts Tim Sandlin in the upper echelon of contemporary comic novelists.

Title: Girls That Growl by Mari Mancusi
Description: Rayne McDonald thought getting into the Blood Coven was the hard part. But now there's a new breed of trouble in town...and the former slayer and her vampire boyfriend may be the only ones who can stop it.

Now that she's an official vampire and full-fledged member of The Blood Coven, Rayne assumes her vampire slaying days are over. Sure, she doesn't have any vampire powers, thanks to a mutated blood virus, but she and Jareth can go out in the sun, which is a pretty good trade-off.

But just when Rayne's starting to enjoy her afterlife, she's contacted by Slayer Inc once again. It seems that a member of her high school's football team has disappeared—and the powers-that-be think the cheerleaders had something to do with it. Now Rayne has to infiltrate the squad before the cheerleaders have a chance to sink their teeth into someone else...

Title: Allison Hewitt Is Trapped by Madeleine Roux
Description: "One woman's story as she blogs - and fights back - the zombie apocalypse"

Allison Hewitt and her five colleagues at the Brooks and Peabody Bookstore are trapped together when the zombie outbreak hits. Allison reaches out for help through her blog, writing on her laptop and utilizing the military's emergency wireless network (SNET). It may also be her only chance to reach her mother. But as the reality of their situation sinks in, Allison's blog becomes a harrowing account of her edge-of-the-seat adventures (with some witty sarcasm thrown in) as she and her companions fight their way through ravenous zombies and sometimes even more dangerous humans.

Title: Delusion In Death by J.D. Robb
Description: After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crow seemed oppressive. some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving.

Then the madness descended. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn't explain who would unleash such horror—or why. Eve's husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he's convinced the attack wasn't directed at him. It's bigger than that. And if Eve can't figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it's airborne....

REVIEW: Scream For Me by Karen Rose

Title: Scream for Me (Daniel Vartanian #2)
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Grand Central
Publication Date: May, 2008
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Description: Special Agent Daniel Vartanian has sworn to find the perpetrator of multiple killings that mimic a 13-year-old murder linked to a collection of photographs that belonged to his brother, Simon, the ruthless serial killer who met his demise in DIE FOR ME. Daniel is certain that someone even more depraved than his brother committed these crimes, and he's determined to bring the current murderer to justice and solve the mysterious crime from years ago.

With only a handful of images as a lead, Daniel's search will lead him back through the dark past of his own family, and into the realm of a mind more sinister than he could ever imagine. But his quest will also draw him to Alex Fallon, a beautiful nurse whose troubled past reflects his own. As Daniel becomes attached to Alex, he discovers that she is also the object of the obsessed murderer. Soon, he will not only be racing to discover the identity of this macabre criminal, but also to save the life of the woman he has begun to love.

My Thoughts: If you are a fan of Karen Rose, then you already know all of her romantic suspense books are connected, character wise. I really enjoy this aspect of her books because I am one of those readers that like to feel a bond with the characters and having various past characters make an appearance in future books gives me a warm fuzzy. I first met Daniel Vartanian last year when I read Die For Me. As stated in that review, I didn’t feel much of a connection to him at that time but I also knew that would change when I started this book and I was not disappointed.

Scream For Me picks up fairly soon after the last book ends. Special Agent Daniel Vartanian has returned to Georgia and is trying to piece together the horror depicted in his brother Simon’s photographs and come to terms with the fact that his brother was a monster. Daniel receives a shock when he learns that one of the women in the photographs was murdered thirteen years ago and an even bigger shock when he meets her identical twin, Alex. Alex and Daniel begin to work together to find Alex’s step-sister, Bailey, a recovering drug addict who has gone missing and has left behind a young daughter. After an attempt is made on Alex’s life, they realize both cases are connected. Danger escalates as they race against the clock trying to figure out who was behind the crimes thirteen years ago and how they are connected to the murders happening now.

The villains are not easily identified in this story and between all of the bad guys and good guys, I had a hard time keeping everybody straight. In addition, there is a lot of back-story to comprehend. Alex’s entire past history plays front and center throughout the entire story and is quite detailed and sometimes complicated. My mistake with this book was choosing the audio book instead of another format. I had to keep backtracking to refresh my memory as to which characters were who and what their roles were. There are just too many details that need to be processed thoroughly. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of the audio format for this book.

I really liked Daniel and Alex. On the surface, they are both very strong people who have made something of their lives and are successful. You would never know from looking at them that they each carry a very heavy load of emotional baggage from their pasts. It’s logical that they would be drawn to one another so quickly and with such intense passion. I liked that in spite of the horrors of their painful past histories, they are able to open their hearts and care about others.

I am looking forward to reading the third book as it centers on Daniel’s sister, Susannah. I found her to be a very interesting character that I am extremely curious about. I expect it will pick up where this one ends and will pack quite a punch of its own, as well.

My final verdict: Scream For Me is a very good book that continues the story that began with Die For Me and will conclude with Kill For Me. I highly recommend this book if you like character driven books packed full of intense suspense, action, intrigue and passion that keep you in anticipation with each chapter. Don’t start here, however. Give yourself a better treat and read all of Karen Rose’s suspense novels, starting with Don’t Tell. You will be glad you did.

New Book Ratings

After some long and conflicted thought, I realized my numerical rating system of 1-10 is redundant and boring. Instead, I am going to go to a five point rating system as shown here:

REVIEW: Awaken The Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney

Title: Awaken the Highland Warrior (Connor Clan #1)
Author: Anita Clenney
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: May, 2011
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Rating: 6/10

Description: A man from another time...

Faelan is from an ancient clan of Scottish Highland warriors, charged with shielding humanity from demonic forces. Betrayed and locked in a time vault, he has been sleeping for nearly two centuries when spunky historian Bree Kirkland inadvertently wakes him. She's more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him, and if he's not careful, she'll uncover the secrets his clan has bled and died to protect...

Could be the treasure she's been seeking all her life...

When Bree inherits an old treasure map, she discovers a warrior buried in her backyard. But the warrior isn't dead. Bree shocks Faelan with her modern dress and her boldness, and he infuriates Bree every time he tries to protect her.

With demons suddenly on the move, Bree discovers that Faelan's duty as protector is in his blood, and that her part in this fight was destined before she was born. But nothing is ever what it seems...

My Thoughts: In the romance genre, time travel and paranormal themes rate very high for me and I usually can't get enough of them. I liked this story but unfortunately it took way too long to read and too many distractions pulling me out of the story. When that happens, I give up on the story and move on. Since it took me a month to get this book read, I probably should have done that. Instead, I stuck with it and ended up enjoying the story for the most part.

I liked Bree and Faelan but didn't LOVE them. I actually liked Ronan more and wished he had made an appearance in the story sooner. Hopefully he will get his own story. I really liked Conall too.

There were several "I can't believe she did that" moments with Bree that put her safety at risk. I can certainly see why Faelan felt like she needed a protector because she had no difficulty putting herself in danger on her own! Personally, I felt that she needed a babysitter. I was quite surprised she didn't suffer more serious injury than the few bruises and scrapes she did.

There were too many of the "big misunderstandings" between Bree and Faelan for my liking. Bree assumes he doesn't want her and is sleeping with someone else so she misunderstands why Faelan wants her to leave and Faelan doesn't do a very good job of explaining why either. Faelan jumps to the mother of wrong conclusions when he sees what he assumes is Bree in bed with the demon he has been trying to destroy and assumes Bree is a half-ling (half demon and half human) and he's ready to plan her demise as well until he is reminded that demons don't deal in truth.

The nice thing about this book is the introduction of many of the other warriors in Faelan's clan that may have their own story later on in this series. So, while I wasn't completely in love with this book or the characters, I liked the story and am intrigued in this series and what happens next.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In February

Both of these books are in the "currently reading" status, so I don't consider them as true new additions to the TBR pile since they aren't sitting there, but new additions to my reading nonetheless... :o)

Title: Scream For Me by Karen Rose

Description: Special Agent Daniel Vartanian has sworn to find the perpetrator of multiple killings that mimic a 13-year-old murder linked to a collection of photographs that belonged to his brother, Simon, the ruthless serial killer who met his demise in DIE FOR ME. Daniel is certain that someone even more depraved than his brother committed these crimes, and he's determined to bring the current murderer to justice and solve the mysterious crime from years ago.

With only a handful of images as a lead, Daniel's search will lead him back through the dark past of his own family, and into the realm of a mind more sinister than he could ever imagine. But his quest will also draw him to Alex Fallon, a beautiful nurse whose troubled past reflects his own. As Daniel becomes attached to Alex, he discovers that she is also the object of the obsessed murderer. Soon, he will not only be racing to discover the identity of this macabre criminal, but also to save the life of the woman he has begun to love.

Title: Awaken The Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney

Description: He's had centuries to dream of her...

Misadventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn't dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.

REVIEW: Haunted by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Haunted (Women Of The Otherworld, #5)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: May, 2005
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 9/10

Description: Former supernatural superpower Eve Levine has broken all the rules. But she's never broken a promise—not even during the three year's she's spent in the afterworld. So, when the Fates call in a debt she gave her word she'd pay, she has no choice but to comply.

For centuries one of the ghost world's wickedest creatures has been loosed on humanity, thwarting every attempt to retrieve her. Now it has fall to Eve to capture this demi-demon known as the Nix, who inhabits the bodies of would-be killers, compelling them to complete their deadly acts. It's a mission that becomes all too personal when the Nix targets those Eve loves most — including Savannah, the daughter she left on earth. But can a renegade witch succeed where a host of angels have failed?

My Thoughts: After I first met Eve, I couldn't find any likable or redeeming qualities about this character. I wasn't upset when Eve died either. The biggest thing I loved about Haunted is that there is a lot more to Eve than we had seen before. Eve really surprised me. As a ghost, she demonstrates all of the same annoying characteristics she had when she was alive. Unlike in my last meeting with Eve, this time was vastly different.

It was a little sad to me that it took her dying to bring out her human side. Eve wants to watch over Savannah and is prepared to spend all of eternity doing just that and spending time with Savannah's father, Kristof, when Eve is detoured from her goal by the Fates to track down a demon who uses women to commit murder.

With the assistance of an angel, Trsiel, Eve accepts the mission which takes Eve on a whirlwind journey. Along the way, Eve crosses paths with notorious characters of the past, such as Lizzie Borden. Eve also has to use her wits when she goes into a hell dimension to track down clues.

This story moves at a very fast pace with a lot of intensity. There were so many scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat with the suspense of waiting to see what was coming next. Mixed into this, is the relationship between Eve and Kristof. I found it hopeful that Eve's afterlife wasn't suffering and torment, though I was expecting her to receive some type of punishment for her deeds while alive. The tenacity with which Eve works this assignment gave me hope that even the most darkest of witches has a heart and is worthy of redemption.

REVIEW: Dead Connection by Alafair Burke

Title: Dead Connection (Ellie Hatcher #1)
Author: Alafair Burke
Publisher: Holt, Henry and Company
Publication Date: July, 2007
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Rating: 9/10

Description: In this electrifying thriller, a rookie detective goes undercover on the Internet dating scene to draw out a serial killer targeting single women in Manhattan

When two young women are murdered on the streets of New York, exactly one year apart, Detective Ellie Hatcher is called up for a special assignment on the homicide task force. The killer has left behind a clue connecting the two cases to First Date, a popular online dating service, and Flann McIlroy, an eccentric, publicity-seeking homicide detective, is convinced that only Ellie can help him pursue his terrifying theory: someone is using the lure of the Internet and the promise of love to launch a killing spree against the women of New York City.

To catch the killer, Ellie must enter a high-tech world of stolen identities where no one is who they appear to be. And for her, the investigation quickly becomes personal: she fits the profile of the victims, and she knows firsthand what pursuing a sociopath can do to a cop--back home in Wichita, Kansas, her father lost his life trying to catch a notorious serial murderer.

When the First Date killer begins to mimic the monster who destroyed her father, Ellie knows the game has become personal for him, too. Both hunter and prey, she must find the killer before he claims his next victim--who could very well be her.

Expertly plotted and perfectly paced, Dead Connection advances Alafair Burke to the front ranks of American thriller writers.

My Thoughts: The first book in the Ellie Hatcher series by new to me author, Alafair Burke introduces us to Ellie Hatcher, an NYPD Detective who is transferred to a new unit to help solve the murders of four women, who are all connected by an online dating site.

I absolutely loved Ellie. She's strong but not arrogant or pushy. She has some demons in her past that she is battling surrounding the death of her father, also a cop, when she was a kid. She's tenacious but she is open and flexible to looking at the bigger picture.

This story really packed a punch for me and as each layer was folded back and the reader learns more, the intensity levels increased as it became apparent how complex this story is.

Ellie is also very likable. I enjoyed her sense of humor and her outlook on the world around her. She has a way with people that puts them at ease, from hardened cops who don't know what a sexual harassment policy is in place for all the way to suspects and potential romantic interests. Ellie can handle herself and I liked that she didn't allow the bad and the ugly side of her job drag her down. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad and ugly that came out of left field and hopefully the second book, Angel's Tip, will prove to be just as entertaining.

New Additions To The TBR Pile In January

2013 is off to a pretty good start with the arrivals of these new titles. Unfortunately, 2013 has gotten off to a bumpy start. Two titles I tried to read in January, I ended up giving up on, so that's a little disheartening. Hopefully, this is a temporary hitch.

Title: The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

Description: Think vampires are romantic, sexy, and powerful? Think again. Vampires are dead. And unless they want to end up staked, they have to give up fanging people, admit their addiction, join a support group, and reform themselves.

Nina Harrison, fanged at fifteen and still living with her mother, hates the Reformed Vampire Support Group meetings every Tuesday night. Even if she does appreciate Dave, who was in a punk band when he was alive, nothing exciting ever happens. That is, until one of group members is mysteriously destroyed by a silver bullet. With Nina (determined to prove that vamps aren't useless or weak) and Dave (secretly in love with Nina) at the helm, the misfit vampires soon band together to track down the hunter, save a werewolf, and keep the world safe from the likes of themselves.

The perfect anecdote to slick vampire novels, this murder-mystery comedy of errors will thrill fans of Evil Genius.

Title: Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo

Description: "Do you remember the hospital, Colton?" Sonja said. "Yes, mommy, I remember," he said. "That's where the angels sang to me."

When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren't expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed--a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy's trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery-and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, "Heaven Is for Real" offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

"Heaven Is for Real" will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child.

Dead Connection by Alafair Burke

Description: In this electrifying thriller, a rookie detective goes undercover on the Internet dating scene to draw out a serial killer targeting single women in Manhattan

When two young women are murdered on the streets of New York, exactly one year apart, Detective Ellie Hatcher is called up for a special assignment on the homicide task force. The killer has left behind a clue connecting the two cases to First Date, a popular online dating service, and Flann McIlroy, an eccentric, publicity-seeking homicide detective, is convinced that only Ellie can help him pursue his terrifying theory: someone is using the lure of the Internet and the promise of love to launch a killing spree against the women of New York City.

To catch the killer, Ellie must enter a high-tech world of stolen identities where no one is who they appear to be. And for her, the investigation quickly becomes personal: she fits the profile of the victims, and she knows firsthand what pursuing a sociopath can do to a cop--back home in Wichita, Kansas, her father lost his life trying to catch a notorious serial murderer.

When the First Date killer begins to mimic the monster who destroyed her father, Ellie knows the game has become personal for him, too. Both hunter and prey, she must find the killer before he claims his next victim--who could very well be her.

Expertly plotted and perfectly paced, Dead Connection advances Alafair Burke to the front ranks of American thriller writers.

The Wicked Wager by Anya Wylde

Description: The infamous rake, Lord Richard Hamilton, has finally chosen his bride—the very appropriate Miss Emma Grey.

The ton approves, Lord Grey is pleased, Lady Grey delighted, and Emma is over the moon, but her uncle, (the blasted) Duke of Arden opposes the match, and Emma is ordered to move to the duke’s estate to think things over.

Richard Hamilton refuses to take things lying down and concocts a plan. A plan that should have brought the lovers together and had them married within a month. It was a simple matter of masquerading as the duke’s gardener, compromising the lady, and then having the duke rush them off to Gretna Green.

Alas, he underestimates the duke’s intelligence and the tangled situation on the estate—never had he imagined that compromising a lady could be so difficult.

His endeavours lead to a comedy of errors, charades, and knotty love affairs. Yet he forges ahead in spite of pesky house guests, a flea bitten mattress, his lovesick best friend, and a blackmailer.

Just when things seem to be going well, someone is murdered (very inconvenient), and he happens to be one of the suspects (extremely inconvenient).

His simple plan for winning the wager suddenly becomes … a tad complicated.

REVIEW: Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo

Title: Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Author: Todd Burpo
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: November, 2010
Genre: Christian Non-Fiction
Rating: 10/10

Description: "Do you remember the hospital, Colton?" Sonja said. "Yes, mommy, I remember," he said. "That's where the angels sang to me."

When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren't expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed--a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy's trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery-and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, "Heaven Is for Real" offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

"Heaven Is for Real" will forever change the way you think of eternity, offering the chance to see, and believe, like a child.

My Thoughts: This book was amazing! The author, a pastor and Colton's father, shares with us his son's amazing journey to Heaven and back. This book doesn't feel preachy or judgmental. Instead, I got a very good sense of the fear and anxiety any parent would feel over their child's serious illness and their frustration at not being able to fix it.

I appreciated Todd Burpo's open and frank retelling of his frustration leading to getting angry at God and yelling at God. We can all relate to him feeling this way as we all tend to want to lash out our anger during situations we cannot control. I felt a lot of empathy for the Burpo family after the numerous medical challenges Todd had already faced, they now had to face the very scary fear that their only son could die.

The feelings of empathy turned to feelings of amazement when Colton makes a miraculous recovery, though his family still does not know the extent of what Colton went through, beyond the medical procedures. It isn't until on a family trip several months later that Colton begins to share with his family the extraordinary experience he had when he went to Heaven, met Jesus, met God, met his great-grandfather who passed away before he was born, met his sister who had been miscarried before Colton was born and even sees Satan. Colton relays these occurrences to his shocked family in a very innocent and guileless matter-of-fact manner only a child could convey.

My favorite passage in the book is when Colton is telling his parents that Jesus asked the angels to sing to him because he was scared and his father asks him what the angels sang to him.

Colton turned his eyes up and to the right, the attitude of remembering. "Well, they sang 'Jesus Loves Me' and 'Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho,'" he said earnestly. "I asked them to sing 'We Will, We Will Rock You,' but they wouldn't sing that."

Colton is a brave little boy who touched my heart and will touch yours. His faith and belief is awe inspiring in it's sweet innocence that reminds us to shed our adult cynical thinking and embrace our beliefs with a child-like joy and abandon.

REVIEW: When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck

Title: When Blood Calls (The Shadow Keepers, #1)
Author: J.K. Beck
Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: August, 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating: 9/10

Description: Attorney Sara Constantine is thrilled with her promotion—until she finds out that she must now prosecute vampires and werewolves. The first defendant she’ll be trying to put away? Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius kisses a beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s hoping only to avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss ignites into an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows that Sara is determined to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not a monster. And that might mean making the ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts: When Blood Calls is the first book in The Shadow Keepers series. This is a little bit darker than what fans of Julie Kenner have come to expect, but writing as J.K. Beck introduces us not only to a more dark side of one of my favorite authors, but also a start to a paranormal series that is more sinister than what I've read before.

I loved the world J.K. Beck creates that Sara Constantine finds herself a part of with her promotion. She will continue to prosecute villains but now those villains are of the paranormal variety. Her first case involves a man she had a one night stand with and with whom she can't stop thinking about. She had no idea he was a vampire who is facing a death sentence for brutally murdering a judge. I thought it was interesting how quickly Sara adjusted to her surroundings, which include not only vampires, but werewolves, trolls, goblins and demons. She is in an unusual predicament when she comes face to face with her first defendant and realizes she already knows him intimately. She quickly decides that she will remain true to herself and seek justice no matter her feelings and even when things get pretty intense between Sara and Lucius, she still wants to fight for justice.

I found Lucius to be a very compelling character. I enjoy reading a book where the hero and heroine are not perfect or are flawed in some way. Lucius is as flawed as a soul can get. He's a vampire and he has murdered and he makes no apologies for it. He's grieving the loss of his daughter centuries ago and is very protective of his ward, Tasha. He finds himself feeling connected to Sara, experiencing emotions he hasn't allowed himself to feel for a very long time.

There are several secondary characters that were introduced that I'm highly curious about and hoping to see in the rest of the series. The best thing about this book for me was that this story isn't predictable in the slightest. I thought I had a pretty good idea what was going on and felt confident with what I believed would happen next and as quick as I turned a page, the story shifts and knocks me over!

Overall, this is a very good start to a series that brings a different twist on the paranormal world. Interesting characters combined with some pretty hot romance and an intriguing story will fit the bill for most any reading preference. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

REVIEW: You Don't Know Jack by Erin McCarthy

Title: You Don't Know Jack (NY Girlfriends #2)
Author: Erin McCarthy
Publisher: Brava
Publication Date: October, 2006
Genre: Chick-Lit
Rating: 9/10

Description: Love. Sex. Destiny. And A Six-Foot-Four Psychic In A Bridesmaid’s Dress? Honey, You Don’t Know Jack

Jamie Peters no longer believes in true love. True idiots, true scumbags, true moochers—these she believes in wholeheartedly, and she’s got the checkered dating history to prove it. So she’s more than a little skeptical when her cross-dressing psychic tells her she’s about to meet her soul mate—during an accident. Yeah, sounds about right. And then it happens. A knight in shining armor steps between her and a mugger on a subway platform. Just a regular, honest, upright Jack. The kind they don’t make anymore…

Jonathon Davidson doesn't believe in destiny—or lying to beautiful women as a rule. But now that Jamie thinks he’s just an ordinary guy, how can he possibly tell her that he’s really, (A) her roommate’s brother, (B) a millionaire to boot, and (C) the jerk who’s investigating her application to his grandfather’s charitable trust because she may be involved in something illegal? Yeah, rhetorical question. He can’t. Not until he knows what’s going on. Besides, it would require being able to resist Jamie’s luscious curves long enough to say, “Hi, my name is Big Liar. Let’s get naked.” Sometimes, destiny sucks…

Somewhere between truth and flat-out-let’s-talk-about-this-waaay-later fiction, between fate and delicious accidental insanity, lies a whole lot of mind-blowing sex, delirious passion, unfortunate sundresses, fighting, deception, big mistakes and small hopes, and two people are about to discover that everything happens for a reason…

My Thoughts: You Don't Know Jack is the second book in the NY Girlfriends series by Erin McCarthy. I read the first book, The Pregnancy Test, almost five years ago and just found it to be OK. Not terrible, but definitely not great. Fortunately, this second book more than makes up for where the first book lacked. It had humor and was filled with some of the most hot and spicy sex scenes I have read in a long time. Some readers may even categorize this as erotica.

I loved these characters. Jamie and Jack make the perfect couple even though they are complete polar opposites. Jamie is a working class girl living in New York City with three roommates to make ends meet. She's a social worker who is helping paroled convicts re-enter the world as free men. She doesn't believe in the happily ever after fairy tale or in love. I thought Jamie's cynical nature would annoy me after a while, but it never did. Jamie lives by an unusual code of ethics and, up until she meets Jack, it has worked for her.

Normally, a man who lies to a woman from the start can't ever be trusted and I applaud the woman who tells these types of men where to go. Unfortunately, Jack isn't truthful with Jamie when they meet. He lies about the circumstances that have placed him on the subway she is on. He keeps his true identity to himself as he knows that Jamie would probably avoid him if she knew because a): he's her roommate, Caroline's brother, and b): he has a lot of money. We're talking about an obscene amount. He comes from money anyway, but we're talking about the kind of money that enables someone to officially retire from the corporate Wall Street career before turning thirty. This is definitely not the kind of lifestyle Jamie lives in or feels comfortable in. Last, but not least, Jack knows that Jamie would have a problem knowing who he really is because he just turned down her employer's request for funding and if she knew he suspected her of embezzling money, she might not react with sunshine and daisies. I totally understand why Jack keeps the truth from Jamie, but it still doesn't make it right and, of course, Jamie finds out and it doesn't look good for them to make a go of it.

The great thing about Jack is that even though he is mega rich, he's very likable, down to earth and very persistent. Jamie finds it extremely difficult to stay angry at him and not like him. In addition, he makes her feel things she has never felt before with any other man. Several times while reading this book, I wished I were Jamie.

My only very small problem with this book was the story left a lot of loose ends that leaves the reader hanging. I had a lot of "what about" questions at the end about Austin, Jack's grandfather, Jamie's father, Jamie's roommates, Caroline, Allison and Mandy. If you are like me when reading a book, specifically a book that is part of a series, you want those loose ends tied up, especially if those loose ends will have no relevance to the rest of the series. Unfortunately, I am unable to determine if there are anymore books in this series.

Even still, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Jamie and Jack and highly recommend this book if you like smexy (smutty and sexy) hot love scenes and some hilarity to go with it.

Honorable Mentions of 2012

For the books that didn't make the top reads list for the year, I want to give an honorable mention to the titles I read in 2012 that didn't make the cut for the best but were still very good reads and highly recommended:

Still Life by Joy Fielding
Seattle Girl by Lucy Kevin
Awakening by Scarlett Valentine
Beach Road by James Patterson
Murder Your Darlings by J.J. Murphy
Millie's Fling by Jill Mansell
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
Girl's Guide To Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky
Reality Chick by Lauren Barnholdt
Driving Sideways by Jess Riley
A Piece Of My Heart by Kemberlee Shortland
Killer Summer by Lynda Curnyn
The 9th Judgment by James Patterson
Pretty In Plaid by Jen Lancaster
Vamps And The City by Kerrelyn Sparks
Perfect On Paper by Patty Froese

2012 Reading Review

Another year has come and gone and the best part of the reading year is upon me as I get to look back and evaluate what I read and how my stats measured up. I am happy to report that 2012 found me reading more and giving up on less books than I did in 2011.  I read 46 books and gave up on 3.  My goal was to read 55 books in 2012 and I reached 89% of my goal.

Goal for 2013:  50 books

The biggest change to my reading tastes in 2012 was the addition of Christian fiction and Inspirational romance and the drastic drop in Young Adult.  Historical romance, Romantic Suspense and Memoirs also made an appearance back into my reading year.  I chose to classify the historical romance as I did instead of Erotica because of the time period and setting.  The romance also felt like the primary story instead of just sex, which is how I articulate what the Erotica genre primarily focuses on.   The In Death series by J.D. Robb dominated my reading in 2012 over any other series, which does not surprise me. 

The interesting part of 2012 was the arrival of so many new to me authors than in years past.  In comparison to 2011, Mystery / Suspense / Thriller rose by more than half.  Chick-Lit was slightly down, Cozy Mystery and Paranormal Romance dropped by half.  Contemporary Romance and Other Fiction remained the same. Young Adult is a hard one this year.  The titles I read could also be classified under Chick-Lit and Paranormal Romance, but the protagonists in the stories were young adult so that’s how I classified them.  Unfortunately, Young Adult dropped 84% for me this year.  Here's how 2012 stacked up:

Chick-Lit: 7

Christian Fiction: 1

Contemporary Romance: 3
Cozy Mystery: 2

Historical Romance: 1

Inspirational Romance: 1

Memoir / Biography: 2
Mystery / Suspense / Thriller: 17
Paranormal Romance: 6

Romantic Suspense: 2

Urban Fantasy: 3

Young Adult: 2
Other Fiction / Literature: 2

A big shout out to the authors who were new to me and the authors that made multiple appearances in my reading year:

New To Me Authors In 2012

Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Lauren Barnholdt

Sarah Rees Brennan

Elizabeth Delisi

Rachel Firasek

Gillian Flynn

Patty Froese

Ian Fox

Michele Hauf

Lucy Kevin

Mindy Klasky

Justine Larbalestier

H.P. Mallory

Jill Mansell

Anne Marsh

Stephanie McAfee

Andrew Morton

J.J. Murphy

Ariella Papa

Jesse Petersen

Jennifer Rardin

Jess Riley

Kemberlee Shortland

Sean Slater

Garth Stein

Scarlett Valentine

Wm. Paul Young

Authors Read Multiple Times In 2012

James Patterson

J.D. Robb

Karen Rose

Kemberlee Shortland

My selection for the best reads of 2012 in the order they were read are:

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

William and Catherine: A Royal Wedding by Andrew Morton

The Survivor by Sean Slater

Married With Zombies by Jesse Petersen

Fantasy In Death by J.D. Robb

Indulgence In Death by J.D. Robb

Possession In Death by J.D. Robb

Count To Ten by Karen Rose

This Side Of The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Treachery In Death by J.D. Robb

New York To Dallas by J.D. Robb

The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein

Chaos In Death by J.D. Robb

Rhythm Of My Heart by Kemberlee Shortland

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison

Die For Me by Karen Rose

Celebrity In Death by J.D. Robb

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

Here's hoping 2013 will be a more productive year!