ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN BY WOODWARD AND BERNSTEIN

This is not the first time I have read ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN BY WOODWARD & BERNSTEIN and it probably wont be the last,but it is the first time I've done a review of it.  Each time I read this book I keep telling myself that this is history not historical fiction.  It READS like fiction. Where else could it come from I ask myself if not fiction but folks IT'S REAL, IT HAPPENED !

We do not see this kind of reporting anymore , journalists hell bent on finding out the TRUTH is as dead as Jacob Marley! Nowadays  its reporters reading from a script.

 Woodward & Bernstein started out doing their job,reporting on a burglary of the Democratic Headquarters in Watergate Apartments and ended up exposing the corruption of our government and the President at the time Richard Nixon.

An excellent example of what real journalism should be & an example of the corruption of government that STILL exists even today!

DYING ART

DYING ART BY SHIRLEY WELLS is what I call an easy mystery.  The start of the book is really SLOW to say the least. By halfway thru I had guessed the who done it.  Granted this is the first book of the series I have read so maybe I needed to read others before really appreciating DYING ART.

I received this book thru goodreads in exchange for a review.

HELP ME! MY GUIDE TO THE IPAD AIR2 BY CHARLES HUGHES

I bought this book HELP ME! MY GUIDE TO THE IPAD AIR 2 BY CHARLES HUGHES because I just DID buy a new ipad air 2 and wanted some guidance on the newer version of ipad.  I was rather disappointed in it.  This book was more welcome to the Ipad book not anything new that I did not know having the first generation of Ipad.  In other words this book is ok if you have never owned an Ipad but if you have its pretty much the same information .

SANCTUARY BAY BY LAURA J BURNERS AND MELINDA METZ

Sarah Merson doesnt know why she was chosen to be a student at Sanctuary Bay.  She is bright but  not gifted,she's a trouble maker(so her teachers say) & she's an orphan,not from a wealthy home.So why does the school ask her to come free of charge ?  Why are students disappearing during the night and what is really going on at SANCTUARY BAY?

Truly excellent! I am NOT a YA but I still enjoyed SANCTUARY BAN BY LAURA J BURNS.  The book is fast paced the characters could be real.  I found myself reading fast so I could keep up with the action.  Incredible plot and a conclusion that I did not see coming!
i received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

THE CONSULTANT BY BENTLEY LITTLE

EXCELLENT! BENTLEY LITTLE AT HIS BEST!

I have read ALL of Mr.Littles books and have come to the conclusion that the man is beyond WEIRD! Thus describes his latest book, THE CONSULTANT.  A fast and strange read by a very strange man!

CompWare computer software is in deep trouble both financially and morally , and the only one who sees what's going on is Craig Horne.
CompWare has hired a consultant to evaluate and make recommendations on how to restructure the company, or so the Board of Directors and the employees thought.  From the moment Mr. Patoff appears things start going weird.  People are dying, and no one really knows who or what Mr. Patoff is but they know its bad news!

If you are really into the world of strange, this book is a must read.  It rated about a 20 on my weird o meter!

TRICKY TWENTY TWO BY JANET EVANOVICH

TRICKY TWENTY TWO BY JANET EVANOVICH is another in the Stephanie Plum series.  I know some people are REALLY tired of Stephanie and the gang but believe me they are a whole lot cheaper and safer than psych meds! I can still find myself laughing at Stephanie & Lulu's antics which is a great stress reliever and mood alterer.

In Tricky Twenty two, Morelli dumps Stephanie(she's depressed and has a big zit because of it) Steph's cars blow up she hunts the bad guys, eats lots of donuts and is still very attracted to Ranger (who isnt?)

BAKING WITH THE BRASS SISTERS:OVER 125 RECIPES FOR CLASSIC CAKES,PIES COOKIES,BREADS DESSERTS AND SAVORIES FROM AMERICA'S FAVORITE HOME BAKERS BY MARILYNN & SHEILA BRASS

BAKING WITH THE BRASS SISTERS:OVER 125 RECIPES FOR CLASSIC CAKES,PIES COOKIES,BREADS DESSERTS AND SAVORIES FROM AMERICA'S FAVORITE HOME BAKERS BY MARILYNN & SHEILA BRASS

One does not read a cookbook,one browses and drools over cookbooks,this one is no exception.  Not only are you treated to some of the most wonderful recipes but the photos of the food made me want to bake up a storm. The book is very well put together. Not only do you get recipes but little sweet tips to help make baking a little more special. One of the first chapters of the book is HOW TO USE THIS BOOK. Useful tips prep ideas etc.  This one is well worth the cost of the book (Hardback so its going to last awhile)

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

THE TWO FAMILY HOUSE BY LYNDA COHEN LOIGMAN

THE TWO-FAMILY HOUSE BY LYNDA COHEN LOIGMAN is about two sister in laws Helen and Rose. Both live in the same house,one married to Abe the other married to Mort.  One has all daughters one has all sons.  Both end up pregnant at the same time, carry the babies at the same time and have the babies at the same time, and both have a secret.

The book progresses very quickly.  Solid real characters.  Everyday people everyday lives. I loved it.  So real so believable and an ending that may or may not surprise you.

I received this from goodreads in exchange for a review

BREAKOUT BY KEVIN SCOTT OLSON

BREAKOUT BY KEVIN SCOTT OLSON is a short story 35 pages.  It is 35 pages of high action! The pace of the story is fast,fast,fast & I truly wished it was a whole lot longer because I really was getting into this one!  Great plot but as I said before it could have been longer. If you like your books full of action,and danger BREAKOUT is for you.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

A REFUGE AT HIGHLAND HALL BY CARRIE TURNASKY

A REFUGE AT HIGHLAND HALL BY CARRIE TURANSKY is the only book I have read in the trilogy.  But it was easy to follow and could be a stand alone book.

Penny Ramsey is living with her sister and brother in law in London as the book opens.  Its 1915 and her sister and her husband have taken war orphans into their home and lives. At the beginning Penny meets and falls in love with the dashing Alex Goodwin, handsome and a pilot getting ready to fight Germans in the air.

The style and atmosphere of WWI comes out in Carrie's writing.  As a historical fiction junkie, I could see the grounds of Highland Hall as if I was there.  The people, the destruction and the lives of this fictional family came alive to me on the pages of A REFUGE AT HIGHLAND HALL.  Blended with Christian devotionals it was a breath of fresh air to me.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

NAME OF THE DEVIL BY ANDREW MAYNE

A page turner till the very end! NAME OF THE DEVIL BY ANDREW MAYNE starts out with a bang,literally!  The local church explodes right after the local sheriff murders all inside. Former magician now FBI agent Jessica Blackwood and her partner try to put the pieces together and comes up with murder.

Page after page the plot twists and turns.  You never know whats going to happen in the next chapter and cant wait to find out!  This is the first of Andrew Mayne's books I've read and wont be the last. The characters and the plots keep you guessing about what's going to happen to the very end.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S SECRET SIX:THE SPY RING THAT SAVED AMERICAN REVOLUTION BY BRYAN KILMEADE/DON YAEGER

First off,this review is not about the author Brian Kilmeade who is a Fox News person. In other words,I am critiquing the Book NOT the author as so many try to do.

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S SECRET SIX:THE SPY RING THAT SAVED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION should be placed into the category of historical fiction.  Yes, at the beginning and the end it says the author researched the book for years & this is an assumption of conversations.  We do NOT know the exact conversations of the people who made up the Culpers ring nor we will probably never will know but I did learn that there were men and yes a woman who risked their very lives to help win Freedom of this country and their story should be told and it was and so it is.  If you are a history junky like I am,whether you like the author or not I recommend reading this book.  It will give you an insight in how our country was won,not by guns but by spies and intelligence.  We may not like spies,but it was & is their bravery that has saved this country.

MIRACLES AND CONUNDRUMS OF THE SECONDARY PLANETS BY JACOB M APPEL

MIRACLES AND CONUNDRUMS OF THE SECONDARY PLANETS BY JACOB M APPEL is the second book of short stories I've read from this author.  I have enjoyed this one even more than the first of his works.

 In the book of short stories you meet an alien who has opened a Latvian restaurant in Birmingham Alabama and falls in love, a mother who knows her daughter is dying, as well as a multitude of characters. The topics range from abortion to cancer but awesome just the same.

  I have come to seek out Mr. Appel's work because I know that he writes a good story and touches the reader with everyone of them.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

A IS FOR ARSENIC THE POISONS OF AGATHA CHRISTIE BY KATHERYN HARKUP

If you are a huge Agatha Christie fan this is the perfect book for your collection.  I have loved Agatha Christie mysteries for many moons and A I IS FOR ARSENIC THE POISONS OF AGATHA CHRISTIE BY KATHRYN HARKUP is a great addition to my collection.  It takes every poison Christie used ( and she used plenty. It was her favorite method of killing) and not only gives you the run down on the poison but the novel or short story it was used in.  Dont miss this one.  Its more of a reference book but as a Christie fan you will enjoy, I did

KILLING LINCOLN:THE SHOCKING ASSASSINATION THAT CHANGED AMERICA FOREVER BY BILL O'REILLY

KILLING LINCOLN:THE SHOCKING ASSASSINATION THAT CHANGED AMERICA FOREVER BY BILL O'REILLY takes the reader back over 150 years to be a witness to the last six weeks of Abraham Lincoln's life.  Tired and numb with the burden of Civil War and knowing that he's a target anytime anywhere we get to live that time, that life and the lives of the people who shaped our United States of America. Whether you liked Lincoln or like the author Bill O'Reilly this book opens readers to the Lincoln we thought we knew, General Grant, slothenly dressed, General Lee always impeccably dressed and of course John Wilkes Booth the arrogant, handsome actor who will go down in history as Lincoln's assassin.  As a lover of history I myself even learned some new facts from this book.  Dont NOT read it because you dont like the author, you will be doing yourself a disservice.  Read it because it is a fine work of Historical Fiction/Fact.  You will be glad you did.

OBSESSION IN DEATH BY JD ROBB

LT Eve Dallas has stood for victims countless times,but this time is different.  This time the murders are being committed by someone who kills for her! An obsessed person is killing people who have "wronged" Eve and now she has to stand for them by finding who is doing it before they decide to start killing her family and friends.  The IN DEATH series by J.D Robb has been a favorite of mine for years and OBSESSION IN DEATH is no different.  As always MS ROBB (aka Nora Roberts) has given the reader a tight plot with great characters we all know and love (esp the handsome Roarke!) and put Eve and her team in the middle of a strange situation where Eve is the key  & the answer to the solution !

THE BAZAAR OF BAD DREAMS BY STEPHEN KING

STEPHEN KINGS THE BAZAAR OF BAD DREAMS is more than excellent!  I am a professed Stephen King fan from many many moons  & this book is the epitome of Stephen King:  STRANGE, WEIRD, AND REALLY AND 100 % BAZAAR! Not since NIGHT SHIFT has Stephen King come out of a book of stories straight out of the realm of weird!  Some of the stories are repeats (UR) for instance but have been re written.  Some are new and gave me bad dreams!  Plain and simple folks:  Dont miss THE BAZAAR OF BAD DREAMS BY STEPHEN KING!

A LAND DIVIDED BY K.M. ASHMAN

A LAND DIVIDED BY K.M. ASHMAN is a historical novel set in the 11th century.  As a historical novel I found it slow to start but once it got a bit of momentum it was really good.  The book doesn't hold punches in the description of the bloody times. Each king fighting for not only his territory, his castle his lands but his very life and the lives of his family and the people of the village that he rules.  Good character and plot structure I found myself transported back in time to a very brutal age and really loved it! As a historical fiction junkie I really got into the book.

I received the book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

ATLAS DIED BY MICHELLE N ONUORAH

ATLAS DIED BY MICHELLE N ONUORAH is a dystopian novel set in 2628 USA. Its a USA that we would not recognize, or would we?  All rights are abolished and minor infractions could mean being shot or sent to the Gauntlet to die.  Freedom of speech freedom of assembly freedom of religion are gone.  You either are the rich wealthy living on Atlas or you work for them working in the poorer sections of the USA. Police protect the wealthy no one else.  You, unless wealthy are forced to eat genetically modified food and paid meager wages to support the wealth.  One man Decker Channing knows this is not how the US is supposed to be because he reads history.  And after getting fired as a Police officer he's mad enough to say the time has come to change the USA back to what its supposed to be.

I found this book very dark vision of the country we ALL love & found it amazingly scary as to what possibilities our country COULD come to. I have never read any of this authors books but I think I need to start searching for more of them. My husband called it 1984 on steroids!

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

DEAD WOODS BY MARIA POETS

EXCELLENT read!  This is a must for anyone who loves a mystery that starts out blasting you on the first page!  DEAD WOODS BY MARIA C POETS starts out with the murder of a software designer. Simple right? Wrong!  The book takes twists and turns and runs circles around you.  The characters especially the Major Crimes Division  are real.  We have Lina who's 5 foot 4 a bit of a slob who the only way to get moving is to have her first cup of coffee. Then there's her partner Max who is neat as a pin and drinks OJ. They may be opposite but they are one when it comes to investigating murder.  I usually have trouble keeping up with mysteries not set in the US but this one no problem at all.  The story is well written and executed and to me it does not matter where it is set its a winner.  I look forward to reading more of MS Poets mysteries down the road.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

HOW TO INSTANTLY SIZE-UP STRANGERS LIKE SHERLOCK HOLMES BY MARK A WILLIAMS SR

As a HUGE longtime fan of Sherlock Holmes I can truthfully say I loved the book HOW TO INSTANTLY SIZE UP STRANGERS LIKE SHERLOCK HOLMES BY MAR A WILLIAMS SR.  The author took apart piece by piece the "methods" Mr Holmes used to find out the bad guys.  What amused me was they arent rocket science folks!  Just simple observation and listening skills. In the book he referenced Holmes books when trying to make a point or example.  At the last section of the book he challenges you to test your new found knowledge. Reading the book made me want to drag my Sherlock Holmes books to reread and test my new skills!

I received the book from goodreads in exchange for a review

SHADY CROSS BY JAMES HANKINS

SHADY CROSS BY JAMES HANKINS is not what I'd call a typical book. Our main character Stokes has just been released from jail after being questioned about a robbery and assault.  Stokes, rolls a drunk for his cash, a mere pittance & ends up with three hundred thousand in a duffle bag and a cell phone with a voice of a little girl on the other end.  I kept thinking while I read this book that Stokes was the hero but no he's not really a hero just a two bit crook who finds himself in a situation of his own making.  But that did not stop me from page after page of Stokes getting into trouble getting out of trouble and then there's still the three hundred thousand and the little girl on the phone.  I could NOT put it down because I had to know....

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

THE VITAMIN SOLUTION:TWO DOCTORS CLEAR THE CONFUSION ABOUT VITAMINS AND YOUR HEALTH BY DR.ROMY BLOCK & DR ARIELLE LEVITAN

EXCELLENT!  THE VITAMIN SOLUTION:TWO DOCTORS CLEAR THE CONFUSION ABOUT VITAMINS AND YOUR HEALTH BY DR ROMY BLOCK & DR ARIELLE LEVITAN.  The book is clear, concise and to the point.  Vitamins are good for us but you just have to know which vitamins and in what doses.  The two authors do just that. They have taken some of the more "popular" reasons we need vitamins and give the reader an explanation & direction of how to utilize the vitamins without all the "doctor" speak.  They have succeeded in their goal to explain and clear up the confusion about vitamins and how they pertain to your health without boring the reader to death.  They not only give you advice on dosage, what the vitamins will help but will explain why too much of a good thing can be bad for you without preaching it to you.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

ALMOST HUMAN BY KENNETH DECROO

ALMOST HUMAN BY KENNETH L DECROO is a thriller to say the least, very creepy as well.The book starts in 1938 with a Russian ship in the middle of a hurricane, innocent enough, right?  NO,not by a longshot.  The shis is a scientific vessel with a disturbing cargo aboard.  I kept flipping the pages wondering to myself if the experiments with chimps and humans breeding could be true & what was the outcome of the experiments.  Travel with the characters from the US to a little island in the middle of nowhere to find out the creepy conclusion.

 The book is a mixture of Jurassic Park and Dr Moroe to end up with a thriller that will keep you glued to the pages till the very conclusion.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

HOSTILE TAKEOVER BY SHANE KUHN

WOW! WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF A BOOK!  HOSTILE TAKEOVER BY SHANE KUHN is a blockbuster book.  John Lago our main character, along with his wife Alice are totally CRAZY!  Murder INC was Nothing compared to these two and the "business" they "took over"  I haven't laughed this much in ages!  I have never read the first book THE INTERN but I can see it in my future.  I should have known what I was getting into when I read the letter from Simon and Schuster & the back of the book.  You cant miss this one if you love your characters real. They drink they cuss sex is in there somewhere but they also shoot to kill. And the ending will have you all cheering for Lago, his wife and his whole team! Not very often that I root for the bad guys but this book you really cant help it. HOSTILE TAKEOVER is a run dont walk to your nearest bookstore book!

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

FROM AWAY BY DEKE MACKEY JR

FROM AWAY BY DEKE MACKEY JR is part ONE of what the author describes as a series of seven books. Part one starts us on our strange journey to Mossley Island where the people do NOT want outsiders.  It starts out slowly,so fair warning would be readers but picks up speed to a pace that I did NOT want to put the book down & kept thinking about it thru the day when I could. I all honesty I was ready after the first chapter to put it aside but couldn't and I'm glad I didn't,so be warned, have patience with FROM AWAY but definitely read it.  I cant wait to see what secrets, lies & treachery come up in the next of the series. In other words I'M HOOKED ON FROM AWAY!

  Mr. Mackey sent me an email asking me to read this and described the book as 'WEIRD FICTION"  Well folks, that ain't a lie,weird fiction it is!

If Mr Mackey keeps up his pace with writing I think we are seeing a new thriller writer coming into our midst & I am happy to be able to put his books on my "must get" list!
'

I received this book from the author in exchange for a review.

PS: Mr Mackey, the NUNS ARE CREEPING ME OUT!

DJ

THE MARTIAN BY ANDY WEIR

I saw the trailer for the movie and I HAD to read the book! As a rule, I never buy a book based on a 30 second trailer on TV but I did for THE MARTIAN BY ANDY WEIR.  You cant help but root for Mark Watney. Yes,the way the book is set up is kind of bloggy but hey I couldnt quit reading.  I wanted Watney to get back home and I wont tell you if he succeeded .  I was a little disappointed with the structure of the book with the bloggy dialogue but the plot made up for that.  Next up, the movie!  As for the book read it without the bloggy dialogue just read it as you would any book and will enjoy it.

LITTLE WOMAN IN BLUE BY JEANNINE ATKINS

What girl didnt read LITTLE WOMEN? I,of course did.  LITTLE WOMAN IN BLUE BY JEANNINE ATKINS takes the reader back to the family of LITTLE WOMEN but this time we get to mainly focus on May Alcott,lesser known sister of Louisa. Abigail May Alcott has wanted to be her own person not just the sister of Louisa Alcott. Now,thanks to the author, May gets her chance to shine.  Its not an easy road for her but she is determined to succeed at what she loves,painting.

I fell in love with the LITTLE WOMEN characters again.  In LITTLE WOMAN IN BLUE, we see the family we have grown to love in Louisa Alcott's stories but this time its May that gets to shine.

i received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

G0LDY'S KITCHEN COOKBOOK:COOKING,WRITING,FAMILY, LIFE BY DIANE MOTT DAVIDSON

I am a HUGE fan of Goldy Schultz mysteries!  Short of a new Goldy mystery this is the perfect next best thing.  GOLDY'S KITCHEN COOKBOOK: COOKING,WRITING,FAMILY & LIFE BY DIANE MOTT DAVIDSON was not a difficult read because it is loaded with recipes that have made mine and other Goldy mystery fans mouths water!  Not only do we get great recipes but little tidbits from Diane Mott Davidson as well.  I love the way this is set up.  You get the recipes from the mystery books complete with notations of which book they come from as well as some history and life of the author,which gives fans an insight on how she created Goldy & John Korman. Diane Mott Davidson doesnt just write a bunch of recipes she is telling us about the recipes,how they came to be and how she has modified them to perfection.  The writing of this "cookbook" is like a bunch of friends sitting around with cookies and a drink swapping gossip and recipes.To me, its just a down home type of book which I enjoyed very much.  Read it as a book not a cookbook,I did and enjoyed it immensely

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

DO NOT ASSUME BY ELAINE WILLIAM CROCKETT

The saying that politics makes the strangest bedfellows. In DO NOT ASSUME BY ELAINE WILLIAM CROCKETT it should be politics makes the DEADLIEST bedfellows!  The book starts out with a rifle shot and a dead Senator.  From there it takes us into the fast belt way track complete with murder, blackmail, sex, infidelity, and a judge who is trying to put all the sordid pieces together to find out who murdered an innocent young girl and why. This is a fast paced mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep your mind off center.  A great main character with potential of a character to find plenty of trouble to get into.  I really hope to read more from this author in the future and I HIGHLY recommend DO NOT ASSUME.  Run dont walk to nearest book store for this one, you wont be sorry!

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

DOODLERS ANONYMOUS EPIC COLORING BOOK BY RONY TAKO

FIRST,I need to confess, I did NOT READ the book DOODLERS ANONYMOUS EPIC COLORING BOOK BY RONY TAKO because you CANT read a coloring book.  There, that's out of the way. I have been an "adult" coloring person for only a few months. But I enjoy that time,no matter how small to take a break away from business and let my imagination go.  This book is wonderful for me. I have flipped thru the pages and there are great challenges here for me.  You can use markers,gel pens or colored pencils, pick your medium and have at it.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

LIES RIPPED OPEN BY STEVE MCHUGH

I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THIS! This is my first book of the author STEVE MCHUGH and the first time I have read the series THE HELLEQUIN CHRONICLES and WOW WOW WOW!!  The characters are fresh, real(well maybe not real! I mean Remy the fox/human hybrid...) but I love them.  Just when you think Nate and his friends are out of trouble, bam,a griffin a troll or a sorcerer or worst yet Merlin pops in and they are bruised and bloodied again.  I HIGHLY recommend LIES RIPPED OPEN BY STEVE MCHUGH!  I have finished the second book and want MORE! I had so much fun with this book, I didnt want it to end. But alas it did!


I received this book from goodreads ( and I am more than happy) in exchange for a review.

THE DEHYDRATOR BIBLE

Are you a newbie to the land of dehydrating food?  I am and believe me book THE DEHYDRATOR BIBLE BY JENNIFER MACKENZIE has been sitting right next to my dehydrator!  Not only does the book give you dehydrating tips but great recipes for your dehydrated foods.A MUST FOR YOUR KITCHEN COLLECTION BOOKS!

GRENDELS GAME BY ERIK MAURITZSON

GRENDELS GAME BY ERIK MAURITZSON is a fast paced, mystery with characters that are as real as today's news.  Finding a police detective in today's books who are " real" is getting harder to find but Mauritzson has done it.  What I loved about Superintendent Ekman is he's overweight, loves to eat,has a passion for needlepoint and good food,but also he's in love with his wife and family and they love him as well.  The plot of the book kept me flipping pages and even when the ending came I was still guessing as to who dun it! Great read and I hope to be able to read more of Mauritzsons  work.

I received this book from good reads in exchange for a review.

THE WIKILEAKS FILES THE WORLD ACCORDING TO US EMPIRE BY JULIAN ASSANGE

THE WIKILEAKS FILES: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO US EMPIRE BY JULIAN ASSANGE was to me a very difficult book to read. In my humble opinion it was loaded with too many facts your head starts swimming,so I took a different approach to the book.I went to the index in the back of the book picked a topic and then went and read the pages noted.  To me it was the easiest way to absorb the facts in the book.  With no thought to political correctness Assange has used this book and the information he acquired, to tell the public about the US foreign policies. Not favoring a specific era ( or president) he laid it all out in one fell swoop.

ALTERED CARBON BY RICHARD K MORGAN

ALTERED CARBON BY RICHARD K.MORGAN is one of those books with a main character who you either like alot or really hate!  This review is not of my first read of it but a re read of several times.  I find the character brash, rude, gruff & very unlikable to the "people" around him.  He has been re-sleeved (no one dies unless you are a Catholic or are "erased") in this timeline,to find out the facts of the death of a very very wealthy & technically old man named Laurens Bancroft.  His money buys everything,including immortality, and when his latest body(sleeve) turns up dead its up to our main character Takesi Kovvacs to find out if it was murder, suicide or something else. Set in 25th century Earth you will find either you like Takesi or hate his guts!

HOYLE'S RULES OF GAMES BY ALBERT MOREHEAD

If you want to play card games you pick up a deck of Hoyle or Bicycle cards. If you want to learn about card games you go to the expert: HOYLE's RULES OF GAMES BY ALBERT MOREHEAD.  I love solitaire! I play every day but I wanted to learn more versions than the standard of Solitaire & Spider so I went to the expert, well the expert is dead,but I went to the next best thing,this book.  Not only does it give you instructions on card games but games of the retro group including Cribbage, Chess,etc. Dont miss this great reference book.

DEMON IN THE WINDOW BY J SWANN

DEMON IN THE WINDOW BY J SWANN takes the battle of good and evil to a whole new level.  From the beginning pages of the book I was HOOKED!  The author takes the character Jericho and starts the reader out very slowly. Jericho young innocent playing war with his toys, washing up for dinner, loving his mom & BOOM, shatters that reality into a million pieces right before Jericho's and the readers eyes.  This one is a MUST READ!

I received this book from goodreads free in exchange for a review

500 CROCHET STITCHES THE ULTIMATE CROCHET STITCH BIBLE BY ERIKA KNIGHT

BEAUTIFUL!  500 CROCHET STITCHES THE ULTIMATE CROCHET STITCH BIBLE BY ERIKA KNIGHT is the perfect book for anyone from beginner to expert crocheters.  I am a beginner crocheter so this is especially helpful to me.  It gives you the how to's of crochet then in the later part of the book it puts it altogether with very beautiful blocks.  This book would not only be a great addition to a crafter's library but an excellent gift for any occasion.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY RESPONSE HANDBOOK BY SCOTT FINAZZO

Great book. Chocked full of useful information & well written by SCOTT FINAZZO a firefighter who has seen it all.  Short and to the point, the author takes potential neighborhood disasters from fire to civil unrest and tells you in very precise but easy to understand instructions on what to do, how to react, what you need to prepare yourself and your family (do you have a meeting place in case of tornado or fire?) I learned in this book how to shut off my gas meter(up until I read this I didnt have a clue on WHERE  my gas meter was, I had to ask my husband),where I need to meet my family in case my home is destroyed,what I need to have in case of an emergency.

I HIGHLY recommend this not only to parents but teens, tweens and ANYONE!

 This book would make a great teaching aid at junior high and high schools & adult classes.

TWICE IN A LIFETIME BY DOROTHY GARLOCK

TWICE IN A LIFETIME is NOT my first DOROTHY GARLOCK novel and it wont be my last.  TWICE IN A LIFETIME introduces us to Clara Sinclair. Wife, mother, daughter. Its 1945 and Clara's husband is a soldier in WWII.  Then the worst day of her life happens. Any mother, wife or family member of a soldier knows that black car, and the two men in it: a Priest and a Military member. Clara's husband is dead & Clara is left to raise her son by herself.  Fast forward to 1954 & Clara's trying to keep her head above water, her son is in jail & she has no clue what the future holds.

And that's all the farther I'm going.

Read this book. Its a romance, a historical fiction & a little suspense all tossed into a great read.  The setting is written so well I actually felt like I was there & the characters are real.This one will definitely be a re read

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

THE PRESIDENTS SHADOW BY BRAD MELTZER

RUN do not Walk to your nearest bookstore for THE PRESIDENT'S SHADOW BY BRAD MELTZER.  This cat and mouse thriller kept me turning pages well into the midnight hour!  Just when I thought I had a handle on the ending, the plot twisted and twisted again.  You will ask yourself who is friend and who is foe in the book.  This is the first book of Meltzers I have read and wont be the last.

I received this book from librarythings in exchange for a review.

LORD OF THE WINGS BY DONNA ANDREWS

Cozy mystery? Yup! Chic Lit? Yup! But the first time I picked up one of Donna Andrews Meg Langslow mysteries I was hooked and LORD OF THE WINGS is no different.  Meg is once again mixed up in murder and mayhem. Armed with her notebook that tells her when to breath & her wacky family she up to her trick or treat in murder.  I can always count on Meg and her family to lift my spirits with a laugh or two and provide me with a mystery to solve.

WAR AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD: TWILIGHT EMPIRE BY IAN JAMES ROSS

LOVED every page of WAR AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD:TWILIGHT EMPIRE BY IAN JAMES ROSS.  I got to step back in time starting in AD 298 and follow the then a very young Roman soldier by the name of AURELIUS CASTUS has fought and helped win a battle against a savage tribe.  We then are able to follow Castus's life as first a Roman soldier then prisoner then, well I guess you best read the book to find out what!

I found myself emerged in the plot as the passage of time in the book moved page after page after page.  Mr Ross has taken a period in our world history and teleported us to that time and place to read the events as they unfolded.  I loved it and if you are a historical fiction fan like I am this is the book for you.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review. and I am very very glad I did. This ones on my re read list.

BLACK EARTH: THE HOLOCAUST AS HISTORY AND A WARNING : TIMOTHY SNYDER

Fair warning folks, this one's a challenge to read.  MR SNYDER has gone VERY in depth on the Holocaust and its warning. I would categorize BLACK EARTH:THE HOLOCAUST AS HISTORY AND WARNING as a college level book,but that's just me.  The book itself, if you are patient is very well researched and presented.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

DREAMLESS BY JORGEN BREKKE

DREAMLESS BY JORGEN BREKKE is the first book I have read in this series but I know it wont be my last.  DREAMLESS is not only a first rate mystery but a first rate thriller to boot.  You never know where the author is going to take you in the plot and when he does it might not be where you want to go but its is a thrill ride to say the least.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

THE FIRST FAMILY DETAIL BY RONALD KESSLER

THE FIRST FAMILY DETAIL: is a MUST read book. Secret Service agents who are protecting presidents past and present give you an inside look at these first families lives. From Lyndon Johnson & his liaisons to Barak Obamas family  and Joseph Bidens nude swimming,  you will find out some of the skeletons hidden in the closets of very powerful people.  Want to know which president misplaced his nuke codes?  Which protectee was punishment for the agents & dislikes the military,( give you a hint, she's wanting to be President come 2016.) Read this one, shake your head and figure why some of these people should NEVER have held the office, or should be in such a position to hold office.  

GIRL AT WAR BY SARA NOVIC

MAGNIFICENT! STELLAR! MOVING!  These three words do NOT even come close to how I feel about SARA NOVIC'S GIRL AT WAR!  Ana the main character has touched my heart and soul.  GIRL AT WAR starts out in 1991 with the life of Ana a ten year old living Croatia.  Before she knows it here world is torn apart by the ravages and the horror of ethnic cleansing .  Everything Ana knows is gone.  Thanks to a couple of her parents friends she is able to illegally enter the US and is raised by adoptive parents.  The story then fast forwards to 2001 and Ana is twenty .

 Run ,do not walk to your local bookstore to find this treasure.  It is definitely worth at least one read thru.
I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.

VENDETTA: BOBBY KENNEDY VS JIMMY HOFFA BY JAMES NEFF

BRAVO!!  JAMES NEFF IN VANDETTA:BOBBY KENNEDY VS JIMMY HOFFA has taken pages out of history, known and unknown facts and put together a book that tells the tale of a Senator Bobby Kennedy going after one of the US most infamous figures and leader of the Teamsters Union  Jimmy Hoffa.  Hoffa and Kennedy square off in the 50's and 60s. This factual account of the war between the Kennedys and Hoffa is told brilliantly and without bias.  Just how far would the Kennedy's go to bring down Hoffa? Just far would Hoffa go to bring down the Kennedy's?  Read this book and find out.  In it you will also discover just how Hoover felt about the Kennedy's and vice versa.  It was a fantastic read & I recommend it to anyone who loves reading on Hoffa, the Kennedys' or just loves history.

SOMEONE LIKE HER BY SANDRA OWENS

This is the first of this series I have read by Sandra Owens,but the minute I picked up SOMEONE LIKE HER I knew I'd be looking for more from this author.  These are very strong main characters & especially love Maria who has the brains to be able to keep up with the K2 team members, especially her brother the leader of the K2 team. The fast pace of the book along with the strong characters make it a especially entertaining read.  If you like your sex scenes it has an abundance of that as well.  Spiced with a dash of suspense and a bit of action and mystery to it makes a good combo.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

GO SET A WATCHMAN BY HARPER LEE

First off: This is NOT TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD!  Second: If anyone has been following the pre release of GO SET A WATCHMAN you know that this book should have NEVER been published. And third: DO NOT criticize this book before you read it!

GO SET A WATCHMAN takes the people of Maycomb county and jumps them right into the middle of the civil rights era. Scout now a woman out on her own living in New York comes home for a visit.  Here she encounters Atticus & dozens of familiar faces & lives, all of them trying to deal with time, life and the Supreme Court decision on civil rights.  When reading GO SET A WATCHMAN, try to remember the atmosphere of the South after the courts decision.  Maycomb is no different and Scout is thrust into the middle of it.  She still sees Maycomb and Atticus and the residents as she did when she was younger when she ran the streets with Jem & Dill playing and getting into trouble.  That's her first mistake.  Like I said before, dont criticize it before you read it.  I was crying towards the end.  Its not TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD & it never will be, but I think as a first book of Harper Lee's it was a good read.

DOROTHY MUST DIE BY DANIELLE PAIGE

We ALL know the Wizard of OZ. Cute little Dorothy with her pig tails, dress and cute pup Toto,well folks this IS NOT the cute little story we've all grown up with. Its much better!!  Lets face it, Dorothy runs away from her loving Aunt Em & Uncle Henry now what good girl would do that? Toto who bites a little old woman who rides a bike for goodness sake!  Its no wonder when Dorothy decides to go back to OZ the first thing she does is drug the true leader of OZ, enslave the monkeys, munchkins and everyone else and then for good measure warps the Tin Man the cowardly lion and the Scarecrow . DOROTHY MUST DIE by Danielle Paige really and truly showed the readers what Dorothy really is: a mean person with a really BAD ATTITUDE! (not to mention more than a little warped in the head) I cant wait for the second in the series.

By the way, I NEVER trusted Glinda in the first place. In this book she's showing her TRUE self!

I want to thank Heyworth librarian Kathy for tossing this book on my checkout pile

THE WITCH OF LIME STREET: SEANCE SEDUCTION AND HOUDINI IN THE SPIRIT WORLD BY DAVID JAHER

 am a HUGE Houdini fan: always have and always been a fan.  My brother want to BE Houdini!  I learned more things about Houdini and Sir Author Colin Doyle in the book THE WITCH OF LIME STREET, Fair warning: the book is long and at times very deep in detail.  Some of the parts moved slower that others. it is more than obvious by the detail of the book and the sources the author noted that Mr Jaher has done a ton of research on this.  If you are a fan of Houdini as I am pick this book up.

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review

TALKER 25 BY JOSHUA MCCUNE

This is my first blog ever so please be patient. I will get better as I go along.


I just finished the book TALKER 25 by JOSHUA MCCUNE

Loved it!  If you are into the alternate reality genre full of dragons and really bad guys,then TALKER 25 is for you.  The plot and the characters are alive and living in Arlington VA in an alternate reality.  Or is it our future?

TALKER 25's main character Melissa is a teenager going to school and dealing with the death of her mother by the dragons.  Or was her mom killed by dragons?

 Melissa is the subject of a horrible prank that backfires and ends her up is some serious trouble. Trying to get out of trouble proves difficult as she digs herself deeper and deeper into trouble.

The book TALKER 25 will probably be found in the YA section of the bookstore but I can tell you now its been a long time since I saw YA and I still loved the book.  Cant wait for the next book in the series. I am HOOKED!

I received this book from goodreads in exchange for a review.


DJ