The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Amelia works as a restorer of cemeteries, but she is also an archeologist.  She can see the ghosts and knows there is a thin line between the living and the dead.  368 pages.

"The Proposal" by Mary Balogh

After being yelled at by the friend she's staying with, Gwendoline, Lady Muir, takes a long walk to clear her head.  She slips on her way up a hill and badly twists her ankle; she's not sure how she's going to make it back to town a mile away.  Major Hugo Emes, Lord Trentham, is staying with other former soldiers from the Napoleonic wars in the nearby estate when he sees Lady Muir fall.  Although he's now a lord, he's a middle class man who earned the title through heroic military actions, not family.  He takes her back to the estate where she must recuperate for a week.  Even though he has close friends from the aristocracy, he doesn't like most titled people and thinks they look down on him.  He tries hard not to like Lady Muir, a vibrant widow, but he's so drawn to her that he can't stay away.  Gwendoline also finds him attractive after getting used to his scowling and blunt manner.

Eventually, she goes back to London where she lives, and although he lives in the country, he goes to London for business reasons and to visit his half-sister and step-mother.  Constance is her sickly mother's caretaker, but Hugo knows she needs to be out in the world where she can meet other young adults and make a good match.  She begs him to let her attend one society ball, but he has no idea how to get an invitation let alone what she will need to wear and not look silly.  He finds Lady Muir and asks her to sponsor Constance for one ball, and she agrees. Will their mutual attraction be able to overcome their very different backgrounds and personalities to let them find happiness together?

Balogh is a wonderful storyteller, and this book reminds me of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  There is not much overt action in her books but more internal and external dialog about feelings, past events, and relationships.  Hugo and Gwendoline are total opposites.  Although a war hero, he's an introvert with social anxiety who would rather spend time in the country with his farm animals and gardens than with people.  She's an extrovert who loves the social parts of life and genuinely enjoys being around people.  But as they get to know each other, they find that they might just be what the other one needs.  This is another winner from Balogh and the first in her new Survivor's Club series.  320 pages.

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

This beloved classic somehow didn't make it into my hands as a child. I know movies have been made out of it, but somehow those passed me by as well. So, when this showed up on a free eBook site it seemed to be a natural to fill the once-a-month classic or new-to-me bestselling author requirement I've placed on myself this year.

Doctor Dolittle, although trained as a medical doctor, turns veterinarian when he develops the unique ability to talk with animals. This leads to many exciting adventures in faraway lands. If you missed this children's classic as well, I thoroughly recommend letting your inner child out and enjoy this gentle read! 204 pages.

"A Secret in Her Kiss" by Anna Randol

This debut novel takes place in Constantinople in 1815.  (The city is now known as Istanbul, Turkey.)  Mari Sinclair is a British spy living there with her archeologist father, who is addicted to opium, when Major Bennett Prestwood is ordered to become her protector after an attempt on her life.  Mari bristles against the unwanted, duty-obsessed man, but he has his orders and will not disobey them no matter how much he is drawn to her.  This was a unique and intriguing story with many cultural details thrown into the action.  The author put a new spin on the English historical romance genre, and I'm looking forward to her next book.  374 pages.

A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron

While overseas reporting on the devastating effects of war on children, Jeannie King becomes the victim of a car bomb. Recovery is slow and painful despite being in the loving environment of her Amish grandmother's home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, located right next door to Jeannie's first love, Matthew Bontrager. The terrorists hoped to silence her voice, but Jeannie is determined to return to her calling. Will she succeed? 

This first book in the Quilts of Lancaster County series explores the struggle surrounding physical, emotional and spiritual healing. A discussion guide is included. 304 pages.

"Born to Darkness" by Suzanne Brockmann

This is the first book in a new series by the bestselling Brockmann, who specializes in romantic suspense/thrillers, and I really enjoyed it.  Set several decades in the future, individuals with extraordinary mental abilities are recruited by the Obermeyer Institute, a research center devoted to accessing and training unknown parts of the brain to bring forth these abilities.  Known as Greater-Thans, these people are used to fight the makers of Destiny, a drug that can make an ordinary person into a Greater-Than instantly but with violent and fatal side effects.  They are also trying to rescue a pre-teen Greater-Than who has been kidnapped by the makers of Destiny, who use the blood of girls like her to produce it.

Although a fairly sizeable book, the action, suspense, and diverse cast of characters, with some romance thrown in, made it hard to put down.  I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series, but there's no release date for it.  513 pages.

For more about this book, see the author's web site:  http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/FD1BornToDarkness.html

Wild Goose Chase by Terri Thayer

Dewey Pellicano is feeling somewhat bereft. Her mother has died and no one wants to talk about it. She was left the store, Quilter Paradiso, as a legacy only to find her sister-in-law sabotaging her efforts to modernize it. Then, at the big Northern California Quilt Extravaganza, murder is afoot and Dewey is smack dab in the middle of it. The characters and plot don't quite click. But, I was only looking for something light to read on a lazy day and this fit the bill. 301 pages.

Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill

There are, of course, a plethora of books about Jacqueline Kennedy. Many of them are gossipy, others are sycophantic, some are disdainful, and still others breathless with admiration. This book is none of the above. It is an honest account of a person with no axe to grind no desire for fame or glory, no motive other than telling of his experiences with a former first lady.

Clint Hill was a young secret service agent assigned to Dwight Eisenhower when John F. Kennedy was elected president. He was then assigned to Jacqueline Kennedy, and wasn’t happy about what he believed was a demotion, and envisioned ‘daily doses of fashion shows and ballets’.  But as he came to know and respect Mrs. Kennedy, a deep friendship developed between them. He was assigned to her and her children until after the presidential election of 1964.

This book has no startling revelations, nothing really new about the Kennedy’s. It is an open, honest account by a public servant of the years he spent in the service of our country and its first family. I don’t often read books about ‘celebrities’, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

352 pages

Defending Jacob by William Landay

 Andy Barber is a respected assistant district. He lives with his wife and 14-year-old son in a middle-class Massachusetts suburban. Life is good. Then one of his son’s classmates is murdered.  Soon, the investigation focuses on his son. Andy is put on a paid leave of absence because of the conflict of interest.

Then, a parent’s worst nightmare comes true: his son is arrested and put on trial for the murder. The book has been classified as a mystery, a courtroom drama, and a legal thriller, but the most compelling aspect to me was the story of an ordinary family torn apart by suspicion and lack of communication. It details how the stress of being caught up in the legal system can destroy lives, innocent or not.

I found the book to be a compelling read, one that I couldn’t wait to pick up at night, and that I hated to put down at bedtime.

423 pages

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

The Awakening, first published in 1899, is considered a classic. I have tried to read it a couple of times, and found it so boring I never finished. However, it was a selection for my book club this month, so I had to read it. I was still bored, but did finish it.  I am not a fan of this type of writing; it reminds me too much of Jane Austen!  I do have to admit that it is wonderfully descriptive; readers can feel the sea breeze, see and smell the lush flowers, and hear the soft lapping of the ocean waves. In the beginning, the setting is the Louisiana coast, where Edna Pontellier is spending the summer with her children; her husband comes from their home in New Orleans to join them on weekends. Edna spends a great deal of time with the young man (Robert Lebrun), whose mother runs the resort. She has some vague stirrings of feelings that lead her to think there may be more to life than just being a wife and mother.

When she returns to New Orleans in the fall, she finds she has changed, and is no longer willing to live the vapid, constrained life that is expected of her in the social mores of the day and place. She has always drawn, and now sets up a studio and works seriously on her art. She declines to take part in rigid social customs, such as being ‘at home’ to callers on Tuesday afternoon, and calling on others on their ‘at home’ days.  She eventually moves out of her husband’s house, and finally admits that she is in love with Robert.

This book was considered scandalous when it was published, and the reviews were sometimes vitriolic; the awakening of women was not popular. It became somewhat of a feminist manifesto, although today it seems very tame.

120 pages

"The Handmaiden's Necklace" by Kat Martin

I did it again - read a book in a series out of order.  Oh well.  Rafael, the Duke of Sheffield, and Danielle Duval were madly in love and engaged to be married five years ago until he found one of his friends naked in her bed.  Danielle protested that the man had just barged in and had no idea why, but Rafael would not believe her and broke off their engagement.  Shunned and humiliated, she moved to the country with her aunt but has made one last surprise appearance at a society event before her move to America to marry a Pennsylvania widow with two young children.  Rafael confronts her but she continues to proclaim her innocence and even blames him for not believing her.  This encounter makes Rafael realize that he still has feelings for her and sets out to find the truth.  But Danielle has already left on the two month voyage to America; if he's been wrong all these years, will he go after her?

This is the first book I've read by Martin, and I have mixed feelings about it.  While she tells an intriguing story, Rafael was not a likable hero.  He's heavy-handed with Danielle and doesn't take her wishes into consideration because he thinks he knows best.  There are many deceptions in this book with multiple side stories and a large list of characters.  The couples featured in the two previous books in the series make appearances and sound more likable.  Still, it was an interesting read.  407 pages.

Casting Stones by Gina Barlean

I got this Kindle book because it has a Missouri setting, and I thought I might want to record it for Wolfner. After reading it, I thought not: it is one of the most depressing books I ever read! It starts out with a young couple picnicking on the Platte River in Nebraska with their baby. The wife drowns. That is the beginning of a downward spiral that sucks the life out of both father and son. The young husband decides to go back to Missouri to live with his father, only to find that the  father had died the very morning of his arrival. The book is one depressingly sad event after another. It is well written, and draws the reader into the story, but there are not even brief moments of joy or peace to offset all the tragedies. I was glad to finish the book; it left me depressed and unsatisfied.

A few weeks later, I discovered that the author had written a ‘Prelude to Casting Stones’ Kindle book, which is only 17 pages, so probably is more like a short story, and just recently finished another Kindle book, or 32-page short story, ‘Conclusions – Casting Stones’.  From user reviews, it appears that these two books flesh out ‘Casting Stones’, and the conclusion seems to give some hope, which was sorely lacking in the main book. I’m not sure why an author would do it this way, instead of putting it all together into one (hopefully much better) book, but I have purchased the other two, hoping they will make it a better story (and I may record it after all!). Fortunately, all three books were very inexpensive.

220 pages

A feast for crows, by George R.R. Martin

King Joffrey was bad enough, but his mother is even worse! There were some horrifying scenes in this installment of the Song of Ice and Fire series that had me almost dreading the next chapter, but I'm enjoying the continuing saga of the Seven Kingdoms. The politics and intrigues are ever more complex (and I'm having some trouble keeping it all straight), but I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
audio: 31 hours
text: 753 pages

If Errands Could Kill by Jim Bronyaur

Eve Bailey is a stay-at-home mom, enjoying a fairly quiet life in Marysville, Pennsylvania until one day when she observes the murder of a bank employee. When the police investigation falls apart, Eve decides to do a little sleuthing of her own. This is book one in the Minivan Mom Mystery series. The concept is good, but unfortunately the plot quickly falls apart. It's an okay read. 240 pages.

"One Grave at a Time" by Jeaniene Frost

This sixth book in the Night Huntress series finds vampire Cat Crawfield, and her Master vampire husband, Bones, doing battle against a 500-year-old witch hunter who lives as a ghost 364 days of the year but becomes corporeal every Halloween to torture and burn alive three innocent women.  Ghosts play an integral part of this story as does Cat's cat, Helsing (as in the vampire hunter from Bram Stoker's Dracula), who is able to sense ghosts before the vampires can.

This story was especially action-packed with Cat testing out her new flying abilities and their best friends, vampire Spade and his half-demon/half-human wife, Denise, also trying to prevent Heinrich Kramer from his annual slaughter.  Interestingly, the witch hunter character was based on real witch hunter Heinrich Kramer, who wrote the Malleus Maleficarum back in 1486 to teach magistrates how to find and prosecute witches.  384 pages.

The Innocent by David Baldacci

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

The hit man refuses to complete an assignment and he is now the target they’re after. He helps a 14 year old runaway whose parents were murdered and who may be on a hit list also; by the way, the bus explodes after they get off.  422 pages.

"This Side of the Grave" by Jeaniene Frost

In this fifth book in the Night Huntress series, vampire Cat Crawfield and her Master vampire husband, Bones, deal with an evil ghoul who is trying to incite a war between vampires and ghouls.  They have to ask for help from the ghoul queen of New Orleans, but can she be trusted to prevent a war between their species or will she use it as a chance to enhance her powers and double-cross the vampires?

The author creates another great story that mimics the bigotry found in our own culture.  Apollyon uses lies, ignorance, and hateful language to stir up his followers into believing that all vampires are evil creatures who must be destroyed, starting with Cat.  But because she has very unusual abilities that even she does not completely understand, Cat and Bones are able to put up an unexpected defense.

This is another quick and action-filled read from Frost.  384 pages.

Out of the Dark, by David Weber

This books starts out with an alien invasion of earth, and ends with vampires killing off the invaders.... I'm not sure what to say.
audio: 17 hours
text: 381 pages

"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain

This wonderful book, written by an introvert, explains not only the biology of introversion but how introverts are different from extroverts as babies and in work, love, communication, parenting, and more.  First popularized by psychologist Carl Jung in 1921, introversion and extroversion refer to different points of focus.  Introverts focus on their inner thoughts and feelings while extroverts focus on their external world of people and activities around them.  Quoting Cain, "Introverts recharge their batteries by being alone; extroverts need to recharge when they don't socialize enough."  She explains how introversion is not the same as shyness, which is caused by social anxiety or the fear of social disapproval.  All introverts aren't shy, and all extroverts aren't loud and gregarious.

As a psychology major in college, as well as an introvert, I've read a lot about this subject over the years so I went into this book with a good understanding of it.  However, I hadn't read much about the ideal work environments for introverts and extroverts.  Introverts do their best creating if they are able to get away from other people and their many noises and distractions so that we can concentrate and do our deep thinking without interruptions.  Four walls (real walls that reach from floor to ceiling!) and a door so that we can work alone are what introverts need.  Committees and teams are better for extroverts, who tend to dominate such environments even if they don't have the best ideas. 

Cain covers many other topics in regards to introversion, all of it backed up by science. I could go on and on about how many parts of this book were so interesting and really acknowledged and validated my feelings of otherness, especially in the American culture that values extroversion and socializing so much.  I think everybody should read this book, especially extroverts who are supervisors or parents of introverts so that they are better aware of how to deal with this personality type that is so different from their own.  Very highly recommended!  333 pages.

Susan Cain's web site where you can take a quiz to see if you are an introvert or an extrovert:  http://www.thepowerofintroverts.com/

Radio interview with Susan Cain:  http://ttbook.org/book/susan-cain-quiet-power-introverts-world-cant-stop-talking

The Marquis Is Trapped by Barbara Cartland

The hero is handsome, athletic and titled. The heroine is lovely, demure and has surprising inner strength. I found it hard to overlook the male double standard and ultimately couldn't figure out why the heroine ever fell for the boorish and arrogant Marquis. Barbara Cartland has written better books. Give this one a pass. 160 pages.

212 by Alafair Burke

This tightly woven thriller features NYPD detectives Ellie Hatcher and her partner, J.J., in book 3 of the Ellie Hatcher series. Confronted with a series of crimes that involve a high-powered real estate developer, a pricey escort service, and members of the justice system, Ellie and J.J. must piece all the clues together before another life is lost. I had trouble putting this one down! 368 pages

Large Target by Lynne Murray

Full-figured Josephine Fuller has an unusual job: she checks up on charitable organizations for her philanthropic employer, making funding recommendations. With her sympathetic ear, she also seems to land herself in the middle of many dysfunctional family situations. That's not too bad, unless kidnapping, murder and other assorted crimes are at play. This is book two in the Josephine Fuller Mystery series. There were several references to book one, so it might be helpful to start at the beginning. I had a little trouble connecting with the characters, and found some of the plot elements a little far-fetched, but it was still an enjoyable read.250 pages.