The Code of the Hills (Ozarks Mysteries # 1)

 The Code of the Hills (Ozarks Mysteries #1) by Nancy Allen

Pages: 480

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

In the Ozarks hills some things just aren't talked about... such as abuse and incest. Prosecutor Elsie Arnold is determined to take a stand for women and children in her hometown in Missouri. Her boss drops a high-profile case, in which a father is accused of abusing his three young daughters, in her lap right before the preliminary hearing. 

Elsie has to overcome the lack of preparation in the case, the oldest daughter's history of behavior, possible ulterior motives of the mother and the star witness disappearing. Adding to her stress she begins to get threats from local people and some extremists groups defending the father. Elsie swears she will not let a sex offender walk, but she soon realizes the odds are against her and it might cost her more than just her job. But she still remembers why she became a prosecuting attorney and the three young girls whose life hangs on the balance of this trial. 

A debut novel and a fast read. 

Sycamore Row (Jake Brigance #2)

 Sycamore Row
by John Grisham
Pages: 447
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Revisit Jake Brigance and Ford County, the setting of John Grisham's first novel, A Time to Kill. Life hasn't been kind to Jake Brigance and his family since he took and won the Hailey case. He still has police protection at night. Now, he receives a letter from a dead man. The letter's instructions may give him an even more controversial case.

A slower paced story than most of John Grisham's early novels but he continues to improve his writing style. An enjoyable tangle of a puzzle with believable characters.

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Sebastian Rudd a lawyer who defends the people most lawyers won’t touch. A case of murder in a boxing cage, and someone is accused of murdering two girls. Another great Grisham novel.

Audio:  11 hrs. 20 min.

Print:  371 pages

The Crossing by Michael Connelly

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Detective Harry Bosch helps defense attorney Mickey Haller catch crooked policemen and save an innocent they are accusing of murder.

Audio:  9 hrs. 26 min.
Print:  400 pages

"A Hunted Man" by Jaime Reese

This is the second book in the Men of Halfway House series, and I didn't like it as much as the first, "A Better Man".  Cam is just out of prison for serving 10 years for manslaughter and has moved into Halfway House to adjust to life on the outside.  He's only 27, so he has no real skills or formal work experience.  Luckily, Matt, who runs Halfway House, gets him a job at a mom and pop coffee shop where Cam meets Hunter Donovan, Assistant State Attorney and regular customer.  Soon, Hunter is trying to clear Cam's name when he realizes that a drug cartel and dirty judge railroaded him into prison for what was clearly self-defense.  Then dangerous men start following Cam around, showing up at his work and even breaking into Halfway House and Hunter's home to get to him.  Action and suspense dominate the second half of the book, but I would have rather had it focus on Cam's adjustment to the real world and dealing with his PTSD after his abuse in prison.  Still, there were great supporting characters, especially Hunter's dad, and we got to see some of Matt and Julian from the first book.  I'll be reading book three soon.  378 pages.

Moonlight Road by Robyn Carr

Posted for Diann Stark

Audio Reading time: 11 hours, 5 minutes. 384 pages

Erin has had responsibilities all of her life, she has raised her siblings, became a well known lawyer and never took time for herself. She has decided it is time to get to know herself so she moves into a cabin in Virgin River that her sister and brother in-law owns. She went there for the tranquility and to find herself, she was not expecting to find a strange, scruffy man in her back yard. Dr. Aiden Riordan was also in Virgin River staying in a cabin that he and his brothers own. He is trying to figure out what to do with himself, he has just retired from the Navy. He could tell right away that she was a snooty city girl. However, he could see that there was something about her that he found irresistible. This is a fun light hearted book that has its twist and turns, but you can’t help but to love the characters.

Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr

Posted for Diann Stark

Audio book: Reading time: 11 hours, 16 minutes. 368 pages

Description: Mike Valenzuela makes his way to Virgin River to ‘get away’ and heal. He is a decorated U.S. Marine reservist, LAPD officer; he was badly wounded in the line of duty.

He realizes it is time for him to settle down and grow some roots. So, he agrees to become the town’s first cop, he has been married a couple times before. He longs for the kind relationships his fellow marine buddies have found—a woman who make him whole. He finds that woman in Brie Sheridan, she came to Virgin River to feel safe.  Brie was a prosecutor who nearly lost her life at the hands of a crazed criminal. So she understands his drive to protect and serve. She has fears she can’t escape—but now she has found someone who will show her just what it means to trust again.  Mike will do anything to help Brie feel safe and to rid herself from the painful memories of her past. He wants her to know how much he loves her and will give her a new beginning.  

"Blue Notes" by Shira Anthony

Jason Greene is a successful lawyer in Philadelphia when he finds out his fiancee has cheated on him.  He calls off the wedding and decides to spend two months in Paris at his sister's apartment for a much needed break.  While there, he befriends a struggling but talented jazz violinist, Jules Bardin, and offers him a place to stay.  As they get to know each other, they find that they have little in common except for a passion for music.  Jason grew up in a happy family with money while Jules' mother was a druggie who neglected her children.  But Jason's confident appearance hides inner turmoil and anxiety about his life, and only Jules can help him through it.  This was a lovely, well-written story of two very opposite men brought together by their love of music and quests for something more out of life.  Paris and Grenoble figure prominently in the story with plenty of French terms thrown in.  This is the first time I've read this author, and she must be a musician by the sensitive way she writes about performing.  I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.  242 pages (Kindle edition).

Gone, No Forwarding by Joe Gores

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

It’s all about saving his law practice.  He goes up against rich mob lawyers.  Seven of his witnesses are missing, phones are bugged, and shots are fired in the court room. 

Audio:  7 hrs. 30 min.
Print:  212 pages.