The Sixth Phase /Robert J. Randisi

Randisi, a Missouri author, has written a fast-paced thriller with a fairly straigthforward plot and uneven character development.  Detective Dennis McQueen is assigned to a murder case that he discovers is one of a series of similar sexual-mutilation killings and is then appointed to head the task force charged with apprehending the killer.  He does, of course, but not before much more loss of life.  I'm glad I finished the book, though, because the last two sentences put a chilling, unanticipated spin on the entire story - possibly the only thought-provoking moment in the book!  395 p.

Sail by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Katherine Dunne has the brilliant idea to take some time off from work and go on a sailing expedition with her children to try and bring this dysfunctional family back together. Little does she know that the adventure might wind up blasting them apart - literally.  

If you are looking for something with great depth of character and psychological insight, this isn't it. But, if you are looking for a fast-paced novel designed to entertain and intrigue the reader, this is a good one. 414 pages.

In 50 Years We'll all be Chicks

By Adam Carolla

Don't let the title scare you off.  This book is not bad.  Well, not any worse than Adam's second book, Not Taco Bell Material.

This book is more a group of rants and one of them is how men are becoming more feminine.

If easily offended don't read.  But if you like a good laugh, read.

256 Pages, 5 hours

Beyond Reach by Karin Slaughter

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Det. Lena Adams is wrongly arrested of murder.  This book contains multiple murders, multiple suspects cases with suspense, malpractice and rage.

Print:  608 pages.

Audio:  14 hrs. 30 min.

Twelve Red Herrings by Jeffrey Archer

 
Archer delivers twelve short stories, each with a different conundrum. Nine of the stories are based on real-life incidents; three are pure fiction. Each story has a decidedly O.Henry ending. (The last one has four options!) For the most part, this is a good read. It won't change your life. But, it should entertain you! 384 pages

Mushroom, by Nicholas P. Money

A interesting read by an author who has an infectious enthusiasm for his subject. Though he somehow unfortunately manages to stray into politics at some points in the book, Money makes the bizarre world of fungi accessible. I learned a number of things about fungi that are at odds with what I was taught at school. According to Money, many of our notions regarding fungi are wrong and more research is needed to make up for a dearth of understanding in the field of mycology.
The sheer breadth and variety of fungi Money describes are interesting in their own right. The descriptions of the quirky individuals who study fungi make it even more so.

text: 201 pages

The Affair by Lee Child

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Jack Reacher goes to Carter Crossing, Mississippi, to help clear the army honor in the murder of three local women. Finding a way to resolve all the loose ends, he is then released from the from the service himself at age 36, so begins his new life. 

Audio:  11 hrs. 46 min.

Print:  608 pages.

"Little Bat" by Tania Cox, Illustrated by Andrew McLean

I like bats and have several children's books on the subject.  Little Bat is unsure about taking her first flight, but will encouragement from her friends in the Australian rainforest where she and her mother live help her?  Big, colorful illustrations of unusual species will appeal to most children and adults.  30 pages.

"Puppy Love" by Dick King-Smith, Illustrated by Anita Jeram

Wonderful illustrations are the main draw of this book in which a family fondly remembers some of the puppies they've had over the years.  32 pages.

"Kittens: Science Facts and Fun Art Projects That Teach About Kittens"

This cute little book has wonderful close-up photos of kittens along with basic facts and several craft projects, all appropriate for kids.  There's even a song called "Kitten and I."  (Barron's Educational Series is the corporate author.)  32 pages.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

I first read this classic many years ago as an undergraduate and really enjoyed it, so I thought I'd pull it out and reread it now that I'm more "mature" and have read many historical romances of that period written by modern writers.  However, I really can't compare them since the language and phrasing was so different when Austen wrote it in 1813.  I kept picturing Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet from the 1995 BBC miniseries which was made after I read the book the first time.  I was surprised to read that Darcy was bewitched by Elizabeth so early in the novel; I certainly don't remember that.  It seems quite wordy but is still compelling in how it conveys the idea that sometimes our first impressions of others are all wrong.  292 pages.

The Sonderberg Case by Elie Wiesel

The Sonderberg Case by Elie Wiesel

 I picked up this book because it was by Elie Wiesel. I also thought the book would be about a murder trial.  According to the book jacket, "a German expatriate named Werner Sonderberg returned alone from a walk in the Adirondacks with an elderly uncle, whose lifeless body was soon retrieved from the woods." But the Sonderberg case is really a point of departure for the main character, a theater critic named Yedidyah Wasserman, to reflect upon his own life and work.  "Somewhere on earth, each person is acting in his own play; here or there, it makes one or another stranger weep or roar with laughter."  (192 pages)

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Unabridged audiobook. 31 hours 17 minutes. Narrated by Gerard Doyle.  Published by Listening Library.  Downloaded from the Scenic Regional Library website! (860 pages)
 I waited a long time to finish this series, going back to listen to all the books instead of reading them a second time.  It was worth it.  I was often surprised by the plot twists and sometimes bored by the long battle sequences. But I was satisfied by the ending- it was true to the journey Eragon (and the young writer Christopher Paolini) embarked upon so many years ago! Gerard Doyle does an excellent job of telling the story, creating many memorable voices (Saphira is my favorite!) and characterizations.  If you are going on a long car ride cross-country this audiobook (and the entire series for that matter!) would be an excellent way to pass the time.

Sweet Tea at Sunrise by Sherryl Woods

Sarah Price is a single mom with low self-esteem working as a waitress to make ends meet. Travis McDonald is a retired ball player with confidence to spare. Travis sees promise in Sarah as both a business and life partner. The challenge is to convince her she is capable of filling both roles and more. Discussion questions provided. 

This is book six in the Sweet Magnolias series. It might help to start at book one since the plot assumes you know about many of the events and relationships that unfolded earlier in the series. 389 pages.

Cinnamon Roll Murder by JoAnne Fluke

(Posted for Paul Mathews)  

Their bakery is called the Cookie Jar, they live in Minnesota and cook and solve local murders. This book comes with recipes and lots of family drama.  330 pages.

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.