Book Review: Brain Damage by Freida McFadden

 Brain Damage

by 
Freida McFadden

psychological thriller/crime

Kindle edition/398 pages

Quote:" And none of that hurt. The truth is, I didn't feel it at all. What hurt is everything that came after."

Brain Damage

From the cover:

After years of hard work, Dr. Charly McKenna finally has it all. Prosperous career as a dermatologist? Check. Spacious apartment overlooking Central Park? Check. Handsome lawyer husband? Double check.

Then one night, a bullet rips through the right side of her skull, and she loses everything.

As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her...before he finishes the job he started.

My Review:

This one definitely is getting mixed reviews. Maybe, even myself included.

Personally, I think some of the reasons other readers gave it lower ratings, were the reasons I loved it.

As it is tagged a psychological thriller, I can see some being disappointed, or disagreeing with it. If it had been placed as a medical mystery, it may have been rated differently. I feel some readers felt misled from the beginning. This is the fourth book I've read by Freida McFadden, and it honestly is one of my favorites. I know I seem to say that a lot lately; especially about McFadden's books. They really do just keep drawing me in. This one definitely gets bumped up due to the medical aspects. I've always been fascinated with learning about the medical field and human biology. Brain Damage definitely gives you that. While McFadden isn't a brain surgeon, she does actually work with brain injury patients and the recovery process. She actually knows her stuff, and it shows in her writing.

This book gives you the story of a woman who is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head. It takes you through the mystery of solving the crime, but for me, it was so much more about Charly's journey through recovery. You get a behind the scenes look at the recovery process. All the stress, frustrations, repeating everything, and the struggles through memory loss. It is exhausting, mentally and physically, but Charly finally sees that it is all worth it.

Of course, no book is perfect, and there were a couple of things that I didn't agree with, but I didn't write the characters.

I will say there wasn't much suspense or thrill to the book, but I truly enjoyed the whole book.

I give it 5 stars!

Side note: A few years ago, I read  Left Neglected by Lisa Genova that I also enjoyed. These two books share the same brain injury but completely different stories. I definitely recommend checking them both out!

Book Review: Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

 Dear Child

by
Romy Hausmann

psychological thriller/mystery/crime

audiobook/11 hours

Quote:

"We know how everything works. We have our own rules, you see. It's just that Mama forgets them sometimes. But luckily, she's got us, we remind her of them."~ Hannah

Dear Child

From the cover:

In a windowless shack in the woods, Lena's life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father: Meals, bathroom visits, study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed. He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure his children will always have a mother to look after them. 

One day, Lena manages to flee- but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called "Lena" who disappeared without a trace 14 years ago. The police and Lena’s family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle which doesn't quite seem to fit.

*SPOILER * This review may contain spoilers* SPOILER*

My Review:

I gave this book 3/5 stars. I usually don't start my reviews with the negative side, but when deciding to post a review, these 2 things kept popping up and making me hesitate and rethink the way to write it.

1. I opted for the audiobook, which lately has been hit or miss in my selections.

This one I really struggled to get into. I'm honestly not sure if it was the storyline, the audio speed, the translation, the narrators/characters, or just a combination.

There were at least 3 or 4 times that I went back a chapter or two and re-listened to see where I was in the story or if I'd missed something. It really just never gripped my attention.

I honestly didn't care for any of the characters. 

"Lena"/Jasmin seemed too day dreamy or misfocused. I didn't like her vibe from the beginning.

Hannah was too two-sided for me. One minute she's intelligent from her "study time", yet very unaware or over naive, even with the whole situation.

Lena seemed to have a very callous and selfish attitude about everything going on. The affair, the effects it had on others, etc.

Karin just seemed very disengaged throughout the whole book.

Jonathan, um, where was this kid???

I won't go on into the rest of the characters. You get the idea.

2. I instantly got Room by Emma Donoghue vibes.

I just couldn't get passed that. The alternate book cover is even almost identical. Crayon font and meant to be in a child's handwriting.

Other than how the abduction begins, there were too many similarities in the characters and situation.

Anyone who has read Room would not be able to ignore this. I kept reading to see if things ever changed directions, but almost to the end it was way too similar.

The book wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I expected and had almost zero suspense, mystery, or thrill. There was no real chase to it. Yes, the whodunnit factor was good, not great.

I definitely think I would have enjoyed the physical book better. 

I give Dear Child by Romy Hausmann 3 stars.

Book Review: The Liar by Nora Roberts

 

The Liar

by
Nora Roberts

romantic suspense/thriller

Kindle/512pages

Quote: 

"You paid off a million dollars since January? That must have been one hell of a yard sale." ~Viola

The Liar by Nora Roberts

From the cover:

Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions...

The man who took her from Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He was an adulterer and a liar, and when Shelby tracks down his safe-deposit box, she finds multiple IDs. The man she loved wasn't just dead. He never really existed. 

Shelby takes her three-year-old daughter and heads south to seek comfort in her hometown, where she meets someone new: Griff Lott, a successful contractor. But her husband had secrets she's yet to discover. Even in this small town, surrounded by loved ones, danger is closer than she knows- and threatens Griff, as well. And an attempted murder is only the beginning...

My Review:

This book had three parts, The False, the Roots, and The Real. I honestly do not know if it was originally written or intended to be this way. 

I am glad that it was broken down, it was 512 pages total! But, I almost feel like I would have read it faster, and enjoyed it more, if it had just been made into three separate books, a trilogy.

Personally, I had moments where I thought, " Why is she starting another character's story, now? Am I ever going to finish this book?"

While, I did enjoy each of the characters, and they were definitely well-developed; I felt at times, it was just too much. The story started to stray away from the main storyline.

Shelby had way too much going on in such a short timeline to figure out where she was headed. Not to the point that it was unbelievable, but it was heading that way.

There were a few times I felt the words didn't mesh with the character she seemed to be. I understand that mental abuse and trauma can definitely change a person and how they feel about themselves, I just got the vibe that she flip-flopped from naive, blindsided, mouse, into this country raised, tough as nails gal a little too quickly. Again, just my opinion of how she was written.

I enjoyed how all her family came together to support her and help her find her way. It's very clear they have a close bond, that I can attest to being a country raised value. 

As for the mystery/suspense elements, I wasn't shocked at all. The bad guy/s were pretty obvious and the twist was not surprising at all. 

Mystery, romance, contemporary; I get that.

Suspense/thriller, nope. Not at all (for me)

I'm still going to give this one 5 stars. Overall, it was a great story and the characters made me keep reading.

Notes:

To be honest, I've known that Nora Roberts had written tons, and tons of books. I've only read 4 of her books. I feel like, she's one of those authors that I've heard the name and sort of know her genre of choice, I just never seem to grab one of her books to read. I actually went back through my Goodreads shelves and realized I do have a couple on my TBR list. Two that I already own.

She also has written over 63 crime books in the In Death(Eve Dallas) series under the pseudonym J.D. Robb

Totally guestimating, she has over 200 books to choose from! There's bound to be something of hers you'd enjoy!

Have you read any of her books? Which was your favorite?

Which one should I add to my list?

Book Review: The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

 The Perfect Son

by

Freida McFadden

Quote: "But, I never believed him. Even when he was sobbing in my office, it seemed incredibly fake. I don't think he was sorry at all. Not even a little bit. The only thing I think he was sorry about was that we found her."

Date started: Aug 4, 2022

Finished: August 5, 2022

Kindle/e-book edition, 237 pages

mystery/psychological thriller

From the cover:

"Mrs. Cass, we were hoping your son could answer a few questions about the girl who disappeared last night..."

Erika Cass has a perfect family and a perfect life. Until the evening, two detectives show up at her front door. A high school girl has vanished from Erika's quiet suburban neighborhood. The police suspect the worst--murder. And Erika's teenage son, Liam, was the last person to see the girl alive.

Erika has always sensed something dark and disturbed in her seemingly perfect older child. She wants to believe he's innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can't deny the truth- Liam may have done the unthinkable.

Now she must ask herself:

How far will she go to protect her son?

My review:

The book begins with the transcript of Erika's interview with the police.

It then goes on to be told from Erika's point of view, and remains that way throughout the book.

The first chapter starts off as a mundane, typical suburban daily routines. Breakfast, chats about their days, school, plans. But, in Erika's mind, there is a lot going on that is not your typical stay-at-home-mom's thoughts.

I do like that this particular story stayed with one narrator, although she wasn't my favorite. 

The story is pretty fast-paced, and flows. There were a few parts that threw me off. They just didn't seem to have good reason to be placed in the story. I kept waiting to see why, but even then, it didn't seem relevant. Maybe too many "fillers" for the book.

The relationship between the Cass family and the school, teachers, friends, neighbors seemed a tad unrealistic due to the nature of their situation. Also, within the household, it seemed they all had separate lives, and secrets.

Do we really even know the people we live with?

Hannah(sister) and Jason(dad) didn't play a huge role in the book until later into the story.

A few times while reading, I would think, "Oh, this is it!" "This is where we figure it out." and then...nope! Wrong!

The Perfect Son definitely holds up to the plot twist factor. I'd say the last 3 chapters, I couldn't read fast enough. After all my failed attempts to figure it out, I just had to keep going.

The ending? *Mind Blown*

I gave this one 4 stars

I'd definitely recommend for anyone looking for a good psychological twist mystery.

This is the first book by Freida McFadden that I've read. I really enjoyed her style and the story. I'll be looking into more of her books

Find your copy here:

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

Book Review: Maids of Misfortune(A Victorian San Francisco Mystery #1) by M. Louisa Locke

 Maids of Misfortune

by

M. Louisa Locke

Quote: "Men, in particular, would rather trust their lives to the stars than to the advice of a woman."

Started reading: July 16, 2022

Finished: August 3, 2022

Kindle edition: 338 pages

From the cover:

It's the summer of 1879, and Annie Fuller, a young San Francisco widow, is in trouble. Annie's husband squandered her fortune before committing suicide, five years earlier, and one of his creditors is threatening to take the boardinghouse she owns to pay off a debt.

Annie Fuller, also has a secret. She supplements her income by giving domestic and business advice as Madam Sybil, one of San Francisco's most exclusive clairvoyants, and one of Madam Sybil's clients, Matthew Voss, has died.

My Review:

My favorite aspect of this story was Annie's character as a woman finally having her independence, and it shows throughout the book.

No longer, the mere wife or daughter of someone, to be controlled, she has taken her new role and embraced it. The story does give bits and pieces of her life before, but for the most part, we just see a woman with her own mind, and a mystery she intends to solve, no matter how she gets it done.

This would definitely be more of a cozy mystery series. While there is the "who dunnit" theme, for me, it was more about Annie's life after becoming a widow. I'm leaning more towards historical romance.

A few characters didn't really get to shine through or become developed like I had hoped.(maybe in the books to come).

Maids of Misfortune

I was pleased with the story as a whole. I rate it 4 stars.

Audiobook Mini Reviews: Crime, Suspense, and Mystery

I'm super excited to get these audiobook reviews finally done!
I know y'all have been waiting patiently and I really appreciate it!
For the most part, I can get these audios "read" much faster than actual books, so I decided to try and do a round-up 3.
These are the three that fell into the category of crime, suspense, and mystery.
I'm hoping to have a theme similar with each set of mini reviews I do.
That may mean larger gaps between reviews, depending on what I read and how I can categorize them. Just bear with me.

*This post contains affiliate links.

1. The Life We Bury~ Allen Eskens

(Detective Max Rupert #1)

mystery/fiction/thriller

College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing suspect. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe's life is ever the same. Iverson is a Vietnam veteran- and a convicted murderer.

My Review:

This book had so much going for it. Joe has enough of his own issues going on, home life, a dysfunctional mother, college, an autistic brother, a crush on his neighbor. The last thing he needs is a murder mystery to solve. Yet, that is exactly where this story takes us.

Joe wonders how this respected veteran with his loyal friend and stories of heroism can be convicted of such a violent crime.

Joe, with the help from his girl neighbor, are determined to find the truth. Will it be too late?

A must read.

2. Adam~ Ted Dekker

Christian fiction, mystery, horror, thriller

FBI Behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has been made famous by his arguments that religion is one of society's greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn't know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as "Eve" will end in his own death at Eve's hand. Twenty minutes later, Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by those twenty missing minutes of life.

My Review:

Dekker! (swoon)

I truly do love all of his books. I love his writing style and how he combines his Christianity and beliefs into real scenarios. Real stories that will not only grip you from the beginning but also give you tons of food for thought.

Adam is a twisted mix of obsession, pursuit, capture, release, mind altering, abuse, trauma, consequences, and beliefs. It truly has a little something for everyone.

For myself, this books real question...the real "take-away" is; Which is better or right. Facing our demons and finding release to heal. Or hiding them, hoping they go away from fear of what happens when they are revealed?

3. Harvest~ Tess Gerritsen

mystery, thriller, crime, suspense

Medical resident Dr. Abby Matteo is elated when the elite cardiac transplant team at Boston's Bayside Hospital taps her as a potential recruit. But faced with a tormenting life-and-death decision, Abby helps direct a crash victim's harvested heart to a dying teenager -- instead of a wealthy older woman who was supposed to receive it. The repercussions leave Abby shaken and plagued with self-doubt.

My Review:

I fell in love with Gerritsen's writings through her Rizzoli and Isles series. I have continued to enjoy many more of her books.

Harvest is a stand alone book. It was such a great book without the commitment of getting sucked into another series.(I just don't have time at the moment).

This story very much could be true. I'm sure it has happened to some degree, somewhere. Greed is everywhere and the fight to live only fuels that. What would you be willing to pay to save a loved one?

Would you be willing to look the other way in order to save one of your own?...For the right price.

Dive into this twisted mystery and find out how it plays out.

I just checked the website, Thriftbooks,  This Link Here! All three of these books are now available in copies for $3.79 and up depending on condition!

Go, buy the book!

Seriously, you can also join their amazing awards program and earn points towards FREE books!

Book Review: The Priest's Graveyard

The Priest's Graveyard

By

Ted Dekker

Quote:

" Of course. Of course. There's nothing worse than injustice. I've always believed that those responsible for it should be brought to their knees even when they come in small, frail packages." ~ Danny pg. 129

Started: September 13, 2017

Finished: September 27, 2017

hardback cover, 360 pages

* This posts contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from the link, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
(TIA for adding to my book fund ;)

From the cover:

Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man, soon, their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate bound by a perilous love.

Danny Hansen came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother's life. Now he's a priest, incensed by the powerful among us who manipulate the law for their own gain, uncaring of the shattered lives they leave behind. It is his duty to show them the error of their ways, even if he must put them in the grave.

Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in the pursuit.

But when Danny and Renee's paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.

My Review:

I bought this book from ThriftBooks a few years ago but it had been put up and forgotten. I went through a huge  Ted Dekker phase and read about 5 of his books almost back to back. I absolutely love his writing style and amazing stories. I think I jut burnt myself out and moved on to something lighter and this book got forgotten. I'm so glad I found it and decided to read this one. 

It is a stand alone and I love that I wasn't getting in to a commitment...I have so many on my TBR list that I have slacked off on series unless, I already have the whole set.

Dekker did not disappoint!

As with all of his books, I was hooked from the first page.

He has an amazing way of saying just the right words to make you immediately ask the question, "What's happening here?"...and you have to keep going to figure it out.

Always action packed from the beginning.

In The Priest's Graveyard, it starts out with Renee asking a priest if he will listen to her, or rather Danny's confession, but only if he is 100% he will keep confidence and have time to hear the full story and hopefully understand Danny better. 

The Priest assures her God can forgive anything, but Renee isn't so sure... this time.

Danny's confession, written out in a journal, describes how it all started. How he became the priest who claims the lives of those who have done evil and gotten away with it. 

It details how he became who he now is and the events he has been involved in.

Throughout the book, Danny and Renee's relationship takes many turns and their lives become more entangled. They become teacher and apprentice, friends, partners, and even foe.

Much of Renee's life has been forgotten or at the least regressed memories that her brain isn't ready to deal with just yet. Will Danny uncover her secrets and be able to help her through the memories...or will he help to destroy her and the life she is now building with him?

How will all these events play out and what are the final consequences? Who really gets the final say?

I don't want to spoil the story for you readers. So, ....READ IT!

I can only say good things about yet another awesome Dekker book!

Make sure you check out all of his great books over at Goodreads!

Have you read any of his books?
Which is your favorite?

Shop now for thousands of quality used mystery, thriller & suspense books starting at under $4

Review: Cover Of Snow

Cover of Snow

By~ 

Jenny Milchman

Quote: " The only thing I can tell you about Brendan's last days is he was doing a lot of talking. More than usual even."~ Club

( pg.60)

Started: July 31, 2017

Finished: Aug. 7, 2017

paperback/336 pages

From the Cover:

Waking up one wintry morning in her old farmhouse nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Nora Hamilton finds her world suddenly shattered. Her husband, Brendan, has committed suicide. Then a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. Why would a rock-solid police officer with unwavering affection for his wife, job, and quaint hometown suddenly choose to end it all? Unraveling her late husband's final days, Nora searches for an explanation- but finds a bewildering resistance from Brendan's best friend and partner, his fellow police officers, and his brittle mother. It quickly becomes clear to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown...and its darkest secrets hidden.

My Review:

This is by far one of my new favorites!

It jumps right in and holds you from the beginning. 

The mysterious suicide of a small town cop starts a peeling away at a lifetime of secrets and crimes.

Nora, his wife is determined to find answers no one else wants uncovered. She is learning friend from foe along the way and keeps stumbling. She is struggling to understand the clues her truest ally, Dugger, an autistic man is trying to tell her. His rhymes are codes. "Red head, Red dead" He is trying to show her the big picture in small clips, recordings and sing songs.

Ned a  reporter, starts out with his own agenda(yet another crime the cops covered up), but quickly realizes he too has to help Nora and dives into all the danger at any cost to save her before the truth gets her killed.

Who knows the truth? What is the truth? Who is covering things up? and why?

This book definitely keeps you engrossed and wanting more.

Wonderful characters, plot, twists and action.

I think Jenny Milchman has done an amazing job and I will definitely recommend her and this book to any reader that loves a good thriller mystery.

5 Stars for Cover of Snow!

Review: One Breath Away

One Breath Away

by 

Heather Gudenkauf

Quote: " I saw one girl just about to climb out of the window. I don't know what, but something made her change her mind." ~ Meg   pg. 165

Started: Jan. 24, 2013

Finished: Jan. 29, 2013

paperback/370 pages

From the cover:

In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside the school, the town of Broken Branch watches and waits.

Officer Meg Barrett holds the responsibility for the town's children in her hands. Will Thwaite, reluctantly entrusted with the care of his two grandchildren by the daughter who left home years earlier, stands by helplessly and wonders if he has failed his child again. Trapped in her classroom, Evelyn Oliver watches for an opportunity to rescue the children in her care. And thirteen-year-old Augie Baker, already struggling with the aftermath of a terrible accident that has brought her to Broken Branch, will risk her own safety to protect her little brother.

As tension mounts with each passing minute, the hidden fears and grudges of the small town are revealed as the people of broken branch race to uncover the identity of the stranger who holds their children hostage.

My review:

I love Heather Gudenkauf and have read her other two books. I have to say this was my least favorite of her books. I kept feeling like this story was split. Not into the five characters as it was meant to be but rather it felt like two completely different stories in one book. I did not like Holly's character at all. First of all other than her children being with her father back in her home town there was really no point to her character at all. For these reasons, 1) Girl hates home, leaves. what does that/she have anything to do with the school hostage situation? Her not agreeing with her father's ways/lifestyle has nothing to do with the events that happened in the school. 2) Her lifestyle and choices don't either. How does her whole "chapter" about her sexual drive or partners tie into a school stand off??

I will say my favorite character was Mrs. Oliver. She showed true "character" throughout the book. I loved her courage and determination towards the safety of her students. She was level headed, clever , and always thinking of others first. which is what I would ideally want for my children's teacher to be.

Also, this book was a little to predictable for me. We see fairly quickly that "gunman" may be threatening and mean enough to knock a few people around, but he wasn't ready to start firing. Even after several chances. There were too many signs throughout the book that for me pretty much gave away any suspense or chance of thinking it was someone else.

I gave One Breath Away 3 stars*

Review: Before The Poison

Before The Poison

by Peter Robinson

Quote: "Well, let's face it, the place is hardly a cottage, and it is rather remote, isn't it? Talk about Wurthering Heights or Bleak House. And it's not a great spot for farming. Then... Do you know much about it, yourself?" ~ Ted  pg. 71

Started: Jan. 17, 2013

Finished: Jan. 24, 2013

hardcover/ 594 pages

From the cover:

After twenty-five years abroad in America, Chris Lowndes decides to return to the Yorkshire dales of his youth. The rambling old mansion he buys is charming, but something about it disturbs him- a feeling made ever stronger when he learns that the house was the scene of a murder more than fifty years before. The former owner, a prominent doctor named Ernest Arthur Fox, was supposedly poisoned by his beautiful and much younger wife, Grace. Arrested and brought to trial, Grace was found guilty and hanged for the crime.

 The more Chris discovers about the case, the more convinced he becomes that grace may have been innocent. Ignoring warnings to leave things alone, he sets out on a quest that takes him deep into the past and into a web of secrets that lie all too close to the present.

My Review:

I enjoyed the way this story was written. Jumping from present day 2010, back to the 1950's. It was broken up to give you details of the past and of the trial. Also we eventually get to read pages written in Grace's diary. 

 As Chris takes on a quest into finding out more about Grace Fox and who she was, Before the Poison, he finds out more about himself.  Maybe who he is can help him find what he's looking for and understand better who Grace was.

Loved the idea, liked the book. All in all, there may have been too much focus on what I considered "not important" parts and too little detail or understanding on the " big stuff".

I still gave it 3 stars*

Review: Spare Change

Spare Change

by Bette Lee Crosby

Quote:" I believe he's a man who can be trusted, but you'll have to be the one to decide whether or not you want to tell him the truth of what happened."-Olivia pg. 212

Started: Jan. 3, 2013

Finished: Jan.5, 2013

280 pages/ paperback

From the cover:

Olivia Westerly's father disowned her when she tossed her nose in the air and left home in pursuit of a job he considered scandalous. He expected that she'd marry and settle into having babies as her friends had done; but Olivia simply couldn't tolerate the thought. Why just the mere mention of children sent chills up her spine!

 Believing that children weigh a woman down like a pocket full of stones, Olivia avoids such entanglements for almost forty years... but then she meets Charlie Doyle and everything changes. Even though Charlie has a son, and a grandson he's supposedly never seen, Olivia is blinded by love and happily says " I do,"

 That happiness is cut short when Charlie dies on their honeymoon and Olivia returns home to find eleven year old Ethan Allen Doyle sitting on her doorstep. The boy's parents are dead and only two people know the truth of what happened- Ethan Allen isn't talking and the murderer wants to make certain he never does. Olivia is the only one who can stop it from happening.

My Review:

I am so excited to finally get to this review! This is my first review on a book that was sent to me personally from the author! Signed and everything!!! Woo hoo! I am more than delighted to do this review for what I am discovering is a wonderful author, Mrs. Bette Lee Crosby.

Be sure and visit her website or you can even be her fan/friend on Goodreads by clicking here.

Don't forget to add her books to your reading list!

Spare Change was such a sweet, heartwarming and sometimes sassy book. While some reviewers have claimed this book to have a slow start, I rather enjoyed the character building aspect of the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the well way it was written in short chapters by individual characters views.

The character's personalities immediately show through and draw you into the story.

Olivia is a woman who has always known what she wanted and what she didn't want in life.

Charlie is the all American man of her dreams, Olivia has been waiting for.

Susanna is a feisty, dreamer that struggles with what she can do and what she wants to do

Benjamin is the hard-working, never has it good enough, rough-necked drunkard

Ethan Allen(my favorite) is the neglected, spunky little guy with too much life experience for his age

Scooter Cobb is the slimey, over sized, above the law wannabe!

Detective Jack Mahoney, good-guy, christian cop who wants to save the day and right all wrongs

There are several other, smaller characters, but all have very distinguished personalities.

This book showed me how you never know how or when you will find faith, trust and hope. The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways. Crosby shows that no matter what we think we want in life, He always has something better for us. at least in Olivia's case.

I don't want to include any spoilers which makes this part of the review so difficult. I really enjoyed this story and hope that there will be a sequel. I will say I wish Crosby had written more about why Charlie hadn't spoken to his son and where did Susanna really come from. I think those were the only two things that never really got answered for me.

I have already recommended this book to several friends and have 3 people in line to borrow my copy!

Definitely 5 stars*****

Review: Still Missing

Still Missing

by Chevy Stevens

Quote: " I've tried to play women's games before, with some unfortunate results, but I won't make that mistake again." ~The Freak pg. 40

Started: December 12, 2012

Finished: December 20, 2012

352 pages, hardcover

From the cover:

On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old Realtor, had three goals: Sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for diner with her ever-patient boyfriend. the open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all.

 Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive in a remote mountain cabin-which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist- is a second narrative recounting the nightmare that follows her escape: her struggle to piece her shattered life back together, the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor, and the disturbing sense that things are far from over.

  The truth doesn't always set you free. Still Missing  is a shocking, visceral, brutal, and beautifully crafted debut novel about surviving the unsurvivable- and living to bear witness.

My review:

I have mixed feeling about this book. There were some things I really enjoyed about it and others I couldn't believe(literally), or just couldn't understand. It seems to me there were too many holes in this story. Too many un-established characters and too much left untold. It made the story very hard to follow or to even try to solve the mystery. Which for me is half the fun of reading. Don't we "want" to figure it out? 

I felt very confused throughout most of the book. 

I did like the "idea" of the book and how it gave some detail into what she went through and had to endure. I did feel her dissociating after the event believable. Maybe this book was meant to be as confusing and unbelievable as it would actually be.

How would any human "be" after such events? Don't we all question why, how, after something evil or unjust happens? Maybe this book IS more real, simply because it makes no sense. It is about a tragic, horrible "thing" that happened and someone, many people are left to go on afterwards with unanswered questions. No quick problem solved. Yet, they must go on with whatever they do have, whatever is left of themselves.

I gave Still Missing 4 stars*

Review: The Unholy(Krewe of Hunters #6)

The Unholy

by Heather Graham

Quote: " If the cops could just understand what this has done to him, how he's feeling...they'd know he couldn't have done it."~ Eddie pg. 134

Started: Nov. 1, 2012

Finished: Nov. 27, 2012

486 pages/hardcover, large print edition

From the cover:

The 1940s: Hard-boiled detectives and femmes fatale are box-office gold. In one iconic scene, set in a deserted museum, the buxom beauty is throttled by an ominous Egyptian priest. 

NOW: The Black Box Cinema immortal-izes Hollywood's Golden Age in its gallery of  film noir tributes. But the mannequin of that Egyptian priest is hardly lifeless. He walks- and a young starlet dies a terrifying death. Movie mogul Eddie Archer's son is charged with the murder and calls agent Sean Cameron. As part of an FBI paranormal forensics team, Cameron works with special-effects artist Madison Darvil- who has her own otherworldly gifts.

My Review:

This is book six in the Krewe of Hunters series. Each of these books has their own story line and setting but still very many, maybe too many similarities. While they are different enough to keep you from feeling deju vu with each book as an individual, they do seem to have the save theme. crime=krewe=2 single people=both have "otherworldly gifts"= damsel in distress= cased solve=happy ending.

You get the idea, right?

I enjoyed the setting of this one only after about half way through the book when they actually started describing the history of the property and how the ancestors were connected. That was probably the best part other than the main hunk-o was named Sean and I may have been a little too biased and kept reading solely to see what action he got.

I probably will finish out this series. Even if only to see where they send the Krewe next...

*4 stars*

Review: The Midwife's Confession

The Midwife's Confession

by Diane Chamberlain

Quote: " I feel like I don't know her. I know I've said that a lot lately, but now I really, really feel that way." ~ Emerson pg. 138

Started: Oct. 29, 2012

Finished: Oct. 31, 2012

417 pages/ paperback

From the cover:

Dear Anna,

What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I'm so sorry...

The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle- her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family- described a woman who embraced life.

 Yet there was so much they didn't know.

With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle's friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives- and the life of a desperate stranger- with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.

Told with sensitivity and insight. The Midwife's Confession will have you turning pages late into the night.

My Review:

This book will definitely be among my Top 10 favorite books ever. Honestly, I couldn't tell you exactly why and yet, there are so many reasons why! Confused? Me too! I don't know. It was just such a well written book with the most intriguing characters. I could not put it down. I literally read on and off for less than 2 days and had it finished. i even went back and re-read skipping around trying to take it all in again and make sure I hadn't missed anything. I couldn't get enough of the characters!

 Everything falls into place just when it should. It gives you such insight into how complex humans truly are. How even the people we are closest to can be so much more than we ever knew or ever thought possible. 

This is such a tragic and heart wrenching story about a woman's life, mistakes, lessons learned and how she copes with the things both in and out of her control. Right, wrong or ugly this was who she was. As you read you learn which parts she chose to expose and what she kept hidden until after her death. things that even then were only found by accident and the drive to find answers. to find the truth!

Completely amazing!

*5 stars* (should be 10!)

Please check out more of  Diane Chamberlain's books.

I know I will be!

Review: The Evil Inside(Krewe of Hunters #4)

The Evil Inside

by Heather Graham

Quote: "Most people do mock what they don't understand- especially when we're all taught to be brave, that ghosts don't exist and there's nothing hiding under the bed." ~ Jake pg. 146

Started: Oct 4, 2012

Finished: Oct. 13, 2012

479 pages/ hardcover, Large print edition

From the cover:

Lexington House, overlooking New England's jagged coastline, has been the witness to madness and murder throughout its history. But in recent years the malice has lain silent. Until now. Jenna Duffy is a member of the nation's foremost paranormal forensic team. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House, or for the chief suspect- a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill. With the young man's life on the line, Jenna teams up with attorney Samuel hall to pinpoint who- or what- is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past.

My Review:

Ok, first off I will tell you that I am going to rate this book high. Probably higher than I should. Only because I feel this book would be amazing as a stand alone. The reason I'm so bummed is that Graham is becoming SO predictable! I really do enjoy this series but every book by chapter 2 we know that 2 people are going to fall for each other and usually have figured out which 2. :(

With that out of the way...I did enjoy The Evil Inside. This story was a great book to choose just around Halloween. Set in Massachusetts during an event called Haunted Happenings, it focuses on a number of murders and trying to determine if they are looking for one killer or possibly two. Once again the Krewe of Hunters are called in to use their talents to try and gain insight to the string of mysteries and murders. Jenna is called in to help by her Uncle a to help with a boy he once had as a patient who is now being held as a suspect in a brutal crime, the murder of his entire family.  

*4 stars*

Review: Sacred Evil (Krewe of Hunters #3)

Sacred Evil 

by Heather Graham

Quote: "Are you still convinced that it all has to do with Jack the Ripper and someone obsessed with him?" ~Angela pg. 196

Started: Sept. 23, 2012

Finished: Oct. 4, 2012

479 pages/ hardcover, Large print edition

From the cover:

One look and Manhattan Detective Jude Crosby recognizes the tableau: a re-creation of Jack the Ripper's gruesome work. but he also sees something beyond the actions of a mere copycat. something more dangerous...and unexplainable. As the city seethes with suspicion, Jude calls on Whitney Tremont, a member of the country's preeminent paranormal investigating team, to put the speculation to rest. Yet when Whitney and Jude delve deeper, what they discover is more shocking than either could have predicted, and twice as sinister.

My Review:

This series continues to get better and better. While I won't say this book was one of my favorites out of the series, I did love the story line and the historical theme that went along with it. I think I like these so much because they use real events from the past and put a new spin on them. many of the historical events I had heard of but never learned any of the details. With these being "cop stories" they do seem to use a lot of facts and follow the crimes in a realistic way.

This book brings the story of Jack the Ripper to modern times with a paranormal twist. Once again, the Krewe of Hunters are called in to use their personal talents to shed light on an unsolved murder case. Sacred Evil seems to focus mainly on Jude and Whitney. I like how each story lets you get to know certain characters more intimately and gives a more detailed look into each of the members.

*5 stars*

continuing on to the next book...

Review: Heart of Evil( Krewe of Hunters #2)

Heart of Evil

by Heather Graham

Quote: " I believe that there are spirits here, spirits of the past, of happiness and of trauma. But if we have ghosts, they're here to guard us, to watch over us. There's nothing evil at this plantation." ~ pg. 279

Started: September 17, 2012

Finished: September 23, 2012

436 pages/ hardcover, Large print edition

From the cover:

Donegal Plantation is known for its captivating atmosphere, haunting legends... and now a corpse swinging from a marble angel in its cemetery. A corpse discovered in nearly the same situation as that of Marshall Donegal, the patriarch killed just before the Civil War. Desperate for help traditional criminologists can't provide, Ashley Donegal turns to an elite team of paranormal investigators who blend hard forensics with rare intuition. Among them is Jake Mallory, a gifted New Orleans musician with a talent that stretches beyond the realm of the physical, and with a few dark ghosts of his own.

My Review:

This is the second book in what I am discovering to be a great series! I love that the first book forms the team, the Krewe of Hunters. Now each book is a new story, a new crime they must solve using logic and intuition. The team has a bond and you see them growing and the characters developing evermore.

I love anything to do with American history so these books have a bonus for me.

 The story takes you on "flashbacks" or into the minds of those long dead, showing you how they saw things.

Heart of Evil  is about an murder on the Donegal Plantation that uncovers a much darker secret and raises a lot of unfinished business. Several families and a lot of bad blood, a mystery over 150 years old and all the lives it affects. I'll definitely be reading through the rest of this series and see what becomes of the Krewe of Hunters!

*5 stars*

Review: Those Across The River

Those Across The River

by Christopher Buehlman

Quote: "Mother wasn't to talk about her family to me. And she didn't. But when I got to college, i started digging it up for myself."~ Frank pg. 90

Started: Aug: 29, 2012

Finished: Sept. 5, 2012

357 pages/hardcover

From the cover:

Haunted by memories of the Great War, failed academic Frank Nichols and his wife, Eudora, have arrived in the sleepy Georgia town of Whitbrow, where Frank hopes to write a history of his family's old estate-the Savoyard Plantation-and the horrors that occurred there. At first, the quaint, rural ways of their new neighbors seem to be everything they wanted. But under the facade of summer socials and small-town charm, there is an unspoken dread that the townsfolk have lived with for generations. A presence that demands sacrifice. 

 It comes from the shadowy woods across the river, where the ruins of the Savoyard Plantation still stand. Where a long-smoldering debt of blood has never been forgotten...

 Where it has been waiting for Frank Nichols.

My Review:

I loved almost everything about this book. It was such a wonderful suspenseful, mysterious book based on old rituals and revenge. It is set in the south, Georgia, where traditions and superstitions run high and deep. Coming from the north you never know how to take things or how true they can be. Sometimes there are things happening all around you whether you believe in them or not. When you are face to face with them and believing is still a question you are unsure of the answer to, it makes for a terrifying experience! 

I definitely loved this book, but will give only *4stars* due to so much profanity! I think Buehlman had #1 characters and detail of their personalities and reactions to situations without the unneeded swearing throughout the entire book.(major turn-off). Also, warning to some. There is some detailed sexual experiences between the characters. For some this is also a "TMI" story. I personally enjoyed those "scenes". It did help develop the characters for me and added a little "heat" to a chilling story!

Review: The Hunt for the Seventh

The Hunt for the Seventh

by Christine Morton-Shaw

Quote: "This one, he sees her. This one, he knows where her name, it is written down. All of the children's names, six names in total, they are written in the church." ~ Henry aka Einstein pg. 63

Started: Aug. 23, 2012

Finished: Aug. 27, 2012

273 pages/ paperback

From the cover:

A haunted mansion.

Six dead children.

A garden of statues.

With every step he takes around the carefully manicured grounds of Minerva Hall, Jim is haunted by the ghosts of children, long dead, whom no one else can see. Urging him to "find the Seventh," the children leave him cryptic clues pointing to a devastating ancient prophecy that only he can stop from being fulfilled.

If Jim doesn't figure out the clues, innocent people will die. But how can Jim find the answers while the dangers of the Hall grow ever more threatening? And even if he can, the real question is- is Jim already too late?

My Review:

This was a great little MG book. It has just enough mystery and "scare" factor to be enjoyed by any middle school reader. The main character is an eleven-year-old who has recently lost his mother. Now his father, sister and himself are starting over. New home, job, school, friends and life. The changes they experience are not what any of them had in mind. This is not what Jim had imagined when he dreamed of more adventure and excitement in what had become a dull, routine life of  feeling alone and overlooked. I give it *4 stars*