Friday, November 28, 2014

The Kill List, by Nichole Christoff

Jaime Sinclair, the daughter of a U.S. Senator and former Army General has taken on a life vocation of being a Private Investigator who specializes in Security Issues. As the book starts out she is helping to catch a 'stalker' who is going after a Television Personality. In the process she almost looses her life, but she catches the stalker.

As soon as this situation seems to have resolved itself she is called by her former husband, an Army Colonel whose daughter has been kidnapped. Jaime will rush to the Army base to help in the process of finding the little girl. She will come in contact with a former friend, FBI agent Kev Jaeger. She will also meet a new friend, Lt. Colonel Adam Barrett who happens to be the head of the MP's at Leeds Army Base.

Together with Lt. Colonel Barrett Ms. Sinclair will help to uncover several different illegal situations as well as find our what happened to Little Brooke, the three year old diabetic who was kidnapped. And, if that is not enough she will face the issue of developing feelings for Lt. Colonel Barrett. 

But she and Lt. Colonel Barrett have past life issues that will make it impossible for them to develop a relationship, unless of course they can each come to the point of revealing past hurts and seeking the healing that they need.

The story is well written. The characters are developed in an amazing way for such a short book. There are plenty of plot twists and yet the whole thing is very realistic and believable. I love the way that Christoff develop's her story and ties several issues together from stalking to PTSD to illegal activity and kidnapping to family bullying and abuse issues. There are many talking points for this book and they are all easy to get into.

I enjoyed the book tremendously and would love for friends to read it so that we could sit down in a book club and dialogue about all the different issues that are raised.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Friday, November 14, 2014

The Other Mr. Darcy, by Monica Fairview

For a Pride and Prejudice sequel this one is very well thought out and well written. The main character's of the story will be Caroline Bingley and Mr. Robert Darcy, the cousin of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.


The story starts with Caroline having an emotional breakdown at the celebration of the Lizzy and Darcy's wedding. She goes to the library to console herself by having a good cry. What she doesn't know is that Mr. Robert Darcy is in the Library, in the shadows, looking for a book and having a drink. He is witness to Caroline's meltdown.

As the story develops we will watch as Caroline Bingley has to deal with learning to let herself go emotionally and that it will not mean that she gives up being a Lady. For Robert Darcy he must contend with Caroline's feelings that he is not gentlemanly enough. It seems like Pride and Prejudice all over again, but with different characters.

For me I grew to dislike Caroline and Louisa Bingley in the original book. I did not like their high brow ways and the constant banter about the Bennett's and country society. So, I needed to have some real tenacity to keep reading. But Monica Fairview drew me in and had me watching Caroline blossom into a Lady that was someone you could actually like and cheer for, hoping that God would bless her life with a man to love. The only question being is Mr. Robert Darcy that man.

I really did love the book and thought it a great sequel to the original work by Jane Austen. I think if you are an Austen fan you will enjoy reading about how Caroline can change, how she can grow, how she can come to discover that marriage is about love and not about society and upbringing and what you will gain financially.

Now the only question is, will Louisa Bingley Hurst ever change?

Enjoy!

Friday, November 7, 2014

The Job, by Janet Evanovich

What a fun little read. Nick Fox is an international thief that has been on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. But the truth is that Kate captured him years before but the FBI kept it quiet as Nick helped them to find and put behind bars many other crooks. In the mean time Nick has had lots of fun living the good life and spending some of the spoils of his previous life.

One problem, he really likes Kate and she, well, she really likes him. But her task is to keep him out of trouble and to use him to help capture other criminals. So, when the call comes that Nick was caught on video tape stealing some pricey artwork the FBI is not pleased. Then he is caught in the act of another crime. Kate is sent to try and capture him, but before she can leave he contacts her to tell her that it is a set up and not him.

The story will unfold to bring about the Con Job of the century as Nick and Kate work together to capture the head of a drug cartel through an elaborate con that they devise. The FBI knows what they are doing, but still they are off grid and will be disavowed if caught. Forget that, if caught by the drug cartel no one will ever find the bodies.

The writing is really good. The cast of characters are very well developed and the story line is plausible and down right ingenious.

This is a great little read that everyone will enjoy.

From the FBI to Scotland Yard to the world's largest Drug Cartel the world will just get busy and fun.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Crossroads, by Barbara Cameron

This is a good story about two young Amish people who have "loved" each other since grade school. Emma loves her Amish life and is looking forward to getting married and raising children. Isaac is not so sure he loves the Amish life. He has moved out of his parents home and rented a small cottage and is enjoying his running around stage of life. He has taken to living like the English to the point of even drinking alcohol.

Emma is not sure she likes what Isaac is doing but she is tolerating his experimenting. But then he suddenly asks her to move in with him, before they get married. She is shocked and angered by his request. How could he think such a thing. They would be shunned by the community. She says no and their relationship seems to end.

The story will be about Isaac learning what is valuable to him. He will learn what life without Emma is like and will have to decide what he will do about joining the church. His friend Davy is working with him as a roofer and they seem to be headed the wrong way.

An accident on the job will jar Isaac into looking at life a bit different once again. What will the outcome be.

The story is nicely written and enjoyable to read. For my first time reading a Barbara Cameron novel I did enjoy it very much. I'm sure you will as well.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

A Love Undone, by Cindy Woodsmall

Van Beiler and Jolene Keim are engaged to be married, but one week before the wedding Jolene's parents are swept away in a flash flood at the river crossing and they both drown. Jolene has a decision to make, as the oldest of six children what should she do? She tells Van that she wants to marry but then stay and take care of her siblings. Van isn't so sure he wants that. As a matter of face he calls off the marriage and Jolene is left with her siblings to raise on her own.

To make matters worse in a year or so Van will marry Jolene's rival from school who always had her eyes set on Van. Things just seem to go from bad to worse.

Then a new man with a son shows up to provide training for 22 abused horses that the humane society asks him to take. He comes to his uncle Lester's farm to do the work. Jolene happens to provide house cleaning and meals for Old Man Lester. She meets Andy Fisher and has an immediate attraction. It is her understanding that Andy is a widower.

As her heart develops longings for Andy she is going to come to find out that he is actually not a widower but that he is still married, his wife has left him, but he is still married. Thus her heart again is being crushed.

The story is sad yet very heart warming. The additional heart warming part has to do with the animals that Andy is tasked with taking care of. It will give him a chance to find a woman who knows how to care for animals. It will also give him the opportunity to help a young man find a new calling.

But for him the hardest part will be loosing his heart to a woman that he can't have.

This is a great story and written very well.

Enjoy!