I liked this a bit more than the last Dresden book. The plot felt more solid and easier to follow, though there still wasn't enough Murphy or Bob. I really like Murphy and Bob. I'm not as big a fan of the Knights of the Cross and that whole side to the story. And I'm hoping this whole vampires vs. wizards war ends soon, because it's really being dragged out. I like Harry best when he's trying to figure out a mystery rather than running for his life. I'll continue with the series, but I'm definitely hoping for a sea change.

This series was recommended to me by someone a few years ago, and I'm just now getting around to giving it a shot. I really enjoyed this! It's more contemporary romance than romantic suspense, but it's a much more developed story than you get from something Harlequin-esque. Melinda is a fish out of water in Virgin River, and I liked seeing the town and its people through her unfamiliar eyes. The cantankerous old doctor is a bit of a cliche, but he's endearing enough that it doesn't matter. And who doesn't love a Marine? The series as a whole focuses more on the town than on a specific main character, but I'm hoping to see familiar faces in the next books. If you like a little more meat to your romance, this is a series for you.

Thora Gudmundsdottir (have I mentioned how fascinated I am by the Icelandic patronymic naming system?) is very... normal. She's a lawyer, but not the usual sort you find in crime novels. She specializes in contractual law. When a German woman offers her more than her yearly salary to find out who really murdered her son, Thora finds she really can't refuse. After all, she's a divorced mother of two whose car is in the shop, yet again. Thora is matched up with Matthew Reich, who works for the family of the murdered young man. Thora and Matthew start out awkwardly, but soon grow into an easy companionship that pulls you through this story of witchcraft and rituals and bitterness and jealousy. I doubt we'll see more of Matthew later in the series, but I wouldn't mind it. I liked the simplicity and realness of Thora, and I look forward to meeting her again.

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(review too long to post here)
http://www.bookconfessions.com/2009/12/2009-128-the-book-thief-markus-zusak/

This book has stolen the "my favorite Sandra Brown" title from Envy. It is an extremely well crafted thriller, where everyone has a secret and even nature is the enemy. This book has it all.. secret affairs, drugs, washed-up-middle-aged-bullies, a serial killer, divorce, unwanted pregnancy, the FBI, a whole lot of snow and ice, and a red herring to beat all red herrings. Brown had me fooled through the entire novel, and even when I knew I was wrong I still couldn't quite believe it. To me, this is the mark of some masterful character crafting. There's not as much romance as you usually find in a Sandra Brown, but there's enough to whet your whistle. And enough secrets to last a lifetime. There are a few holes in the police procedural parts of the plot (say that 5 times fast), but with all the intrigue, I just didn't care.

This is one of the best series in paranormal fiction. It's not full of camp or cliches or focused on a forbidden love; it's just a young witch growing up and finding her way in the world despite some formidable obstacles. There's depth and complexity here. Rachel doesn't always make the best decisions, but she often makes them for what she feels are the right reasons. She cares deeply about her family and friends, often to her own detriment. In this book, I finally got a real sense of why she dislikes Trent Kalamack so much; before, he seemed more of a nuisance, but here you really saw how cold and one-track-minded he could be. Her family secret was interesting and unexpected, and made a lot of sense. I think that's a situation that is going to work out really well in the long run. Rachel's maturing, and I love being along for the ride.

Loved this. I listened to it, and the audio production really enhances the story. A different actress was used for each woman, and they all did a phenomenal job. You could hear Anne's hope, and then her fear. You could hear Katherine's greed and sly naivety. And the disdain that pours from Jane is palpable. I was familiar with Anne's and Katherine's stories, but not so much Jane's, and she was really the glue that holds this story together. She fancies herself her uncle's equal when it comes to navigating the politics of court, but realizes way too late that she is as much of a pawn as young Katherine was. Katherine isn't a particularly likable girl, but it's hard not to feel sorry for her, since she didn't have the intelligence to realize what was happening to her. She really was just a child. My favorite was Anne, who really shines by the story's end. Delivering the story through the points of view of only these ladies really sells it. This won't be my last Philippa Gregory.

This started out a little slow for me... (slight spoiler).. Maggie's father dies right at the beginning, and the foreshadowing is as noticeable as a neon sign. That turned me off a bit. But once you get into it, you get what you're looking for in a Nora Roberts tale: strong characters in a beautiful setting. Rogan comes off as the more likable character, but you do warm up to Maggie over time, especially when you realize what her childhood must have been like. The details about the glass blowing are interesting at first, but do get a little repetitive. Regardless, I'm looking forward to continuing the trilogy with Briana's story.

Now this is the Christopher Moore I initially raved about. This is light and irreverent and a lot of fun. The main characters are likable and the supporting cast strong. The "Animals", Tommy's fellow night-shifters at the Safeway, seemed like precursors to the "Nerd Herd" on Chuck. Moore explores some of the little talked about side effects of becoming a vampire, like having to quit your job and figuring out what to do when your car gets towed and you can't retrieve it in the daytime. Then again, it's hard to beat the perks of perfect skin and superhuman strength. This is the first book of a series, and we'll definitely be listening to You Suck sometime this year.

This is the first Crais novel I've read with Joe Pike at the forefront, and I thought it was quite good. He reminds me a lot of Jack Reacher from Lee Child's books; they're both quiet, mysterious, and a lot more dangerous than they appear. And here you see a little of Pike's softer side when he finds himself trying to save a baby from becoming a pawn in an organized crime double-cross. I thought Crais did a good job of making you wonder what the truth actually is with a lot of characters that are very good liars. Elvis plays a significant part here, but most of the book is through Pike's eyes. Joe Pike is a really strong leading man, and I hope we see more books from his perspective. If you are a fan of this genre, Crais is a must-read.

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I thought this was pretty good, and not nearly as sacrilegious as I thought it might be. When we meet Joshua (Jesus) at a young age he is already quite aware of who he is and who his father is, amusing his younger brother by bringing dead lizards back to life (his ability to reanimate is a recurring theme). Biff is quite likable, if misguided at times, and is thoroughly devoted to Josh -- something that is readily apparent by the end of the story. There's no big surprise about how it ends, but the middle is wholly original. Josh and Biff's journey to find the three wise men who witnessed his birth has a touch of The Christmas Carol in it, as Josh learns something new about himself with each adventure. This is definitely one of Moore's stronger novels.

This is one of those books where not a whole lot *happens*. You just sort of meander through the summer with Todd and Sarah as their relationship grows and other facets of their lives fall to the wayside. In the backdrop you have the saga of Ronald McGorvey and Larry Moon, a pedophile and the ex-cop who wants to drive him out of town. Mostly this book is about Todd and Sarah and their quest to figure out what they really want in life. The ending wasn't really what I expected, and it's a little surprising which of the two actually figures it out first. The title of this book is interesting, since the people who act most childlike are the adults -- it seems that everyone is primarily concerned with instant gratification, not long-term consequences.

This was the first Dirk Pitt story Clive Cussler wrote, though it wasn't published until 8 years after the first book was published. Dirk is a little rough around the edges here, but he's lacking a little of the machismo/misogyny that plagues him in the first few books in the series. This is a good thing. In fact, Pitt uncharacteristically falls in love in this book, and you have to wonder if that puts his behavior in the next several stories in a different light. Regardless of Pitt's behavior with the ladies, this story gives you exactly what you expect from Clive Cussler -- action, adventure, and a completely unbelievable plot, complete with pontificating bad guy. All things I love when Cussler is involved. Overall, this is a quick, fun read.

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It's not really necessary to read this series in order. Each book deals with a different couple, though you do get to visit with past characters and see where life has taken them.Overall, this was a sweet romance with a recurring theme of children and what parents will do for them. Not only is Ellie fighting for her kids, but another couple in town struggles with a decision about a child they've unexpectedly "inherited". My one complaint is that the first chapter is quite awkward; it's all just narration of how Noah comes to purchase Virgin River's church. I think that background could have been fit in more smoothly. Also, I have no idea why this book is named Forbidden Falls. There is no mention of falls or Forbidden Falls or anything like that in the entire book. I suppose that some might think that Noah's relationship with Ellie is "forbidden", but I think that's a stretch. Regardless, I thought it was a nice story and I definitely plan to read more in this series.

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This wasn't too bad, for a historical romance. It's set at the beginning of the reign of Henry VII, the father of the notorious Henry VIII, though none of it actually takes place at court. However, Henry VII does play a large role. Political intrigue is the driving force behind most of the plot. The romance between Marian and Griffith could have been a little more developed -- they went from lust to love very quickly -- but there were things I enjoyed. The dialogue, though not completely historically accurate, is more fitting than the speech patterns of today that are often used in historical romances. Also, I like the twisting intrigue of court. I'm liking Christina Dodd, and I'll definitely be reading more of her books.

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rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1999

rated 5/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1995

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1984

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1980

rated 5/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1958

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1949

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1927

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1941

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1915

rated 5/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1877

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1871

rated 5/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1857

rated 4.5/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1849

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1836

rated 3/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1830

rated 4.5/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1821

rated 4/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1795

rated 5/5
http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1804