4/5 stars
www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1788

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

I like Hannah, even if she does have a knack for finding dead bodies. In this book, some of Hannah’s friends are acting a bit mysterious after the murder of the high school basketball coach... more

I like Hannah, even if she does have a knack for finding dead bodies. In this book, some of Hannah’s friends are acting a bit mysterious after the murder of the high school basketball coach, and she’s having a hard time figuring out what’s going on while juggling judging duties at the baking contest and keeping things going at her cookie shop. Secrets are in the air, and one person’s attempt at blackmail has serious consequences. There are elements to this series that I enjoy besides Hannah’s snooping around — I like her burgeoning relationship with her sister and her kinda romances with Mike and Norman. It’s refreshing to have a female main character who isn’t rushing to be in a relationship with the first guy who shows her a little interest. Hannah knows she has options, and she’s considering them! I used to be pretty heavily in favor of Detective Mike, but Dentist Norman is starting to grow on me. The recipes scattered throughout the book are a nice bonus.

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

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... more

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.

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

This was my second favorite of the Quinn Brothers novels (Ethan’s being my favorite). Nora Robert’s best skill is creating characters and complex family units that feel real, and this... more

This was my second favorite of the Quinn Brothers novels (Ethan’s being my favorite). Nora Robert’s best skill is creating characters and complex family units that feel real, and this series is no exception. I liked this more in-depth look at Philip, and I also liked his romantic interest, Sybil, even if she is a bit cold and shut down for most of the book. Nora also does a great job pulling us into the setting, giving us a more clinical look at small-town life through the eyes Sybil, an outsider. The one element of this series I could do without is the ghostly Papa Quinn, especially since he is one of the few ghosts who have a solid form capable of giving someone a boost up a wall. But we all know that Nora likes a little bit of the supernatural mixed up in her love stories. The book does a good job of bringing resolution to the trilogy and answering some important questions, like Seth’s parentage and Ray Quinn’s connection to Gloria. This is one of her more solid series.

http://www.bookconfessions.com/2010/03/2010-23-black-seconds-karin-fossum/

This was a quick, fun read. There’s no deeper meaning, no seriousness, just a couple of seemingly incompatible people with great physical chemistry who are thrown into an unbelievable situation... more

This was a quick, fun read. There’s no deeper meaning, no seriousness, just a couple of seemingly incompatible people with great physical chemistry who are thrown into an unbelievable situation. This is very typical Evanovich, full of wild, over-the-top scenarios. After all, there’s nothing quite like meeting your girlfriend’s parents for the first time while there’s a drug bust going on across the street. This is a perfect book for a hot afternoon at the beach.

http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1759

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

http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1479

I'm not gonna lie. If you are easily offended or the slightest bit prudish, don't read this book. But if you can look at life with a sense of humor and aren't afraid of some cuss words and frank... more

I'm not gonna lie. If you are easily offended or the slightest bit prudish, don't read this book. But if you can look at life with a sense of humor and aren't afraid of some cuss words and frank talk about sex and relationships, then you should pick up this book. I've been listening to Keith and the Girl's podcasts for almost a year and the chemistry that makes them so good in audio and on-screen makes them just as good on paper. They tackle topics that range from handling money and household issues to inner and outer beauty to sex and kink to marriage, in-laws, and kids. There's no conventional wisdom here, just straight talk, simple answers, and plenty of laughs.

http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1759

http://www.bookconfessions.com/?p=1561

Huston's novels have a rhythm and a flow that makes them nearly impossible to put down, and this was no exception. Surprisingly, there's not too many twists on vampire folklore here -- they still... more

Huston's novels have a rhythm and a flow that makes them nearly impossible to put down, and this was no exception. Surprisingly, there's not too many twists on vampire folklore here -- they still need a fairly regular supply of blood, and sunlight is a problem. In rogue-vampyre-cum-problem-solver Joe Pitt's world, Vampyrism is caused by a virus (the Vyrus). Pitt's struggle in this novel is as much with his Vyrus as it is with the people who are trying to control him -- or maybe even kill him. Pitt's supporting Vampyre cast is varied, from the ex-hippie Terry to the businessman Predo to guru Marshall, each approaching Vampyrism in their own unique way. As always, Huston pulls no punches. His writing is gritty and tough and sometimes gory, and you can't always expect a happy ending. He's created a complex, complicated, and dangerous Manhattan for his main character to navigate, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he has in store next for Joe Pitt.

When we first meet Nan Powell, she is wandering naked around her neighbor’s back yard and sampling their kitchen garden after a quick skinny dip in their pool. They’re not home, of course... more

When we first meet Nan Powell, she is wandering naked around her neighbor’s back yard and sampling their kitchen garden after a quick skinny dip in their pool. They’re not home, of course. So, needless to say, Nan is a little eccentric, and she is also well-practiced in the art of denial. She’s been ignoring the fact that she’s running out of money for as long as she can, and now she has to do something about it. So she decides to rent out rooms in her much-desired house on Nantucket. What follows is a story of people who are looking for some healing in their lives, and finding it in a peaceful summer on a peaceful island. Unfortunately, I felt that the story fell a little short on emotional punch. The "unexpected visitor" story arc fell completely flat. It felt a little like things had to be wrapped up quickly, so there wasn’t time to make anything messy. I still liked the story and enjoyed listening to it, but I think it could have been taken further.

I have a real soft spot for this series; it was one of the first suspense series I ever started. I’ve been reading books in this series for almost 20 years, and in nowhere near the intended order... more

I have a real soft spot for this series; it was one of the first suspense series I ever started. I’ve been reading books in this series for almost 20 years, and in nowhere near the intended order. And that’s the nice thing about it — I may not know what house Delaware is living in or what the status of his relationship with Robin is when I start the book, but each stands alone so well that it doesn’t matter. In The Clinic, Kellerman gives us yet another solid mystery, with a touch of questionable moralities and more than a little psychology. When you start an Alex Delaware novel, rarely do you know where it’s going to end up. If you’re a suspense fan and you haven’t started this series, what are you waiting for?

This is a series I’m glad I started. Tess is a little bit lost in her life, seemingly content to get by working here and there and rowing every morning. She finally finds her purpose again when... more

This is a series I’m glad I started. Tess is a little bit lost in her life, seemingly content to get by working here and there and rowing every morning. She finally finds her purpose again when her rowing friend, Rock, asks her to follow his fiancée. This is one of those mysteries that starts out looking like it will go in one direction, but ends up somewhere completely different. We also find out that Lippman isn’t an author who’s afraid to make some hard decisions. The setting adds a little bit of extra charm for me personally, because my husband is from the Baltimore area and we go there often. I listened to it on audio, and narrator Deborah Hazlett did a great job of illustrating the native Baltimore accent without being cartoonish about it. I can’t believe this is my first Laura Lippman book! She writes right up my alley.

I was pleasantly surprised by this, based on the last few of the newer Patterson books I’ve read. I enjoyed the first Michael Bennett novel, Step on a Crack, but found the manufactured emotion... more

I was pleasantly surprised by this, based on the last few of the newer Patterson books I’ve read. I enjoyed the first Michael Bennett novel, Step on a Crack, but found the manufactured emotion around his wife’s death to be so horribly schmaltzy that I almost gave up on the series. I didn’t read the second book, but you can enjoy this third book without reading either of the other two (though it does help to know why Bennett has 10 kids). Like many of Patterson’s villains, Francis X. Mooney is more than a little crazy, and his unpredictability adds the appropriate amount of suspense to the storyline. I liked the addition of FBI agent Emily Parker, and hope we haven’t seen the last of her. Patterson is still no longer a must-read author for me, but this novel gives me hope.