Just One Look
by Harlan Coben

Apr 20, 2014 

4 of 5 stars

Read from April 13 to 20, 2014

An ordinary snapshot causes a mother’s world to unravel in an instant. After picking up her two young children from school, Grace Lawson looks through a newly developed set of photographs. She finds an odd one in the pack: a mysterious picture from perhaps twenty years ago, showing four strangers she can’t identify. But there is one face she recognizes—that of her husband, from before she knew him. When her husband sees the photo that night, he leaves their home and drives off without explanation. She doesn’t know where he’s going, or why he’s leaving. Or if he’s ever coming back. Nor does she realize how dangerous the search for him will be. Because there are others interested in both her husband’s past and that photo, including Eric Wu: a fierce, silent killer who will not be stopped from finding his quarry, no matter who or what stands in his way.

Her world turned upside down, filled with doubts about her herself and marriage, Grace must confront the dark corners of her own tragic past she struggles to learn the truth, find her husband, and save her family.

My Review:

This is the 16th Harlan Coben book I have read. His books are filled with lots of suspense, mystery and twists in the plot. Just when you think you have solved the mystery (crimes) the plot twists. He really keeps you guessing until the end with lots of surprises. I like how he brings all the clues together and solves the mysteries at the end of the book. His books are real page turners. He is definitely one of my favorite suspense writers.

Forbidden Falls (Virgin River, #9)
by Robyn Carr

4 of 5 stars

Read from April 08 to 12, 2014

VIRGIN RIVER IS ABUZZ WITH THE NEWS THAT A STRANGER BOUGHT THE TOWN'S ABANDONED CHURCH ON EBAY. THE BUYER, A YOUNG WIDOWED REVEREND, IS A LITTLE LIKE THE BUILDING ITSELF: IN NEED OF SOME TENDER LOVING CARE.

Noah Kincaid arrives ready to roll up his sleeves and revitalize his new purchase, but he's going to need some help. An ad in the local paper brings and improbably candidate his way.

"Pastor's assistant" is not a phrase that springs to mind when Noah meets brassy, beautiful Ellie Baldwin. With her colorful clothes and even more colorful past, Ellie needs a respectable job so she can regain custody of her children. Noah can't help but admire her spunk and determination, and she may just be the breath of fresh air he needs.

The unlikely duo may come from two different worlds, but they have more in common than anyone would have expected. And in Virgin River lasting happiness is never out of the question.

My Review:

This the 9th book in the Virgin River Series. It has been a while since I read #8 but Robyn Carr has a way of bringing the reader back to the previous events and characters. I like how she interweaves the previous characters into the next installment in the series.

I found this book to be so-so for most of it, but the last hundred pages was a different story. There was some drama in it and it made me want to keep going to see the outcome of the story. It ended on a positive note for all the characters.

Missing You
by Harlan Coben

Apr 07,20 14 

5 of 5 stars

Read from April 06 to 07, 2014

It's a profile, like all the others on the online dating site. But as NYPD Detective Kat Donovan focuses on the accompanying picture, she feels her whole world explode, as emotions she’s ignored for decades come crashing down on her. Staring back at her is her ex-fiancé Jeff, the man who shattered her heart—and who she hasn’t seen in 18 years.

Kat feels a spark, wondering if this might be the moment when past tragedies recede and a new world opens up to her. But when she reaches out to the man in the profile, her reawakened hope quickly darkens into suspicion and then terror as an unspeakable conspiracy comes to light, in which monsters prey upon the most vulnerable.

As the body count mounts and Kat's hope for a second chance with Jeff grows more and more elusive, she is consumed by an investigation that challenges her feelings about everyone she ever loved—her former fiancé, her mother, and even her father, whose cruel murder so long ago has never been fully explained. With lives on the line, including her own, Kat must venture deeper into the darkness than she ever has before, and discover if she has the strength to survive what she finds there.(less)

My Review:

I found this book to be fast-paced, engaging, thrilling, and suspenseful. This is why I like Harlan Coben so much because all his books are suspenseful. He gave lot of clues throughout the book which made me feel like the detective trying to solve the crime(s.) Everything came to together at the end with lots of surprises. My reaction was wow" when I finished the book.