92 Pacific Boulevard (Cedar Cove, #9)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author), Sandra Burr (Narrator)

Feb 14, 2014  

3 of 5 stars

Read from February 05 to 14, 2014

There 12 books in The Cedar Cove Series. Each address belongs to one character or couple and the main story or mystery revolves around him, her or them while all the other characters continue to make an appearance and continue forward with their lives. From when the series began most of the characters are the same although their lives have changed. This book deals with Sheriff Troy Davis and Faith Beckwith who was his first love but due to circumstances they ended up happily married to other people. Both are now widowed. A misunderstanding took place in the last book and they are still working through the fall-out plus Troy is trying to solve the case of the 25 year old skeleton found in a cave by two teenagers as well as looking for the person responsible for vandalizing Faith's rental home. Olivia is still fighting cancer and Ben continues to have problems and to be disappointed by his grown son David.

MY REVIEW

These characters feel like my friends since this book is the ninth book in the series. I feel like I have been drawn into the character's lives.

The only issue I have is that Troy and Faith's relationship has been too drawn out between the last book and this book. It was getting old already. This installment was suppose to focus on them, but the other relationships were also delved into just as much as Troy and Faith's courtship.

Each book in the series does introduce new characters and their situations and relationships with one another. Sometimes they are a good addition and sometimes they are not. The situation that was the most ridiculous and unrealistic was when Linc decided to get married to some woman he helped on the side of the road. That woman was Lori who very recently broke off her engagement with a man who turned out to be a thief. She asks Linc to marry her almost immediately after meeting him. Even Linc is in shock over her proposal since he had no interest in ever getting married. I assume that in the next book of the series, it will be revealed as to why she wanted this hasty marriage.

This book was not my favorite in the series.

Next,I will be going on to book 10 of the series. I need to follow up with the cliffhangers that were left in book 9.

 

8 Sandpiper Way (Cedar Cove, #8)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Feb 03,2014

5 of 5 stars

Read from January 31 to February 03, 2014

This is the 8th book in The Cedar Cove Series. In order to get into the lives of the characters, the books should be read in order. Each book builds on the previous books. The reader learns more about the characters' lives. This book focused on the lives of Pastor Flemmming and his wife, Emily. We learn of their financial issues and how their marriage was almost destroyed. We also learn more about Olivia Griffin, family court judge, and her health issues which are very sad. We learn more about Sheriff Troy Davis and his issues which will be developed more in the next book of the series. Bobby Polgar and his wife Teri play a bigger role in this book than previously. Some of the characters that were introduced in the prior books are also part of this book. It was interesting to see how their lives are progressing. This book introduced two new characters, Shaw and Tanni. I am interested to see how their relationship develops.

This book definitely kept my interest up and I was able to read it quickly even though it had 370 pages . I like how the author left cliffhangers about five of the couples. It makes the reader want to go right onto the next book in the series which I will be doing

2014 Reading Challenge

  I have read 8 of 50 books

12%

12%

2 books ahead of schedule

Silent Night: A Spenser Holiday Novel (Spencer, #42.5)
by Robert B. Parker, Helen Brann, Joe Mantegna

Jan 31, 2014 

3 of 5 stars

It's December in Boston, and Spenser is busy planning the menu for Christmas dinner when he's confronted in his office by a young boy named Slide. Homeless and alone, Slide has found refuge with an organization named Street Business, which gives shelter and seeks job opportunities for the homeless and lost. Slide's mentor, Jackie Alvarez, is being threatened, and Street Business is in danger of losing its tenuous foothold in the community, turning Slide and many others like him back on the street. But it's not a simple case of intimidation—Spenser, aided by Hawk, finds a trail that leads to a dangerous drug kingpin, whose hold on the at-risk community Street Business serves threatens not just the boys' safety and security, but their lives as well.

Unfinished at the time of his death, Silent Night was completed by Parker's longtime agent, whose decades-long association with Parker's work gives her unique insight and perspective to his voice and storytelling style. Her contribution also speaks volumes about their enduring friendship.

My REVIEW

I thought this was a very simple mystery to read without a lot of depth or details. It was a quick read and didn't have twists like I enjoy in other mysteries. Even so, I did enjoy it. This is the second Spenser Series book I have read. As you can see above this is book 42.5 in the series. From what I understand the books do not have to be read in order. From what I understand as well is that the old TV show "Spenser For Hire" is a take off from these books. I never watched the show.

Moloka'i
by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author)

Jan 26, 20 14  

5 of 5 stars

Read from January 20 to 26, 2014

This richly imagined novel, set in Hawaii more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place---and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. It covers an 80 year span from 1891-1970.

Rachel Kalama, a seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end---but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.

MY REVIEW

I found the book to be heartbreaking and uplifting, following the story of Rachel Kalama. With death all around her she still showed incredible strength and courage for herself and others. She dealt with each challenge and was a positive influence to all those around her. I admired her bravery in dealing with her illness and not letting it take over her life.

I also enjoyed this book because it opened my eyes to a problem, to which I had never given much thought to, even though it was unpleasant. I learned much about the leper colony on this small island of Hawaii. It was also very detailed and many of the political figures and certainly the locations were factual. I learned about Hawaii's history over the 80 year span.

There were themes of religion, culture, family life and politics within the book. I also like how the book ended even though the last 20 years were rushed through.

Since there were so many Hawaiian words throughout the book, I would have liked if the author included a glossary of the terms in the back of the book.  It would have definitely helped me!

Walking Shadow
by Robert B. Parker

Jan 16, 2014  

4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2014-new-authors

Read from January 12 to 16, 2014

A theater manager is being stalked by a mysterious figure and asks Spenser to help. Before he can start investigating, an actor is shot and killed on stage during a performance. An actress also complains of being followed. While he’s trying to figure out exactly what’s going on, Spenser gets threatened by the leader of the local Chinese gangs. After surviving a hail of bullets, Spenser and Hawk turn to gunman and gangster Vinnie Morris for assistance.

My Review:

Robert Parker is a new author for me. I am going to add him to my list of good detective story writers. A friend of mine gave me the book to read since I like the detective genre. This one did not disappoint me. It was an easy read that kept me guessing until the end. I did have some hunches though as I read through the book. Apparently, this is one of the books from The Spenser Series which includes 39 books!! I would imagine if I go back to the first book in the series, I will get some background information about the characters and the situations they have been through.

The only thing that annoyed me was the overuse of the word "said." It was constantly "I said, She said, or He said." There are lots of words that can be used to substitute for the word "said.

Fairy Tale Weddings: Cindy and the Prince / Some Kind of Wonderful
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

Jan 11, 2014 

3 of 5 stars

Read from January 08 to 11, 2014

Fairy Tale Weddings contains two previously published Debbie Macomber novels. Cindy and her Prince is a modern retelling of Cinderella and Some Kind of Wonderful is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

My Review:

I usually don't like to read two stories in one book but this book was an exception. Cindy and Her Prince was ok, but I didn't particularly care for the story line. It was unrealistic to me because Thorne fell in love with Cindy almost instantly. I guess that is what makes the story a fairy tale but she was annoying to me since she couldn't make up her mind about their relationship.

Some Kind of Wonderful really held my attention more. The story line was more developed and more intense at times. I was drawn right into it from the beginning. I like how the two leading characters were there for each other and were influential in changing each others lives for the better.