1105 Yakima Street (Cedar Cove, #11)
by Debbie Macomber (Goodreads Author)

May 31,2014 

4 of 5 stars

Read from May 24 to 31, 2014

Synopsis: You’ve probably heard that my wife has left me. Rachel’s pregnant, and she says that she can’t handle the stress in our household anymore. My thirteen-year-old daughter, Jolene, is jealous of her. Maybe it’s my fault. As a widower I spoiled her – Jolene was reading over my shoulder just now and says that’s not true. She claims Rachel ruined everything. But that’s not true. The real question is: How can I get my wife back? I don’t even know where she is. She’s not with Teri Polgar or any of her other friends from the salon. The other question is. . . when will Jolene grow up and stop acting like such a brat? Of course, I’m not the only one in town with problems. Linc Wyse’s father-in-law is trying to destroy his business. And you know Charlotte Rhodes? Seems she’s becoming forgetful, and the family’s worried about her and Ben. Lots of other stuff going on – but Rachel is better at keeping up with it than I am. If you have any idea where my wife is, please give me a call. Please. —Bruce Peyton

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this 11th book of The Cedar Cove Series. I like how I got to read about the continuing lives of the Cedar Cove residents. I feel like all of them are my friends.I read other books in between the books of this series but Debbie Macomber had a way of reminding me about the lives of all the residents and what their relationship issues were. The issues are very realistic. Some of the characters I really liked while others annoyed me. This book has cliffhangers which I am looking forward to seeing what the outcomes will be.

Four Friends
by Robyn Carr

 

4 of 5 stars

Read from May 15 to 20, 2014

Spoilers---

Gerri can't decide what's more devastating: learning her rock-solid marriage has big cracks, or the anger she feels as she tries to repair the damage. Always the anchor for friends and her three angst-ridden teenagers, it's time to look carefully at herself. The journey for Gerri and her family is more than revealing—it's transforming.

Andy doesn't have a great track record with men, and she's come to believe that for her a lasting love is out of reach. When she finds herself attracted to her down-to-earth, ordinary contractor—a man without any of the qualities that usually appeal to her—she questions everything she thought she wanted in life.

Sonja's lifelong pursuit of balance is shattered when her husband declares he's through with her New Age nonsense and walks out. There's no herbal tonic or cleansing ritual that can restore her serenity—or her sanity.

Miraculously, it's BJ, the reserved newcomer to Mill Valley, who steps into their circle and changes everything. The woman with dark secrets opens up to her neighbors, and together they get each other back on track, stronger as individuals and unfaltering as friends.(less)
Paperback, 384 pages.

My review:

I liked this book because I enjoyed reading about 4 friends who were there for each other. As each one went through their marital problems, the others were there to help them through the problem. I was surprised to learn about BJ's past.She had to overcome so much more then Sonja, Gerri and Andy. I felt sorry for her, but I was glad to see how she turned it around in a positive way. Sonja had so much to deal with too when her husband left her. She was a definite mess that required group therapy. She was a danger to herself. BJ noticed the problem and alerted Gerri and Andy. Once again they were there to help her. I enjoy reading Robyn Carr's books even if they are not part of a series.

 

Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1)
by Louise Penny

May 12, 2014

3 of 5 stars

 

Read from April 26 to May 10, 2014

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of a suspicious death in a rural village south of Montréal and yet a world away. Jane Neal, a long-time resident of Three Pines, has been found dead in the woods. The locals are certain it’s a tragic hunting accident and nothing more but Gamache smells something foul this holiday season…and is soon certain that Jane died at the hands of someone much more sinister than a careless bow hunter.

My Review:

Louise Penny is a new author for me. This book is part of a detective series and I believe it is one of her first written books. I love this genre because it makes me feel like one of the detectives trying to solve the crime mystery. This book was good, but it went a little to slow for me. I didn't find it to be a page turner until the last 50 pages or so. I like how she gave clues as to who may have committed the crime. They all seemed very likely as to who the killer might be. I wasn't too surprised by the ending since I felt I knew who committed the crime. I will try reading other books by Louise Penny since she came highly recommended to me.

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.

The Innocent
by Harlan Coben

Mar 17, 2014  

5 of 5 stars

Read from March 08 to 17, 2014

You never meant to kill him….

One night, Matt Hunter innocently tried to break up a fight—and ended up a killer. Now, nine years later, he’s an ex-con who takes nothing for granted. His wife, Olivia, is pregnant, and the two of them are closing on their dream house. But all it will take is one shocking, inexplicable call from Olivia’s phone to shatter Matt’s life a second time….

My Review

Unlike some authors, Harlan Coben doesn't save up his twists for the end, he scatters them liberally throughout the book. Nearly every chapter ended with a surprise, keeping me waiting until he returns to it later. He uses this cliff-hanger approach which made me want to read on to see what would happen next. He still managed a big twist at the end which was definitely a surprise.
This book had so many characters and situations to keep straight that I find I should have been writing notes for myself which wouldn’t be the first time I had to do that. I felt like I was a detective trying to solve the crimes and twisted plot. This book is one of his stand alone novels and just as good as his Myron Bolitar series.