River's Edge by Terri Blackstock

Cape Refuge series, Book 3.

Police Chief Cade, recovering from a gunshot wound, is a dedicated officer. He is on the job when Lisa Jackson is reported missing by her husband, Ben. Morgan and Johnathan are still running Hanover House and it's inhabitants are keeping them busy. Sadie's jailbird mother, Shiela, is being released and will probably come to stay with them causing Morgan to fear losing foster children Sadie and baby brother Caleb. Blair Owen is busy "snooping" for her newspaper and trying to "help" Chief Cade, whom she has a major crush on, find Lisa. Will psychic Carson reveal Lisa's whereabouts? Will Johnathan be able to help Cade keep his job by becoming mayor? Will Shiela be able to follow the rules of Hanover House and straighten her life out? Terri Blackstock does a terrific job of summing up all the events of previous books 1 and 2 and making book 3 solve a lot of problems. Pretty good read. Enjoyed the series. Sandy Penton

Burning Wild by Christine Feehan

This is great for all you fantasy lovers. Some language, explicit sex. Billionaire Jake Bannaconni has a background of child abuse and genetic tampering. He reaches maturity angry and seeking revenge. Due to a car accident that he witnesses, Emma Reynolds enters his story and makes life-changing differences for him and his son Kyle. Feehan writes a captivating story and makes you want to see how it all ends. Not for the realist. Sandy Penton

Southern Story by Terri Blackstock

Book 2 in the Cape Refuge series: Police Chief Cade mysteriously disappears after hitting and killing a pedestrian in the rain, Blair Owens might lose her librarian job if she continues to neglect her duties, Sadie is looking for love in all the wrong places, and Karen Miller has her baby kidnapped right from her arms. Will Morgan and Johnathan ever find peace of mind in Cape Refuge. Will things ever be right for them and their extended family. Pretty good read. Sandy Penton

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Even if you are not athletically inclined this book is a great read. McDougall is having trouble with his feet, blaming it on the running he does, and he decides to look into running and why we, as human beings, are having so much trouble with our feet and legs. This is an inspiring journey to the Copper Canyons of Mexico and a tribe of Tarahumara Indians who run for hundreds of miles, barefoot or in homemade sandels, and seem to enjoy it. I had a few questions of my own, such as, was my leg being pulled. I checked out McCougall and you can too. Google YouTube-Christopher McDougall on why he was born to run, check out the video. A great read. Sandy Penton

Relentless by Dean Koontz

Koontz is not one of my favorite authors, but gave him another try. Boring. If you can get past the first 139 pages, you can probably finish it. Novelist Cubby Greenwich, wife Penny and son (a genius) Milo 6 years, both authors and child of the future manage to outwit critic Shearmann Waxx who takes bad reviews several steps further, to murder. Read it if you must. Sandy Penton

Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock

First in a series of three, the reader finds Thelma and Wayne Owens murdered in their warehouse church. Daughters Morgan Cleary and Blair Owens are confounded by the mystery of who and why would anyone want the Owens' dead? There has been controversy over the Hanover House, a halfway house for people seeking refuge, and clues point to members of that household. Police Chief Cade is puzzled by the mystery and not convinced that those who suspicion falls on are not guilty. A good read, although sad. Sandy Penton

Bobbie Faye's Very (very, very, very) Bad Day by Toni McGee Causey

Bobbie Faye Sumrall's middle name must be "Disaster". Since she has been old enough to remember, misfortune has followed her like a starving dog looking for a hand out. Not willing to ask another for any help, she struggles through one day beginning with the flooding of her small trailer home and a phone call from her brother who has been kidnapped. Why do the kidnappers want the old rusted Contraband Queen tiara that has been in the family for years? This book reads like a Stephanie Plum novel on steroids. A hoot.

The Best Revenge by Stephen White

Alan Gregory, psychologist, is adjusting to a life with his wife and new daughter. He is confronted with keeping the secrets of those who may commit a crime or break the law in some manner and tries to decide just how far he can go in informing authorities that a crime may be going to be committed. This novel gives the reader an inside look at the responsibilities of the psychologist profession (and especially in view of HIPA today) and the stress it can put on the private lives of those in it. A very good read, exploring the personalities of different characters and the illness that seems to control their lives.

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl.
An autobiography of families who settled southwest Kansas, southeast Colorado, the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas and the northeast corner of New Mexico. John Steinbeck's novel, "The Grapes of Wrath", only touches on the events of the worst drought in the Midwest. Egan reports families person experiences of settling the Midwest, expecting to make their fortunes, to have a home and family, to escape the threat of the Depression. The government encouraged small farmers to tear up the prairie and plant row crops, raise cattle and hogs, build towns, establish communities without really understanding the natural sequence of the seasons in the flat, treeless prairies of the Midwest where rainfall was less than 20 inches a year.
Heart wrenching, maddening, and frustrating are only a few words that describe this environmental disaster and the impact it has had on the nation, the people and their communities. I feel this is a must read for anyone the least bit interested in our country's history and the impact that careless humans can have on our future.

Below Zero by C. J. Box

Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is featured in a "green" novel about carbon footprints, mobsters, a dog named "Tube" and the mystery of a former foster child named April, whom they thought had died in a fire. Quick read, interesting, informative. Sandy Penton

Privileged Information by Stephen White

A psychological thriller that examines an ethical question of our time. The first of the Dr. Alan Gregory novels, the reader is allowed to discover how difficult it is to be informed of illegal things during private sessions with patients and not be able to do anything about it. Well worth the read. Sandy Penton

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is at it again with meat cleavers, headless bodies, arsonists and the ever present and voluptuous Lula with her cross-dressing friend Larry. Janet keeps things hopping with Joe Morelli and Ranger popping in and out of Stephanie's life. Another good read. Sandy Penton

Fugitive by Phillip Margolin

Charlie Marsh, con man, has found sanctuary in the People's Republic of Batanga, he thinks. After leaving the US 12 years ago to escape incarceration again, Charlie has found Jean-Claude Baptiste, President for Life, to be more of a threat than life imprisonment at home. Baptiste deals with those he takes a dislike to slowly and mercilessly and he lets Charlie know it. Charlie needs to escape. Margolin takes the reader into the lives of a host of individuals, each with their own agenda. Will Charlie make it out alive? Will the reader discover who killed Sally Pope's husband, US Congressman Arnold Pope Jr. 12 years ago? A little gory but an interesting read. Sandy Penton

Blinded by Stephen White

Psychologist Alan Gregory is caught up in puzzling situations as he is confronted with a former patient who claims her husband is a murderer. Someone is telling tales out of school as information is leaked to the media about secrets patients have shared with Dr Gregory. Is someone out to get him? Is his wife going to be ok as she struggles with MS? What is going on with his friend, Sam Purdy? A great read. Sandy Penton

Malice by Lisa Jackson

This book is about Rick Bentz, who is a detective in New Orleans and married to Olivia. Rick used to be a LAPD detective and married to Jennifer. Rick and Jennifer was divorced because she had affairs with Rick's half-brother. Later Jennifer died in an accident. Now 12 years after Jennifer died, Rick is seeing her. He goes back to LA to find out what is happening. After he get to California, friends of Jennifer starts getting killed. It was a good book. I did finally guess who did it, but I wasn't for sure until the end. I would recommend it. PatM

Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman

PI Tess Monaghan is drawn into providing security, aka bodyguard/babysitter for actress Selene Waites, much against her better judgment. Incidents have been happening and Flip Tumulty, Mann of Steel producer, is concerned for the safety of his cast and employees. A murder threatens to cause the production to fall apart. An ok read. Sandy Penton

The Program by Stephen White

Alan Gregory is caught up in the frightening events of New Orleans District Attorney Kirsten Lord and her daughter as they find they are not safe even in the Witness Protection Program. This is a very good story with page-turning suspense. I recommend to any mystery lover. Sandy Penton

Larry's Kidney by Daniel Asa Rose

A true experience that reads like fiction! A page turner. Daniel agrees to help his cousin, Larry, who desperately needs a kidney transplant. They arrive in China (where this is now illegal) and begin their search for a donor kidney and a doctor willing to do the transplant. Illustrates what is important about life. A must read.

Sandy Penton

Dirty Blond by Lisa Scottoline

Newly appointed judge Cate Fante reached her position the hard way. She also leads a dark double life that is going to get her into trouble. Her cover is blown when a decision she makes in the courtroom leads to murder, exposing her indiscretions and implicates her involvement. A true page-turner. Good read.

Sandy Penton

Lying With Strangers by James Grippando

Peyton Shields, first year resident in pediatric medicine, is being stalked. Her husband, Kevin, is busy being on the fast track to becoming a corporate lawyer and is beginning to be uncomfort-able with his wife's long hours at work, accusing her of paranoia, betrayal and infidelity. A thriller to the end. Good read.

Sandy Penton

The Dangerous Hour by Marcia Muller

A Sharon McCone mystery. McCone is stunned to learn an employee has been charged with credit card fraud. As she digs into the facts, she realizes that someone is out to ruin her business. Filled with twists, old cases, and disreputable characters, Muller spins an intriguing tale. Worth the read.

Sandy Penton