Open Season by Linda Howard

Main character Daisy Minor is 34, unmarried and librarian in a small town. On her birthday, she decides to make some changes in her life, find a husband and have some babies. Her mother and Aunt Jolene encourage her and she is on her way. Look out Chief of Police Jack Russo! Having moved from the city to the quiet life of a small town, he finds excitement of another kind when he collides with Daisy at the library, gets involved in a sex for sale investigation, and finds out Daisy means more to him than just another pretty face. Written humorously, Linda Howard does a great job of entertaining the reader. I recommend this one. Sandy Penton

The Rivals by Joan Johnston

Sarah Barndollar, single mother and deputy sheriff of Teton County has a problem with missing girls, the third of which is the illegitimate daughter of Texan scion Clay Blackthorne. Playboy Drew DeWitt, a Blackthorne cousin, insists on taking part in the search. Things get real complicated when evidence emerges of a conspiracy against the US government. A really good read. Sandy Penton

Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard

CIA agent Lily Mansfield, hired assassin, seeking vengeance, is taking matters into her own hand. CIA agent Lucas Swain is ordered to either bring her in or bring her down. Story line too wordy; good plot, just not very interesting. Sandy Penton

Blue Heaven by C J Box

12 year old Annie and younger brother William live with their single mother in North Idaho. They are on the run in the woods having witnessed a murder and the murderers know who they are, who their mother is and are after them. The killers, retired cops from Los Angeles, convince the local inexperienced sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children. True-to-life characters, fast paced plot, a thriller that examines issues close to the heart. A great read. Sandy Penton

The Loner by Joan Johnston

Meet the Blackthornes and the Creeds, two stubborn families who have fought over land and survival in Texas for years, yet have intermarried, struggling to bring peace and save face. A Texas "Peyton Place" if you will, makes one think of the "Dallas" TV series. An easy read, I really liked it. Sandy Penton

Dying for Mercy by Mary Jane Clark

Eliza Blake, cohost of a morning television show is approached by her host at a party, challenges her to solve a "puzzle" then commits suicide in his greenhouse. A lot of characters, twisted plot, an OK read. Go for it you Mary Jane Clark fans. Sandy Penton

The Price by Joan Johnston

Lawyers Luke Creed and his high school sweetheart Amy Nash are brought together when they each have a side in defending a wrongful death suit. Concerned his client may be lying, he takes another, closer look at the evidence which brings him closer to Amy, rekindling their love for each other. When a colleague dies under suspicious circumstances, Luke finds he is in danger of losing not only his job, but also his life. This is a good thriller, makes sense, and I found myself rooting for the "good guys." I think you'll like this mystery. Sandy Penton

The Ebony Swan by Phylllis A Whitney

Susan Prentice, a woman alone, meets her grandmother again after 25 years. She has questions about her past, her parents, her heritage. When she learns her mother's death may not have been an accident, the anxiety in the people around her becomes apparent. Will Susan learn the truth? Will she remember? What secrets does her grandmother have. A fairly decent mystery. Sandy Penton

Killing Time by Linda Howard

In 1985, a time capsule was buried in the front lawn of the courthouse, to be opened in 2085. Just 20 years later, someone has stolen the capsule and a murder has been committed. Chief Investigator Knox Davis and mysterious FBI agent Nikita Stover join forces to find the murderer. Is Stover really an agent of the FBI? Will Knox be able to trust this woman who interests him more than she should? Can Davis trust the paranormal explanations Stover gives him. A really different book for Howard, very interesting and suspenseful. I enjoyed it a lot. Sandy Penton

Now You See Her by Linda Howard

Talented artist Paris Sweeney has started seeing ghosts, knows the answers to Jeopardy before they are given, and is painting some strange pictures. A loner, she is taken aback when she feels a connection to her friend Candra Worth's estranged husband, Richard. Sweeney has sketched the portrait of a hot dog vendor and awakens one morning to discover she has painted, in her sleep, a graphic murder scene with the vendor being the victim. She later learns the man has been murdered and the scene she painted reflects the deadly crime. Will authorities believe her psychic ability? Will Richard believe her? Who is the victim in the canvas she has started? Not a bad story. Not as good as some. Sandy Penton

The Devil's Punchbowl by Greg Iles

Penn Cage is mayor of his hometown, Natchez, Mississippi and is discouraged. His plans for making changes for the better have not panned out and he is thinking about quitting. Caitlyn Masters, journalist and former lover, is in town stopping on her way to New Orleans. When a childhood friend contacts Penn for help in exposing the seedy side of gambling and the evil men do, Cage realizes that his town and his friend needs help. It takes two or three chapters to get into this story, but the read is well worth it. I recommend to Greg Iles fans. I think this is his best yet. Sandy Penton

Dying to Please by Linda Howard

Heroine is Sarah Stevens, butler, bodyguard, a woman who knows her own mind. When foiling the burglary of her employer, Detective Cahill enters her life, determined to know her better. Thrown into the public eye, Sarah receives unwanted attention and job offers. Sarah's "perfect" life is shattered when her employer is murdered, throwing on her a shadow of guilt. Throw a deranged stalker in the mix and makes for a twisted mystery. Interesting reading. Sandy Penton.

The Cheater by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

This is the third book about Lily Forrester. Lily is now a judge in Ventura, CA. She lived there in the first book. Some of the same problems in the first book has follow her to Santa Barbara and back to Ventura. In this book there is a serial killer on the loose. The killer is killing husbands who are cheating on their wives. It wasn't as good as some of her other books, but I still enjoyed it. Pat M

Phantom Prey by John Sanford

Wealthy widow comes home to find blood on the walls, no body, and daughter is missing. This story takes you into the world of the Goth element as well as murder mystery. An interesting take, keeps you guessing until the end. Sandy Penton

Mr Perfect by Linda Howard

Four girlfriends compile a "Mr Perfect" list as a joke one Friday night. The next thing they know everyone is talking about it and not everyone is happy. When one of the "List" ladies is murdered, the girls begin to get worried. Looking for snappy dialogue? This one is for you. An enjoyable read. Sandy Penton

Frontier Woman by Joan Johnston

Texas in the 1840s, going through the trials of wanting statehood, finds Texas Ranger Jarrett Creed confronting Cricket Stewart, youngest daughter of a wealthy gentleman planter. Cricket's mother, dying shortly after the birth of her third child, leaves three daughters to be raised by a father who wanted boys. A wild and woolly western this is, a page turner... Sandy Penton

Cover of Night by Linda Howard

Young widow Cate Nightingale, who has 4=year old twin boys, runs a B & B in Trail Stop, Idaho, out in the boonies. Handyman Calvin Harris is dependable if shy. When a guest mysteriously disappears, leaving suitcase behind, Cate is concerned enough to contact local authorities. A few days later, two armed men storm the house, demanding the items the guest had left. Handyman Cal arrives to save the day and the intruders disappear. This is just the beginning of a nightmare that leaves seven people dead. Good read; a real page turner. Sandy Penton

Death Angel by Linda Howard

Drea Rousseau is acting a part in her relationship with notorious crime lord, Rafael Salinas. Feeling she can no longer continue, she manages to escape with her life and 2 million plus dollars. Salinas is enraged and hires assassin Simon to take care of the problem. Will Drea (also known as Andie) be able to hide from Simon, who seems to have a change of heart after her fatal accident? Good reading. Enjoyed. Sandy Penton

Up Close and Dangerous

Airplane pilot extraordinaire Cam Justice survives a near fatal crash in the mountains of Utah thanks to young widow Bailey Wingate, the only passenger in his small plane. Bailey's scheming adult stepchildren will be only too happy if Bailey is dead. But Bailey is full of surprises, using her common sense and ingenuity, she manages to provide medical assistance and shelter to Justice who is also challenged as never before. A page turner, couldn't put it down. Sandy Penton

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Third in the series by Meyer, author of Twilight and New Moon. Bella, a normal human, and Edward, a vegetarian vampire, are getting ready to graduate and talking about getting married, which Bella isn't too anxious to do. Bella's friend and confidant Jacob, a werewolf, is interested in Bella himself and creates problems for the two lovebirds. Interesting concept, good read for those of you who like fantasy romance. Sandy Penton

The Killing Breed by Frank Leslie

Yakima Henry and his wife Faith think they are on their way to having a successful horse ranch when their past catches up with them. Faith had been a working girl when she ran away with Yakima after gut shooting Bill Thornton, saloon owner. Thornton has vowed to get her back and punish her for leaving. An action packed adventure, keeps the reader turning the pages. Sandy Penton

Breaker's Reef by Terri Blackstock

Police Chief Cade is ready to propose to Blair Owens, but his plan is complicated by the murder of a teenage girl. Sheila Caruso, ex-con mother to Sadie and Caleb, gets a job with an eccentric mystery writer who disturbs her with his crime scenes that seem to match the murder scene. Will Cade get Blair to the altar? Who is the murder victim? When Sheila's past catches up with her, will she be able to explain Amelia to Sadie? Good read. Good mystery. Sandy Penton

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

One Man's Mission to Promote Peace, One School at a Time.

Folks, during a time when we are all scared to death to do anything about anything, this man will inspire you to not be afraid, to go ahead and do it anyway, to live your life, to be the one person that makes even a small change. Greg Mortenson wanted to build a school for the village of the man who saved his life. So the children wouldn't have to sit on the freezing ground, do their numbers with a stick in the dirt, so they would have a chance to grow up and make a difference in their lives. Having nothing, living from summer to summer, so he could climb mountains, Mortenson had a made a promise and wanted to keep it. This is his story and it is truly great. A must read. Sandy Penton

Dewey by Vicki Myron

The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World.

Vicki Myron rescues a homeless kitten from the library drop box in the middle of a freezing winter and the staff welcome him into their hearts. The community adopts him as well and in between we find out about Vicki and her family. For the most part an uplifting story. Sandy Penton

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

The story begins in Shanghai in 1937. May and Pearl are sisters through with schooling and are exploring the streets and sights of one of the world's most beautiful cities. Then their world comes crashing down around them. Their father has lost all his wealth and possessions due to gambling and to pay off his debt, May and Pearl have been placed in an arranged marriage to two young American Chinese men. Pearl, being the oldest, is charged with looking after May, and they are decidedly not interested in going to America, throw away the tickets and continue their lives until Japanese bombs begin to fall on their beloved city. This is an intimate peek at the lives and times of the Chinese in both China and in America. Very interesting, and also disturbing, I recommend it. Sandy Penton