Angels Flight by Michael Connelly

Police Detective Harry Bosch is put in charge of a team investigating the murder of prominent attorney Howard Elias, much hated by the local police officers due to his lawsuits charging LAPD with racism and brutality. To complicate things, his one-year marriage to his wife seems to be on the rocks and he struggles to focus on his job. The clues lead to an inside leak compromising the investigation as well as "road blocks" hampering their work making a fast-moving tense story of graft and corruption, the good guys against the bad guys. A good read.

Hiding in the Shadows by Kay Hooper

Faith Parker doesn't have a clue who she is or where she is from due to an automobile accident. She awoke from a coma that surprised everyone. Her friend and benefactor, Dinah Leighton, has disappeared leaving Kane MacGregor to search for her and to try to connect the dots between Faith and Dinah, looking for clues. Faith seems to have a psychic connection to the absent Dinah. Interesting plot and characters. An ok read.

Cold Vengeance by Preston and Child

FBI agent Pendergast is left to die in the muck and mire of a Scottish moor. The murderer is none other than his brother-in-law Judson Esterhazy who announces that Helen, Aloysius' deceased wife, is not dead. Judson is not sure that Pendergast is really dead, and because of that, he is searching the country to make sure as his own life has been threatened if he hasn't succeeded. Is Helen really dead? Is Pendergast really dead? What is the evil that is lurking? An interesting read.

A Rose Revealed by Gayle Roper

Nurse EMT Rose has a guilt-ridden past. When her current client is murdered, she gives in to her hidden feelings, bringing her to her knees literally. Exhausted, she takes up residence in Zook's rental apartment and begins to recuperate. Jake Zook, wheelchair bound, is also part of her past making Rose take another look at her life. This novel takes a look at forgiveness of others as well as self, a good read.

A Secret Identity by Gayle Roper

When Cara Bentley discovers her great-grandfather was adopted, she heads to Bird-In-Hand to search for his mother. Attorney Todd Reasoner has agreed to help her and finds a place to stay for a few weeks at the Zook farm. When vandalism begins at the farm, Cara begins to think that someone doesn't want her to go looking at past history. A good story.

A Stranger's Wish by Gayle Roper

Kristie Matthews at 29 is trying to find her niche in life. Coming from a prominent family of lawyers, they can't understand that she marches to a different drummer. Having just moved to an Amish farm, she is bitten by the landlord's dog, rushed to the hospital by friend, and has an encounter with a man who, while having a heart attact, gives her a key and exacts a promise from her that she will tell no one that she has it. When her life seems threatened, she wonders about the key and if there is a connection. A bit of mystery, a bit of romance and a lot of faith, all in all a good story.

Hotwire by Alex Kava

Maggie O'Dell has been asked by her boss to look into livestock mutilations in western Nebraska. While in the vicinity, a group of partying teens meet trouble with a big "T". Some of the victims appear to have been electrocuted and have odd scorch marks. The survivors appear to be afraid to discuss what happened.

Maggie's friend, Army Colonel Benjamin Platt is investigating the scene of a deadly outbreak of some kind of food poisoning in a couple of schools. Kava writes a real page-turner, a good read.

Watch Me Die by Erica Spindler

Stained glass artist Mira Gallier is just getting back on her feet. Six years ago her husband died during the Katrina hurricane. When Sister Sarah Elizabeth asks her to restore the windows in a badly damaged church, Mira finds her life being restored. Three people are murdered with cryptic messages left as a clue and Mira seems to have a connection to all of them. Struggling with her emotional state and the arrival of her dead husband's best friend, Mira tries to clear herself with the police who are looking at her as a suspect. An ok read.

Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan

These four ladies are hitting the big "5-0" and are commiserating about life passing them by, being stuck in a rut, and wondering what lies ahead for them. All are learning that you make your own choices in this life and that it feels good to have self-confidence; it is ok to lose a job you are "stuck" in, to move ahead and take a risk. Pretty interesting.

Rough Country by John Sandford

Virgil Flowers gets called in to take care of the "tough" jobs for Lucas Davenport of Minneapolis, Minn. CDI. When a vacationing woman is found murdered on the edge of a lake, Virgil is sent to help the local police determine what happened. This resort is for women only, and likes to respect their customer's privacy making it difficult for Virgil to do his job. Determining a tie to a local talented country singer and the murdered woman, his investigations begin to turn up clues to another earlier murder in Iowa and leads to a list of suspects. Virgil is kept busy convincing witnesses to talk among other activities... Quite amusing story.

Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress

Georgia leads an uncomplicated life, living with her elderly mother and never-do-well brother. But Georgia has secrets. Not wanting to hold down a nine to five job, she has contrived the perfect solution. She just can't let anybody find out about it. Amusing story line, would make a cute movie.

Reckless by Andrew Gross

Ty Hauck watches the news and sees the face of a friend of the past who has been murdered with her husband and daughter during the course of what appears to be a neighborhood robbery. Ty used to be a cop, a good cop, but he's retired now, working in the private sector. When he vows to avenge her death, the clues lead to agent Naomi Blum of the US Treasury Dept, who works to keep all the financiers honest. Together, they gather evidence that there is a major conspiracy being hatched. Gross writes a thrilling page-turner, good to the last page.

Glory by Lori Copeland

Glory was found as an infant at the side of the road by a reclusive old man, whose wife has passed on. Nevertheless, he cares for her and brings her up as well as he can; no neighbors, no women folk who can assist, no schooling. When Poppy dies, nineteen year-old Glory is bereft. When drunken Uncle Amos appears, banging on the door, Glory runs away. This is Glory's first adventure in the world. Luckily, she meets freight-master Jackson Lincoln and his five young lady passengers, orphans too old to adopt, heading to Denver City as mail order brides. Jackson and the ladies take Glory under their wing, trying to teach her social skills and to read and write. Glory has a couple of secrets that trouble her and the young ladies embrace her, teaching her and reading to her from the Bible. Angels and faith play a big part in Glory's adventure. A good read.

Joy School by Elizabeth Berg

Young Katie has been transplanted to Missouri, leaving her only and best friend in Texas. She has trouble making friends, the kids across the street hate her and she annoys her father who seems pretty unfeeling, not understanding of teenage angst. An ok read.

June by Lori Copeland

Seventeen-year-old June Kallahan arrives in Seattle expecting to be met by her future husband. When his employer meets her instead, telling her that groom-to-be Eli is gravely ill, she begins to question where God is leading her. When Eli dies before they are married, she determines to stay and help build the magnificent cathedral of Reverend Inman's dream. Eli's friend logger Parker Sentell seems to be a road block to the reverend's plans and June persistently entreats him for assistance. When June confronts Reverend Inman about the existing problems of the community and asking why the church doesn't help them, she finds that her faith and her heart lead her in another direction. A good story.

The Betrayal by Diane Noble

Bronwyn, second wife of Gabriel MacKay, is still struggling with the issue of plural wives. When a 14-year-old is to be wedded to a very elderly man she interrupts the ceremony and whisks the young bride-to-be away away. Things turn sinister as threats are made, accusations thrown and murder happens. This second book of the series is interesting but I was disappointed in the ending although I don't know how else the author could have finished it off. An ok read.

The Long Hitch by Michael Zimmer

Buck McCready is promoted to wagon master when his mentor Mase Campbell is murdered. Kavanaugh freight line is in a race to win a contract and Buck has to step in to Campbell's shoes. Buck is determined to run down Mase's killer but is obligated to head the freight line in it's race from Corinne to Virginia City. When the drover's are plagued with mishaps, murder and bad luck, Buck begins to think someone doesn't want him to win this race. Zimmer writes an exciting and clever western, using mules instead of horses and bullwhips instead of guns and fists. A true page-turner, hard to put down. I recommend.

Hell Gate by Linda Fairstein

Public prosecutor Alex Cooper is investigating an off-shore shipwreck that leads to human trafficking, murder, political intrigue and an attempt on her life. In the freezing waters off the coast of New York City, Alex watches numerous bodies as well as survivors of the shipwreck wash ashore, all illegals. It is her job to be concerned specifically about the women and she finds it difficult to get them to talk to her. Fairstein takes the reader on a blustery cold investigation as well as giving you some obscure history of the area. Pretty interesting reading.

Vicious Cycle by Terri Blackstock

Barbara Covington and her son Lance are eagerly awaiting the "graduation" of their daughter/sister, Emily, from New Day Treatment Center. In the meantime classmate and drug- abuser Jordan has just given birth to her baby. Stoned and living with her abusive mother and brother, Jordan struggles with reality, wanting to provide the proper care of this baby yet under the influence of the drugs she has been using. Through a series of circumstances Lance, Emily and Jordan are drawn together, each trying to understand and help the other, knowing that in the end each person has to find the strength to make the right choices in their life but that they are not alone. Blackstone writes a compelling story of drugs and their ability to take over one's life.

South by Southwest by Johnny D Boggs

Zeb Hogan rises from the grave at Florence Stockade during the Civil War. With the help of Ebenezer Chase, a runaway slave, the two young men head South by Southwest, each heading for their own destiny. Traveling at night, fearful yet determined, Zeb has made a promise to fulfill and Ebenezer is in search of his young wife and baby girl who have been sent to a Dallas, Texas plantation. Ebenezer knows the country as well as knowing how to read and write and forms a somewhat shaky alliance with Zeb as they travel the war ravaged land of the Civil War. Boggs writes an unusual story of the wartime era, touching the hearts of readers as these two young men fight for their lives to achieve their goals. A truly great tale.

Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein

Assistant District Attorney Alex Cooper is called to assist when a woman is assaulted. When she is later found murdered, Alex starts looking at the woman's job as a librarian for clues. Fairstein includes a lot of New York Public Library history in this story of mystery, murder and intrigue. An ok read.

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

Someone is killing young women in Boston. The killer's methods suggest he is a member of the medical community. The similarity of the murders leads to Doctor Catherine Cordell, a victim of attempted rape two years earlier, and who killed her attacker. Police investigation keeps coming back to Dr Cordell, asking for her assistance and any forgotten memories. Finding it hard to trust, Dr Cordell has frightening memories and dreams, yet struggles to share whatever it takes to catch the killer, putting her own life at risk again. Gerritsen writes a real page-turner, exciting to the end.

Lawless by Ed Gorman

Sam Conagher arrives in Templar, giving up the dreams of his youth, being a train robber and all that. An old prison-mate is the sheriff here, and gives Sam an opportunity to get on his feet. Whoops, and who is sitting on Sam's hotel bed, but an old girlfriend of Sam's as well as the Bible-thumping sheriff's. Sam thinks he is falling in love with his employer's daughter, who has an arrogant big brother. The plot thickens when Sam discovers a secret plot to kidnap the employer's daughter. Sam has to make some life-changing decisions. Will he make the right ones? A pretty good read.

Summer Shift by Lynn Kiele Bonasia

Mary Hopkins is having a mid-life crisis. Her husband has died, she has to deal with the difficulties of owning a sea food restaurant, and an old boy friend has appeared. Ho-hum.

The Man From Yesterday by Wayne D Overholser

Neal Clark has lived the last nine years of his life looking over his shoulder. Now married with a little girl, a banker and a ranch to run, the nightmare of killing two men during a bank robbery has haunted him, preventing him from enjoying is family to the fullest, fearful of the one who got away. Now, a couple of shady investors has conned the community into thinking Clark is greedy by not loaning the townspeople the money to invest in the investment. They are angry. Only his bank clerk, the sheriff and the town doctor will stand up with Clark. To make matters worse, Clark has been receiving messages from the "one who got away" threatening him and his family. Overholser writes an exciting and plausible tale. A good read.

Heat Lightning by John Sandford

BCA agent Virgil Flowers is called to a murder scene in New Ulm with a lemony twist. Agent Davenport, his boss, is busy with other problems and Flowers has free rein to hunt the murderer down. Clues lead to an atrocity that happened during the ending of the Viet Nam war. It seems that someone is killing the men that were involved in the murder of a Vietnamese family. Sandford does a great job with characters and dialogue, a great read.

Riders of Deseret by Dane Coolidge

What could have been an exciting book has turned out to be truly boring.... Need I say more?

Dark of the Moon by John Sandford

Arriving in Bluestem on another case, Flowers witnesses a huge house afire on the bluff. Sheriff Jim Stryker welcomes his help with this case when it appears that arson and murder is involved. Flowers is his usual "good ol' boy" self, interviewing the community while seeming to share information in a casual aside. In the meantime, a few more people are murdered and things begin to heat up, everyone locking their doors and afraid to leave their homes. Sandford leads the reader on a merry chase, raising suspicion on all the characters involved. Very good read.

The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen

A freshly severed hand is discovered by a tour group in Chinatown. The rest of the body is on the rooftop above. Rizzoli's investigation is hampered by the closed community of the Chinese who live there. The arrival of Detective Johnny Tam helps with the communication problem and it seems he is knowledgeable in Chinese folklore as well. When the clues lead to a murder that happened 19 years ago and missing girls, the plot thickens. This reader could not put the book down due to Gerritsen's clever plot and believable characters. A great read.

A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland

Red-headed Zoe Bradshaw wants to keep the children of Addy and John after they die of the fever. Addy has expressed a dying wish that her brother, bounty hunter Cade Kolby, decide what happens to the children much to his dismay. When their elderlyand formiddable Aunt Leticia arrives wanting to take the children with her, Zoe is determined to have her way. When the townspeople come up with a plan to bring Zoe and Cade together sparks begin to fly. A really good tale of love and friendship.

Vendetta by Ed Gorman

Joan Grieves has only had her father home for a couple of months when he leaves again in the middle of the night to avenge the person responsible for putting him in jail on a trumped up charge of embezzlement. When she receives a telegram advising her to expect her father's body by train, she reaches out to Father Pete Madsen, a man troubled by his past. Madsen struggles with his conscience, wanting to help Joan, yet hating to pick up the gun that has caused his grief. Gorman writes a brilliant tale of friendship, love and hate. A good read.