Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

Nora Bridge has to come to terms with mistakes made in her past. When she is in an accident, she needs to recuperate and her youngest daughter says she will stay with her. This could be a mistake as Ruby has an intense dislike for her mother who walked out on her family when Ruby was sixteen. Her sister Caroline seems to have come to terms with her mother's actions, but seems to be withdrawn and distant. What is going on in all their lives really? A poignant and moving story of love, forgiveness and acceptance.

Buried Prey by John Sanford

Back when Lucas Davenport was a rookie, a couple of young girls disappeared. He was determined to find them and didn't think the homeless man charged with the disappearance was guilty. Now, construction at an old building site has uncovered the bodies of the two girls and Lucas is on it. Pieces of the puzzle are fitting together and the killer of these two and probably more is about to be brought down. Fast-action, suspenseful and logical plot, a great read.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

It is time again for the Hunger Game, the 75th one, and the rules have been changed. The living victors from all the games in each district qualify. Wouldn't you know it, Katniss is the female contestant for District 12. Everyone is despondent. There are rumours of rebellion and President Snow is extremely angry with Katniss, looking at her as an instigator. Catching Fire is exciting from the beginning, weaving a tale of intrigue and fellowship like none other. A great second book.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In a place once known as North America, people in twelve districts are trying to survive, some better than others, its' Capitol a den of iniquity, selfishness, greed and cruel games. It is time for the "reaping." A selection process where two young teenagers, one a girl, the other a boy, are selected from each district to participate in the Hunger Game. Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen has volunteered to go in her sister's place when her name was drawn and now surely faces her death. Swept along in the rush of preparing for the games, pampered, and seduced by the offer from the table of plenty, Katniss trusts no one, and struggles to keep her composure as the hours pass by until the Launch into the Game. A novel of romance, philosophy and suspense. Not a bad read.

Left for Dead by J. A. Jance

Life in southern Arizona is difficult. When deputy sheriff Jose Reyes is shot and left for dead while on the job, someone else is dumping the presumed dead body of a young prostitute close to the Mexican border. A curious chain of events draw these two events closer and closer, and only the stubbornness of a couple of police officers with the assistance of a former police academy classmate, Ali Reynolds, brings this mystery to its logical conclusion. An interesting plot.

Blood Storm by Bill Brooks

John Henry Cole, employed by Ike Kelly's Detective Agency in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, arrives in town with a dead man in a dress on a horse. Before he has a chance to explain, Kelly sends John off to Deadwood in response to a letter he has received from an old flame regarding the deaths of three of her "girls." Deadwood is not an inviting place to be in the midst of winter, miners and gamblers trying to get ahead in this dreary mining camp. John seems to get off to the wrong start with the local sheriff right off the bat and things go steadily down hill after that. Encounters with Doc Holiday and Calamity Jane spice up his life, and a couple of bounty hunters who have it in for John keeps the reader turning the pages to learn what happens next. Hot in pursuit of the murderer or murderers, John doesn't give up. A great western read.

Storm Prey by John Sandford

Weather Karkinnen, surgeon and wife of investigator Lucas Davenport, arrives at the hospital early for a scheduled surgery on con-joined twins only to learn that the hospital's pharmacy has been robbed. The robbers aren't the sharpest tacks in the box and one of them assaults one of the pharmacists to the point of death, sending them on a Laural and Hardy-esque rampage of fear, second-guessing and murder. When one of the robbers fears that Weather has identified him as they were leaving the hospital, they import a hired gun to help with the damage control. Weather and Lucas are fearless as they continue to do their jobs while chaos surrounds them. An exciting and suspenseful tale of dumb and dumber trying to outwit the smart guys. A great little read.

Missing Child by Patricia MacDonald

Caitlin Eckhart's life starts falling apart after dropping her step-son Geordie at school. When the school calls later in the morning to question his non-attendance she frantically calls her husband, Noah, and other members of the family. As the search progresses, blame escalates and it appears that her past might catch up with her. A dark secret is uncovered. How is all this connected? A quick suspenseful read.

Miss Julia to the Rescue by Ann B Ross

Miss Julia doesn't want to go to Israel with the church group. Oh no, she sends hubby Sam off with the group and decides to renovate the house since little Lloyd will be moving back with his mother and J.D. and the twins. Miss Julia doesn't want Lloyd to go, but she knows she has to let go sometime. In the meantime, J.D. has gone missing on the job and Hazel Marie is anxious as to his whereabouts. Siccing Officer Coleman on Hazel's problem, Miss Julia has her hands full with carpenters, picking out carpet, wall paper (or should she paint) and getting one of those huge Williamsburg fire places put in what will be the library. Also, there is something funny going on out at Agnes Whittman's residence. Officer Coleman finds out J.D. might be in the hospital in a little town in West Virginia, so Miss Julia and Etta Mae are determined to go rescue him, but they are going to have to get past a sheriff, an overbearing nurse and get away from snake handlers, an accident waiting to happen. Meanwhile..... as you can imagine, things are getting to be a mess and Sam will be home soon. Funny, witty, and Miss Julia better than ever. A great read.

Winter Study by Nevada Barr

Park Ranger Anna Pigeon wishes she were home with her husband of four months in Mississippi. The freezing cold of Isle Royale in Lake Superior in January with no running water or electricity is not her idea of a good time. Sent there to learn about the wolf management on the island park, she joins the study team as well as two scientists from Homeland Security who seem to care less about the project. When the wolf packs begin behaving strangely and a very large wolf print is discovered, the human imaginations begin to run wild ranging fearful to anxious and angry. When a female team member is found savaged, Anna sets out to discover what is happening on this island refuge. Suspenseful, innovative, and informative writing creates a tale well worth reading.

Heartstopper by Joy Fielding

There is a lot of unrest in Torrance, Florida. An aging sheriff, who was unfaithful to his wife, an esteemed doctor who was also unfaithful to HIS wife, a wife-beater, a bunch of hormone racing teenagers and others who also have secrets of their own. A month ago a girl disappeared. Now another has disappeared and people are beginning to panic. Sheriff Weber is doing the best he can, with a new mayor breathing down his neck and anxious parents wanting their child found, but he seems over-whelmed with all the gossip and well-meaning advice poured at him. When a body of one of the girls is found, tension increases. Who is this sick murderer? Is is someone known to the individuals, a friend? Or is there a stranger in town? An interesting read.

The Pact: a love story by Jodi Picoult

Two neighboring families lives are completely torn apart when Emily Gold appears to have committed suicide. What has happened to cause this apparently happy teenager to chose suicide as a way to solve her problems? Her boyfriend seems at a loss to explain what has happened. Picoult weaves a tale of pain and love, and the lengths people will go for each other. Sad but good reading. Makes you think.

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell

Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta interviews an inmate of the Georgia Prison for Women against the advice of her husband FBI criminal intelligence agent Benton Wesley. Kay wants to find out what really happened with her former deputy chief, Jack Fielding, who has been murdered. Investigating a series of grisly deaths that she feels are related to the death of Fielding, she finds connections that puzzle her, causing her to question what forces are going on around her that she cannot see. Is the FBI really investigating her? What is going on with Marino, supposedly on vacation and DA Jamie Berger? Lots of questions, technology and dialogue. An ok read.

Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman

Emma, a prima ballerina in London (2010), is devastated when she falls and injures her knee. Her dancing career is over and she is trying to decide what to do with herself. Her mother encourages her to travel to Australia to close down and sell her grandmother's property which has been left to her.

Beattie (Glasgow, 1929) must make a decision. She is pregnant and unwed. Through a series of circumstances, she travels to Australia with the father of Emma, her child (still unmarried) and proceeds to make what she can of her life. She eventually succeeds but not without struggles. Determined to have Emma know how much she loves her, even though they are apart, Beattie makes sacrifices. Freeman writes a tale of forbidden love, unconventional lives, family secrets, and a reflection of the life and times of Australia in the 1930's. A good read.

Hard Truth by Nevada Barr

Anna Pigeon doesn't get to spend much time with her new husband who is a sheriff in Mississippi. She is called to a job transfer and promotion as district ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park. New to the job, she finds the park rangers have been on an all out hunt for three young girls who disappeared on a religious retreat. When two of the girls appear a month later, filthy and barely dressed, they claim to have no memory of where they have been or what happened to them or the third girl.

Determined to do her job and solve the park problems, Anna finds her hands full with religious fundamentalists, a sadistic animal torturer, and more mystery that seems evil and sinister. A good suspenseful read.

11/22/63: a novel by Stephen King

Jake Eppping is an English teacher who makes extra money teaching GED classes. When one of the adults writes about the event that changed his life, Jake is touched. Later his friend Al, diner owner, shares that his storeroom has a portal to the past. Each time he enters the portal, the day and time are always the same and when he returns it is always two minutes later no matter how long he spends in the past. Al is on a mission to prevent the assassination of John Kennedy but is unable to continue and he asks Jake to take over for him.

Jake reluctantly agrees and George Amberson is his new identity. This story chronicles an individual (Jake) trying to correct (in his opinion) events that have happened in the past. While on this journey, he ponders the effect these corrections have in the outcome of the world in 2011. King writes a believable and suspenseful story, with the reader anxious to see the outcome. A great read.

Summer of Secrets by Charlotte Hubbard

Rachel Lantz's parents have a secret that shakes her foundation when it is discovered. Will her betrothed Micah Brenneman be able to survive her jealous heart? Will her mother and father be shunned when the elder's discover their secret? Who is the strange Englischer girl that appears at the cafe throwing everyone into a tizzy? Lots of secrets, mixed messages, and communication difficulties going on here. Makes for an interesting story with a twist.

Flashback by Nevada Barr

Park Ranger Anna Pigeon is filling in temporary duty at Dry Tortugas National Park in southern Florida. Enjoying the sun, Anna is settling in for some quiet time. Upon receiving a packet of letters from her sister written by a great-great aunt who lived at the fort with her career soldier husband, Anna spends her quiet evenings catching up on history. The tranquility is broken when a ranger fails to report in after his shift. Which follows a mysterious boat explosion. Feeling out of sorts and foggy, Anna tries to keep her wits about her, but secrets abound and mysteries are revealed. Not a bad read.

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

A story of a man who is driven to share his life with wolves to the exclusion of his family, Picoult shares each character's story by chapters. The main character, Luke, is the "alpha male". Always comparing his human life, considered by him inadequate, to the life of a member of a wolf pack. Which in turn causes his family to deteriorate. His daughter, Cara, has chosen to live with her father when her mother marries again, and has twins, creating a "new" family. When Cara and Luke are involved in a terrible accident putting Luke in ICU with no chance of recovery, Cara wants to try everything she can to keep him alive. Cara's brother, Edward, left home at eighteen in a fit of pique at Luke. His mother has asked him to return to the states to Luke's bedside. Picoult weaves a tale of a human family and with life in a wolf pack, comparing the sameness and the differences, the responsibilities and the love or lack of it. A page-turner; a psychological puzzle as each character struggles to understand their place in this imperfect world.

Hunting Season by Nevada Barr

Ranger Anna Pigeon has been in charge of the Natchez Trace Park for seven months now. Normally a quiet strip of environmental flora and fauna, with traces of ancient history in evidence, all heck breaks loose when a park aide notifies Anna of a body at the Mt. Locust site. The nearly naked body is no tourist, but a local man, and the clues surrounding the deceased suggest lurid details to the imagination. Caught between a disgruntled employee and a candidate for sheriff who obviously has his own agenda, Anna becomes aware that not all is well in the state of Mississippi. There are threats on her life and her personal time is guarded and lonely. Barr writes a compelling and thrilling tale of a park ranger in the south.

Flash and Bones by Kathy Reichs

Temperance Brennan is called to a crime scene at a landfill next to the NASCAR raceway in Charlotte, Tenn. An old oil barrel loaded with a body and lots of asphalt has been uncovered and Temperance's job is to identify the victim and cause of death. When the FBI shows up and claims the body, the forensic materials and files, tempers begin to fray. There is more going on here than appears and the FBI is less than forthcoming. Secrets are uncovered. People are missing. Bodies are uncovered. A page-turner to the end. A good read.

Guarded: a novel by Kirsten Lasinski

Emily Blyton feels alone in this world. No husband, her daughter has gone to New York City to "escape her mother," and Emily has had to depend on herself. When the local library asks her to do a genealogical profile for them, she makes a startling discovery, shaking Emily's world. Lasinski writes an emotional tale of mother-daughter love and their search for true love.

Chasing the Sun by Kaki Warner

Jake Wilkins returns home after spending several years abroad only to learn he has a young daughter, Kate and the mother a woman he doesn't remember. Daisy Etheridge remembers Jake alright and she is not a happy camper. Escaping San Francisco, eluding authorities, and on a mission, Daisy needs some money to go to Rome to study singing and help take care of her daughter while she studies. Jake's family surrounds Daisy with welcoming care and hope that Daisy and Jake can work things out. Kaki Warner ends this series with excitement and page turning suspense, entertaining dialogue and believable characters. A good read.

Open Country by Kaki Warner

Molly McFarlane has rescued her dead sister's children from their nasty step-father and now they are headed for California, where she hopes to get a job using her nursing skills. The train they are riding on derails, killing two and critically injuring a third man, and Molly learns the railroad will give $300 in death benefits to the families of the dead. Seeing an opportunity, she marries the badly injured man, thinking of using the money to finish the children's and her trek west. Well, the man, Hank Wilkins, doesn't die. And he can't remember anything. When Brady Wilkins shows up to see what has happened to Hank, he is surprised to learn that Hank now has a wife and two children. While Hank is recuperating and to assist Brady's wife Jessica, with her pregnancy, Molly settles in at the ranch knowing that sooner or later, everyone will find out what she has done. Warner composes an exciting and entertaining second in the series, a really great read.

Open Country by Kaki Warner

Jessica Thornton, 26 year-old from England, meets the West face to face with the band of brothers whose last name is Wilkins. Jessica is running from a nasty brother-in-law who raped and abused her and left her pregnant. Now she is searching for her brother who is out in the west, somewhere. When she accidentally accosts Brady Wilkins at a stage stop, things do not get off to a good start. Then when the stage crashes, killing the driver and another man, Brady sets off on an injured horse for help. Warner writes a fast-moving, believable (mostly ;-)) story of love and romance in the mid-1800's. The Wilkins brothers, Brady, Hank and Jake, are hard-working ranchers who are finally making ends meet. They take in the surviving passengers at the ranch until they can continue their journey west, and life gets complicated. A great read.

The Rapids by Carla Neggers

Diplomatic Security Agent Maggie Spencer just wants to do her job: nailing fugitive Nicholas Janssen. But US Marshal Rob Dunnemore sticks to her side, also wanting a piece of Janssen. When Maggie responds to anonymous messages leading her back to the states, Rob joins her and they are both walking into a trap. Lots of government intrigue, a couple of murders, and an assassin looking for ten people on a "to-do-list." An ok read.

Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini

Rosa Diaz Barclay ponders her future, married to a man who abuses her, longing for a past love that didn't work out, and concerned for her children who can't survive due to a disease that can't be diagnosed. Rosa, faithful to her Catholic upbringing, tries to be the wife the church asks her to be but her life is miserable. When a neighbor encourages her to leave the abusive situation she is in, she is helped by the one person she was never to speak of again, a former lover. They escape in a downpour to begin a new life in the wine country of Sonoma county. The search for help for her children's illness is directed to a new doctor that seems to have the answers. Will Rosa and Lars be able to remain together and raise the children, two of which are his? Will her husband, imprisoned for bootlegging, find them? Can they keep their secrets? A good read.

Strange Fits of Passion by Anita Shreve

Thinking was different 40, 50 years ago. What happened at home, stayed at home. Women were to obey. What happened to Maureen and Harrold English could have happened to someone we knew. This is the story of Maureen who takes her life in her own hands and flees an abusive husband. Shreve writes from the perspective of Maureen's own words, giving insight into the thinking of a woman who feels she has no other way out. A riveting tale of passion, of love and a murder.

Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder

A claustrophobic's worst nightmare. Seventeen-year-old Alexa Marcus has been kidnapped and is buried alive, her only communication to the outside world is with her kidnapper. The ransom is vague. Her father doesn't want to share with "private spy" and family friend Nick Heller, any of the reasons Lexi might have been abducted. When Alexa appears in a live-streaming video-cam on the Internet it is apparent she is in big trouble. Nick, helped with ex-lover Diana Madigan, trace down the many leads with lies, secrets, and subterfuge preventing Nick from moving forward. With the FBI after Alexa's father for information he has, the pressure from highly placed individuals is intense. A good read, thrilling, holding your attention to the end.

Truth or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz

Upscale interior designer and psychic Zoe Luce Truax and private investigator Ethan Truax are trying to settle in to married life in Whispering Springs, but Zoe is concerned that Ethan will think she is going crazy with her intuitive ability and Ethan is troubled that Zoe will be dissatisfied with her life in this small community they have moved to. Zoe thinks someone is stalking her and possibly her friend Arcadia. Ethan is dealing with a disgruntled subject of his investigation. The both of them are dealing with their intended home which is currently painted flamingo pink. Rather amusing tale of married life when opposites attract.

The Queen by Steven James

FBI agent Patrick Bowers is in Wisconsin investigating a report that serial killer Travis Reiser was in the area when he gets a call from headquarters to report to a small northern town to supervise the investigation of a suspected murder/suicide. Bowers is trying to balance his work and life and this makes it even more difficult. Stepdaughter Tessa is still disturbed by the memory of killing her attacker. Lien-hua and Patrick seem to be going through the dance of love me, love me not? Patrick's brother Sean's marriage may be on the rocks. To top it off, there may be a high-tech conspiracy to inflame tension in the Middle East. Lots going on here. A good read.

The Diary by Eileen Goudge

Two daughters are going through their mother's things when they discover a diary. Reading it they discover that their mother may have loved another. Goudge tastefully covers all the emotions a child might feel learning a parent's secrets. A bitter sweet ending. A good read.

A Devil is Waiting by Jack Higgins

The President's life is being threatened if he goes to London. New intelligence captain Sara Gideon is the agent investigating the threats. Lots of intrigue, mayhem. Ok read.

The Death Pit by Tony Strong

Scholar Terry Williams is working on her thesis, which leads her to Iverness, Scotland. Researching Catherine McCulloch, a 17th Century woman burned at the stake as a witch, Terry finds the community concerned with the death of a young woman reported to be Wiccan. A tale of secrets and lies.

Gun Games by Faye Kellerman

Fifteen-year-old Gabriel Whitman is a very talented musician. Living with friends of his father, LAPD lieutenant detective Decker and his wife, Rina, Gabe has been home-schooled and will be going to Julliard or Harvard in the fall. In the meantime, he has few friends. When another teen is believed to have committed suicide, Decker is contacted by the mother who is certain her son did not kill himself. When another student commits suicide, Decker finds himself uncovering a group of privileged teens who like to play mean and nasty. Realizing that he does not really know Gabe, Decker tries to draw closer to him. A twisted tale of fear and loneliness, strange alliances, a good read.

The Look of Love by Mary Jane Clark

Piper Donovan is off to California to bake a cake for a wedding. Never mind that she is at heart an actress wanna-be, she is still talented enough to bake a beautiful cake. Her father is over protective and wants her to stay home. Her boyfriend, Jack Lombardi, realizes it has been too short a time since her last love relationship, so he wavers back and forth about his place in Piper's life. Things at the spa, Elysium, are not going well. Catering to the rich and famous, Piper arrives on the eve of a brutal murder. Clark writes a tale of beautiful people, jealousy and murder.

Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

Meredith Martin DeLinn is mortified. Her husband is in prison for a ponzi scheme, her kids are not understanding her, and the person who used to be (used to be the point here) her best friend is giving her a place to stay. Will Meredith find happiness? Will she and Connie renew their friendship? Can life get better? A so-so read.

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall

Mennonite Annie Martin loves the Plain way. Her Daadi relies on her for help when he is sick, or needs help with his chickens. He also lives next to an Amish family that has had some bad luck and they both have helped the Zook family out over the past years. Twenty-year old Annie and her mother need a break from each other and Annie has returned to her Daadi's farm to think and pray. While there, she gets reacquainted with Aden Zook and sparks fly. Will this Mennonite girl and Amish boy fall in love? What will the families do? Can they see their way clear to a happy ending? A good little story.

Taken by Robert Crais

Touted in the city newspaper as the "Greatest Detective Ever," Elvis Cole is contacted by the mother of a missing girl, sure that he can find her. Of Hispanic background, Krista is an honors student due to graduate in two weeks, and her mother is positive that her boyfriend has talked her into an escapade that may even include marriage. Cole and Pike find the place where Krista and her boyfriend were abducted and fear the young couple have been taken by bajadores who steal illegal immigrants and contact the families for ransom. Crais writes a fast-moving, action packed adventure that introduces Pike's friend Jon Strong, mercenary. A great read.

Dirt by Stuart Woods

Into the world of gossip and slander, lies and videotapes, Stone Barrington goes hot on the tails of Amanda Dart's tormentor. With the help of his able-bodied friend and police detective Dino they track the malicious attacker in the city of New York. Interesting with a lot of twists and turns.

Sold by Patricia McCormick

McCormick follows the journey of a young Nepalese hill girl whose step-father sells her into a life of prostitution. Lakshmi lives a peaceful, predictable life, simple in it's requirements. So poor, her mother starves herself in order to feed her children. A step-father whose main interest is gambling away any money they might accrue. Shocked into the requirements of the hard and cruel life of a prostitute, Lakshmi is numb most of the time, seeing familiar faces leave with no word of their destination. One day, hope is extended to her in the form of a white man from America.

Bel-Air Dead by Stuart Woods

Stone Barrington and friend Dino find themselves hob-nobbing with the rich and famous in California. Arrington has contacted Stone to investigate a business deal she is thinking of making by selling Centurion Studios, her late husband's investment in order to buy a neighboring horse farm. When stockholders of Centurion Studios begin to die as in murdered, Stone steps up his investigation. Another Barrington novel of life among the privileged.

Whispers at Midnight by Karen Robards

Carly Linton returns to her home town with friend Sandra Kaminski to turn her grandmother's house into a bed and breakfast. Old heartthrob Matt Converse is now the sheriff and still stirs the embers of her crush. Matt is looking for a missing young woman whose body is found buried on Carly's property, putting Matt and Carly into close proximity to each other. Love is bound to burst into flame.

Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania by Melanie Dobson

Dobson writes of the Moravian community in Pennsylvania, 1754. Christian and Susanna Boehler want to bring the word of God to the natives, but the eastern mountains in Pennsylvania are untamed with settlers fearing the Indians, and the British wanting the settlers to take sides. Life in the community of Nazareth, Pennsylvania was similar to the Amish, yet different. An interesting tale of early American history.

The Senator's Wife by Karen Robards

The second Mrs Honneker is a lot younger than the Senator who has three children older than Ronnie. Thinking she would be satisfied with money, parties, clothes, and all the things that go with being in the public eye, Ronnie has found she is dissatisfied with her life. When political strategist Tom Quinlan, young, handsome, unmarried and a "real hunk", is hired to improve the senator's political image, Ronnie finds herself thinking unmarried thoughts. At the same time, another story is going on in the area. Two women have been found murdered and a friend of theirs is frightened for her life. Afraid that she will be next. How are these two stories connected? Will Tom weaken and fall under the spell of Ronnie Honneker? Will Ronnie kiss her glamorous life good-bye? Another good read. A page-turner.

Dark Harbor by Stuart Woods

When Stone Barrington's cousin, Dick Stone, dies and leaves everything pretty much in Stone's hands and omitting Dick's brother from his will, all heck breaks loose. Originally considered a double murder, suicide death, clues lead Stone to believe that all three members of Dick's family were murdered. Natives of the island in Penobscot Bay feel threatened when young women begin to be assaulted and murdered. Stone calls in friends from home including Lance and Holly from the CIA and close friend Dino, police investigator. A group called the "Old Farts" and friends, former work acquaintances of Dick also think there is more to the mystery than everyone is seeing. Woods writes a twisted tale of family secrets and serial murders.

Vanished by Karen Robards

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Mason is still looking for her daughter, Lexie, who went missing seven years ago. Stuck in her life, she finds it impossible to enjoy anything, fearful that she didn't deserve to be happy. She is a workaholic, keeping her "free time" anything but free. Her close friend Jake, a private investigator, is very concerned about her and her health. When she witnesses a robbery/murder she is injured and the feeling is someone is out to get her. Robards spins a tale of angst, fear, secrets and determination. A great read.

The Sentry by Robert Crais

Joe Pike is inadvertently involved in what he thought was gang warfare when he comes to the rescue of Dru Rayne and her uncle in their little cafe. Attracted to Dru, Joe says he will take care of the problem and this is where the problems begin. Crais writes an exciting thriller of murder, violence and secrets that will keep the reader turning the pages to the end.

Strategic Moves by Stuart Woods

Stone is his usual self, looking out for his clients and laying the girls. Foreign intrigue, lots of dialogue, and is more or less double crossed by Lance Cabot of the CIA. Not one of Woods' best.

Shattered b y Karen Robards

Attorney Lisa Grant quits her job and goes home to care for her terminally ill mother. Getting a job is necessary and District Attorney Scott Buchanan, old time friend and neighbor, hires her as a research assistant. When their egos clash, Lisa gets sent to the basement to work cold case files. Coming upon a picture that looks amazingly like herself, Lisa is drawn to the case and decides to investigate further. A series of accidents and mishaps raise questions. Are these things happening because Lisa is looking into the case? Secrets are exposed endangering Lisa and her mother. What is the connection between this old disappearance case and Lisa's family? A great story, keeps the reader turning the pages.

Shoot Him If He Runs by Stuart Woods

Stone is invited to the White House for a dinner. And he is requested to have a bag ready with clothes for a warmer climate. The CIA is looking for a man believed to still be alive and living in the Caribbean on St. Marks, one of the islands. With two friends and another agent, Holly Barker, they find themselves on a "vacation" while trying to ferret out the wanted man. Lots of twists and turns, secrets and devious plots, Woods writes an exciting thriller.

Pursuit by Karen Robards

Rookie lawyer Jessica Ford collects the First Lady and tries to take her back home. On the way there is a terrible auto accident killing the First Lady and throwing Jessica from the car. Secret Service Agent Mark Ryan discovers her at the scene and follows her to the hospital. Jessica wakes up to a hazy figure attempting to inject something in her iv. Screaming, throwing herself from the bed, jerking out the catheter, Mark hears her from the hall and rushes to her room. No one seems to believe Jessica and when she is discharged from the hospital, she is taken to a secure place, she thinks. Meeting with her employer to discuss what she thinks she knows, he tries to kill her, and jumps from a 20-story window. What does Jessica know? Is is safe to trust Mark Ryan? What was the First Lady doing at the shady bar in the first place? A very twisted, romantic thriller. A good read.

The Short Forever by Stuart Woods

Stone finds himself in London, supposedly looking for the niece of his client, but manages to run into a couple of "old" girlfriends and get distracted. In between distractions, he manages to figure out that his client is not who he seems to be and that there is more going on that appears. Also, he attends a party at an old lover 's place in the country. The lover and her fiance include the party-goers in a sailing event. When the fiance is knocked overboard and drowns, Stone isn't sure but he thinks it is accidental. A couple of more bodies show up, adding more questions to the case. Stone is fairly unruffled with all the commotion and seems to lose only his raincoat. Not a bad little adventure.

The Wonder of Your Love by Beth Wiseman

Katie Ann Stoltzfus is resigned to life as a single mother when her husband leaves her to go back to his mistress. In the meantime, Katie Ann's husband dies unexpectedly, leaving many questions unanswered. Her Englisher neighbor, Martha, has "adopted" baby Jonas and serves as his grandmother. When Eli Detweiler, a widower with six grown children, visits family in Canaan there is an attraction between the two. Eli, expecting to travel now that his family no longer needs him, resists the attraction. Katie, still mourning the state of her husbandless life, also resists the attraction. But friends and family have other ideas. A good second book in the series.

Sleepwalker by Karen Robards

Detective Micayla Lange has nightmares about the night her mother was murdered in front of her older sister and herself to the point of sleepwalking. She is house-sitting for her uncle Nicco while they are on a New Year's trip to the south. Awakening after yet another nightmare, she is disoriented. Returning to her room, she hears noises that draw her back downstairs to her uncle's office. Interrupting a burglary leads to discoveries about her uncle, leading her to "switch" loyalties and a run for her life in the midst of a freezing Lake Erie winter. A thriller for sure, exciting to the last page.

Something Old by Dianne Christner

Katy Yoder is all grown up now, but as a youngster, she and two of her friends pledged to share a dwelling and be on their own. Now that time has arrived. Megan is still going to school and is not sure what she wants to do with her life. Lil seems to be attracted to worldly things and wants to discard her prayer cap, of all things. Katy also thinks her love for Jake Byler is over but when he returns to the community and the church, she has to re-think her feelings. A nice little novel of romantic love and problems with young Mennonites.

Break Down by Sara Paretsky

Private Investigator/lawyer Victoria Warshawski responds to her cousins call for help locating some missing teens. Enthralled by fictional character Carmilla, Queen of the Night and shapeshifter, the girls end up in an old cemetery performing a rite of their own. When V. I. finds them, she also finds a newly dead body. Secrets, secrets, secrets. V. I. also responds to a friend's call for help only to find her crumpled form on the floor of a church. Questions, questions, questions. There seems to be a connection between the two, but what is it? A clever tale of intrigue among the wealthy and not so wealthy. A good read.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The author takes the reader back to 1942 and forth to 1986 in the life of Henry Lee, Chinaman in Seattle, Washington. Henry is reminded of his past when The Panama Hotel is re-opened and a cache of Japanese belongings from 1942 are found. His wife has passed away and the memories are bitter sweet as he recalls his Japanese friend Keiko and the days during the war, when the Japanese Americans were interred in concentration camps. Father-son relationships, first loves, and prejudice are explored. A good read, historically correct.

Married to a Stranger by Patricia MacDonald

Emma Hollis, is wealthy, has a good job and is pregnant. Having only known her fiance six months, and circumstances considering, Emma and David Webster are getting married the sooner the better. Emma doesn't really know anything about David and when she is attacked in their honeymoon cottage by an axe-wielding masked intruder, she begins to wonder if she knows David at all. Secrets abound. Tension builds. People disappear. What is going on? Not a bad story.

The Captain and The Candles by Gary Jay Pool

Captain James Lang finds himself in the middle of an abolitionist war. An honorable man, he tries to do the right thing, yet finds himself blocked by members of society who fail to walk the talk, and is tempted at every turn. An interesting tale of the early Iowa, Missouri and Kansas years.

Cape Perdido by Marcia Muller

Secrets. Jessie and Fitch find themselves in the middle of an ecology fight over water rights with an under current of friction they don't understand. When people begin disappearing and the old mill works burns down, tension mounts. An ok read.

Half Broke Horses: a novel by Jeannette Walls

Lily Casey Smith was a real person. This novel is a fiction based on fact that illustrates what a strong-minded woman could do in the early part of the 20th century. Lily is a school teacher at fifteen and later travels to Chicago to further her education. Feeling confined by buildings and people, Lily returns to the west. The trials and tribulations this woman experiences would inspire any one. Fearless and determined, she was truly a pioneer.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Jeannette Walls remembers from the age of three, when she is severely burned while "cooking" hot dogs and her clothing catches on fire. Page to page reveals the disturbing picture of a mother who refuses to mother her four children, and a father who leads the children like a pied piper, then letting them down when he is dishonest and destructive. Painful to read, yet hard to put down, the reader is disturbed yet admires the resilience of these children who raise themselves.

Calder Promise by Janet Dailey

It is fifteen years later and "baby" Laura is on a tour of Europe with "Aunt" Tara. She meets two very attractive young men and considers each of them a possibility for marriage. Returning home when cousin Quint is shot on the job, she finds the men continue to pursue her. Boone Rutledge, son of a Texas billionaire, is persistent and used to getting his way. Sebastion Dunshill, Earl of Crawford, is patient, kind and penniless. Which one will Laura choose? Laura has a lot of maturing to do and pride seems to stand in her way.

Shifting Calder Wind by Janet Dailey

When it seems Chase Calder has been killed in a horrific automobile accident, daughter-in-law Jessy becomes manager of the ranch. An amnesia victim is befriended by "Laredo" Smith in Fort Worth. Yet again, meddler Tara Calder stirs up trouble, trying to turn Cat against Jessy. As Chase slowly regains his memory, he is sure someone is trying to kill him. Returning to the ranch with Laredo, he meets with Jessy and the three of them decide to try to force the attempted murderer to play his hand. A cunning twist to this family saga.

Green Calder Grass by Janet Calder

The sixth in this series, Jessy finds herself the wife of Ty Calder who has divorced manipulative Tara. Just when things seem the brightest, Tara returns. Using the death of her father, Tara clings to Ty for comfort and support, threatening Jessy's happy home. All is not secure on the homefront, either, as drought threatens the ranch life. When the government serves notice that the Calder family will lose grazing and water rights to 10,000 acres, Chase and Ty consider their options. Ever the mischief maker, Tara weasels her way into their plans to save the ranch. Then Calder blood is spilled. Another great story in the continuing saga of the Calder family.

Calder Pride by Janet Dailey

The promise continues... with Cat Calder, Maggie's daughter. When her fiance is killed in an auto wreck, Cat wants to return home, to the ranch where she feels comfort and safety. One last trip to visit her college friends in Texas, has her crossing paths with Logan Echohawk. This encounter has lasting implications for Cat. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Cat is holding her own. Wanting to prove herself as a Calder, Cat works just as long and hard as any man, earning their respect. The community is as judgmental as ever when Quint is born and Cat becomes a single mom. Another great page in the saga of the Calders of the Triple C ranch and family.

Calder Born Calder Bred by Janet Dailey

Ty Calder has time to make up. Soft city living has not prepared him for life on the ranch and he is determined to succeed. When he goes to college, to please his mother and against his father's wishes, it is to learn what he can and get back home where he left off. His plans go awry when he meets Tara Dyson, manipulator extraordinaire. When she rebuffs his proposal, he heads home to take his place at the ranch, his head still filled with romantic thoughts of Tara. He doesn't even see Jessy, who has loved him from afar for years, and shares his love of the ranch, the land, the country. When Tara arrives announcing she has changed her mind, she sweeps Ty off his feet and into a marriage that suits her agenda. Makes for a page-turner, and a great read.

This Calder Range by Janet Dailey

This book, the second in the series, takes us back to the original Calder and his son. Wanting to leave Texas, Chase Benteen Calder scopes out Montana. Staking out a land claim, he heads back to Texas to round up a herd of wild longhorns and marry seventeen year-old Laura. The newlyweds travel for six months with a 2,000 head herd across Texas, through the plains of the Midwest, to the state of Montana. Determined to succeed, Benteen stubbornly drives his men, the cattle and his wife. His struggles don't end there. Old grudges follow him and become a thorn in his side. A great read of the Midwest during the late 1800's and the problems they faced.

This Calder Sky by Janet Dailey

The Calder Cattle Company is a huge ranch in Montana. Chase Calder is heir to this booming industry and everyone knows who the Calder family is, and their word is law. With water and grass depending on the weather and the survival of the herd the focus of the ranchers, Chase has his work cut out for him. When others seek to use his grass and water, trouble is on the horizon. Neighbor Maggie O'Rourke, only a teenager and motherless, father a ne'er do well, falls under the spell of handsome, rugged Chase. But Maggie is determined to make something of herself. Not wanting to become another rancher's wife, she heads to California to educate herself and make her way in the world. An amazing tale of life on the plains, in Montana's rugged country. A good read.

The Hunter by John Lescroart

Private Investigator Wyatt Hunt was perfectly happy with his adoptive parents, well-adjusted, with no obvious problems. One day, he gets a test: "How did your mother die?" Curiosity more than anything leads Wyatt to investigate his birth parents leading to the discovery that his mother was murdered forty years earlier. Possibly by his birth father. Determined to get to the truth of this mystery, Wyatt finds he has opened a real can of worms, plus getting one of his investigators murdered. Can a forty-year old murder have these consequences? Lescroart had this reader unwilling to put the book down. Twisted, seemingly impossible, one clue leads to another in this thrilling murder mystery. A great read.

Knit One Pearl One: a novel by Gil McNeil

Jo McKenzie, mother of three, runs a knitting shop, and has eccentric family and friends and a romance that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. This reader felt like there were too many words, not much knitting, and a lot of "bloody" this and that. Not for me.

The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg

An account of the life of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus. This was so-so.

Copper Beach: a Dark Legacy novel by Jayne Ann Krentz

Abbey Radwell has an unusual psychic power. Having received what she perceives as a death threat, she turns to investigator Sam Coppersmith, an expert in paranormal crystals and amber, also known as "hot rocks." Sorry, I just couldn't get into this.

Emily's Chance by Sharon Gillenwater

Emily Rose wants to succeed in the worst way and can't be sidetracked by some handsome cowboy. She is diligently helping the community of Callahan Crossing recover from a devastating fire by the restoration of their museum and history. The only child of two driven parents, she seeks their approval. Will Emily be able to connect with her mother? Will cowboy/contractor Chance Callahan convince her he is the one she wants to be with? What secret does Emily find in the attic of an old historical house? A pretty good read.

Notorious by Janet Dailey

Eden Rossiter is the owner of a ranch in northern Nevada who is being harassed by Duke DePard, owner of the Diamond D. Her brother Vince, seems to be somewhat spineless, and wants her to sell out to Duke. Along comes cowboy, ex-rodeo, Kincade who offers to help her out. DePard's animosity results from the death of his brother, shot by Eden when they were younger. Will Eden get to keep the ranch? Is Vince really as spineless as he seems? What secret is Kincade keeping? A pretty exciting bit of a story.

Justice by Karen Robards

Lawyer Jessica Ford is trying to stay out of the limelight. When she replaces another attorney who is on an unexpected honeymoon, she finds herself on the front page after the witness, Tiffany Higgs, claims she lied, that there wasn't any rape. Secret Service Agent Mark Ryan, former boyfriend, is glued to her side, protecting her from yet another threat but finds keeping Jessica under wraps difficult to say the least. Jessica is determined to find Tiffany and ask her why she changed her testimony. No one knows where she is. As Jessica returns to her home one evening, she is mugged and Mark Ryan is to the rescue. Determined she is in danger, Mark lets Jessica know he is not going to leave her unprotected. There is a lot of convoluted story here. The honeymooning attorney has not been heard from and her cat has been picked up by the humane society. Jessica rescues Clementine, the cat. Tiffany cannot be reached. Even her mother doesn't know where she is. Two teen aged girls are on the lam from a detention center and have witnessed a murder. The plot thickens. An ok read.

The Captive Heart by Dale Cramer

The second book in this series finds the Bender family welcoming new arrivals from the States. With the threats of bandits in the background, the families work hard to build their community. When a visit to a nearby village to sell their goods brings diphtheria back into their homes, fear is rampant. Miriam finds herself face to face with making a life choice. Filled with the hardships of pioneers, Captive Heart is an interesting and compelling read.

Legacy of a Lawman by Johnny D Boggs

US Deputy Marshall Dave Adams is the narrator of this story about Deputy US Marshall Bass Reeves, a man of color. Boggs has researched his main characters and pulled together the saga of a man determined to do the right thing even if it means arresting his own son, bringing him in Dead or Alive.

Bass's son, Bennie Reeves, is a good barber, courteous, well-mannered, a hard worker and married to the wrong woman. Finding his wife with another man, Bennie kills her, then runs for it.

This story gives the reader a glimpse of the west in it's formative years after the Civil War. Freed Negros had settlements of their own just like any white community. Law-abiding or not depending on whether they had a sheriff or a church, women, housewives, and children. It made a difference. A good story.

Death Benefit by Robin Cook

Paranoia is at work! Pia Grazdani is a fourth year medical student. Aloof, attractive and with only one friend, George, by choice. Working with Professor Tobias Rothman, she desires a career in research and he provides the opportunity for her to go in that direction. Rothman is currently working with his partner on a deadly salmonella virus strain, but his true desire is to develop a pancreas through organogenesis.

In the meantime, two ex-Wall Street whiz kids think they have a sure-fire scheme to make lots of money. They plan to buy up insurance policies of very ill elderly who need ready cash. They hope the individuals die sooner rather than later and they can collect on the insurance policies. When they hear of Dr. Rothman's apparently successful research, they determine the research must be stopped. Pia seems to be the only one that feels Dr. Rothman's death in the laboratory is not an accident. What greedy men will do to make a buck. An interesting read.

Whistleblower by Tess Gerritsen

Cathy Weaver is on her way to visit her pregnant friend Sarah when a man appears on the rain-drenched highway and she hits him. This meeting with Victor Holland leads to a flight for their lives. Holland is a whistle blower and the big boys don't want him to tell his story. One man is already dead. Who can they trust? Intrigue and suspense with a little romance.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

The first thing Alice Love thinks of is she's 29 and expecting Nick's baby, her first. She feels a bit woozy. When she wakes up in the hospital she has "lost" the last ten years of her life. Where is Nick? Why isn't he here taking care of her? Who are these children? Why does everyone look at her so strangely?

Moriarty pens a believable tale of amnesia, grief and depression. Intriguing.

A Simple Amish Christmas by Vanetta Chapman

Three years ago, when Annie Weaver was about seventeen, she could not seem to settle down. Her father sends her to live with an Englisch aunt for a little time with her Englischer cousins.

Annie is now an RN, has been living in the city and is homesick. When she hears that her father has been seriously injured with two broken legs, she decides to return home to help care for him. Soon after her arrival, Annie locks horns with Samuel Yoder, the Amish communitie's medicine man, who frowns upon her English education. When Samuel is called to assist a difficult birth, he requests Annie's presense. This simple action leads to a change in their relationship and their working together.

Chapman writes a believable tale of Amish tradition, human feelings and forgiveness.

Maverick Heart b y Joan Johnston

Lady Verity Talbot and her son Rand have come to the States in the mid-1800's following a disastrous marriage that ended when her husband died. Traveling to the Wyoming Territory to claim a ranch that seems to be the only thing her husband left her, she is saved from a buffalo stampede by Miles Broderick, a lover she thought was dead and who is the real father of Rand. Miles has a plan of his own and it is going precisely as he wanted. With the impression that Verity wanted nothing to do with him 20 years ago, Miles has contrived to put her in the position of having to become his wife - a sweet revenge.

Alas, men can make plans and God laughs. Rand and fiance Freddie disappear in the winter on the Wyoming plains and Verity longs for word of them. Will she ever see Rand again? Are they dead? Will Miles ever be able to love her? A pretty good read for romantic fiction.

Love in a Nutshell: a novel by Janet Evanovich and Darien Kelly

A sweet little romantic tale of Kate Appleton's determination to recover from an ex-husband, the loss of a job held only three weeks and to restore the family summer home on the lake into a bed and breakfast. When she storms into Matt Culhane's brewery claiming he owes her a job, he finally hires her to investigate the strange happenings and sabotage at his establishment. If Kate discovers the culprit, he will reward her with a $20,000 bonus. Kate has some problems: she's allergic to beer, she's attracted to Matt, and the threat of foreclosure on her home is very real. Funny and upbeat. Read today!

Special Circumstances by Sheldon Siegel

Wow! What a page-turner! Mike Daley, ex-priest, ex-public defender, ex-husband, and now a corporate lawyer, has just been fired from Simpon and Gates, one of San Francisco's many prestigious law firms. Believing in the innocence of his friend and former co-worker Joel Friedman, who is charged with the double murder at S and G, Mike agrees to represent him. Siegel has crooked attorneys, helpful cops, dirty secrets and a riveting tale of revenge, lust and ethics. I loved this story!

A Plain and Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston

Anna Mae has married a God-loving Englischer. The daughter of an Amish bishop, he has shunned her. Now, pregnant with her first child, she is homesick for her mother and family. Arranging with her sister-in-law to visit at Christmas time, she receives a downright cold reception from her daed. Knowing that after an absence of three years, she and her husband, Kellon need to try one more time to reconcile with her father. After bitter words, Kellon and Anna Mae leave in a blinding snow storm. When her water breaks, she tells Kellon she is in labor. It is Christmas eve. They slide into a ditch. Will they be rescued in time? Will her father ever forgive her? Will there be a miracle on this Christmas Eve?

Clipston writes a good little Christmas story of Amish tradition.

The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere

When two women meet, neither one is prepared for the surprise of their lives. Gretchen Daniels, mother of two has a husband recovering from injuriesreceived while in the military, and Melissa McCreary, next door neighbor and loner, seem destined to share their stories. Gretchen is trying to be a full-time mother, father (Kyle is in Germany), taxi driver, cook and bottle-washer, yet feels called to befriend her stand-offish neighbor. Melissa has had a rough childhood and feels there isn't much for her in this world and that darn neighbor next door keeps reminding her of all that she has missed in her short lifetime. VanLiere writes a compelling, heart-warming story of love, forgiveness, and redemption. A great read.