4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, P, Read in 2008, SERIES, Women's Murder Club

4th of July by James Patterson

Tara
4th of July
by James Patterson
Copyright: 2005
Pages: 416
Rating: 4/5
Read: April 7-9, 2008
Challenge: No challenge; personal read

First Line: It was just before 4:00am on a weekday.

Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer finds herself in the defendant’s seat after a short car chase which ends fatally. She retreats to her sister’s house for privacy before the trial is set to begin. There she is faced with a small town who is in the grips of a string of unsolved, grisly murders. Being the cop, she can’t leave things alone and gets involved. Not only is she facing financial ruin in San Francisco, but she is also facing a cold-blooded murderer who will stop at nothing to keep Lindsay from discovering the truth behind the murders.
Another good book in the Women’s Murder Club!! This one was not as good as the 3rd Degree, which is the best in the series so far. The middle of this book was a little slow, but the ending … Oh My Goodness! It was a total shocker! I couldn’t believe it, I had no idea who the killer actually was!! I highly recommend this series!!
4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, P, Read in 2008, SERIES, Women's Murder Club

3rd Degree by James Patterson

Tara
3rd Degree
by James Patterson
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 339
Rating: 4/5
Read: April 6-7, 2008
Challenge: Suspense & Thriller Challenge – Terrorist thriller

First Line: It was a clear, calm, lazy April morning, the day the worst week of my life began.

In this third installment of the Women’s Murder Club, terrorists are at work on Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer’s streets. After more and more people are murdered for the “cause,” Lindsay calls a meeting with the girls. But the investigation will put one of the Women’s Club members in grave danger.
This book was amazing!! I really, really enjoyed it!! It’s almost heartbreaking in places. And the ending is truly shocking. I highly recommend this book. This series is great!! This book is definitely the best one in the series so far!!
3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, G, Kinsey Millhone, Read in 2008, SERIES

‘A’ is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

Tara
‘A’ is for Alibi
by Sue Grafton
Copyright: 1982
Pages: 215
Rating: 3/5
Read: April 1-3, 2008
Challenge: Celebrate the Author Challenge; Triple Eight – First in a Series Category

First Line: My name is Kinsey Millhone

Private investigator, Kinsey Millhone vaguely remembers the case of the murder of slick divorce attorney Laurence Fife, some 8 or 9 years previously. Fife’s wife, Nikki, was tried and convicted of the murder and sentenced to 8 years in prison. Now Nikki is out on parole and comes to Kinsey to prove that she did not kill Laurence. Kinsey is reluctant to take the case, eight years cold and seemingly solved. But she takes it thinking there is no way Nikki would bring this up again if she was indeed guilty. But what Kinsey does not expect to find along the way is a second eight-year-old murder and a brand new murder.
I had read part of this book a few years ago and decided to pick it up again since I now own most of the series (I think I’m missing K, O and T). Overall, I was a little disappointed in this. I felt that the writing was a little lacking. Of course, it’s hard to write a novel in 200 short pages. However, I am indeed going to continue this series and can’t wait to get to ‘B’.

Author Deaths

Author Andrew Britton dies…

Tara

Okay, so I’m a little bit late. Apparently, Andrew Britton died on March 18. I recently read his book The Assassin. I enjoyed it and am upset that I will only be able to enjoy the two other books that he published before his unexpected death at the youthful age of 27. You can read about his death (again, sorry I’m so late in discovering this!) in this Raleigh Chronicle article.

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins #66

Tara

1. Tonight I saw a lot of lightning. (Actually it was last night, lol)
2. Any song with a really good beat makes me wanna dance!
3. Splitting a few appetizers between friends always makes for a great time!
4. My childhood best friend who I lost touch with is someone I’d like to get to know better.
5. The smell of rain reminds me so much of springtime!
6. He smiled and that made it all better.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to packing, tomorrow my plans include Tanya’s wedding and Sunday, I want to move some stuff to our new place!
Booking Through Thursday

BTT – Lit-Ra-Chur

Tara

  • When somebody mentions “literature,” what’s the first thing you think of? (Dickens? Tolstoy? Shakespeare?)
  • Do you read “literature” (however you define it) for pleasure? Or is it something that you read only when you must?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When someone says “literature,” I generally take it to mean the classics. I should probably broaden my definition, but that’s really the first thing I think of when I hear the word “literature.”

LOL! Um, no. I do not read my definition of “literature” : classics. Some of the classics are okay, others I just cannot get past the language. I’ve had Les Miserables on my nightstand for 4 months and have only made it to page 27. (I officially gave up last week). Now, give me a classic like Huckleberry Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird and I’m fine. But I really don’t like the really super classic classics. If that makes any sense?! Haha!

Monthly Wrap Up

March 2008 Wrap-Up

Tara
March 2008 Wrap-Up

Here’s my end of the month wrap up:
  1. Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason, The Rule of Four –> I enjoyed this one. Some people compare it to The Da Vinci Code. It doesn’t read as smoothly as The Da Vinci Code, but I definitely felt that it was better. 4/5
  2. James Patterson, 1st to Die –> Why did I wait so long to start this series?! It was really, really good. Lots of twists and turns, very enjoyable reading. 5/5
  3. Iris Johansen, Fire Storm –> Good book. Probably not the best of hers that I’ve read, but it was still an enjoyable read. 4/5
  4. Christopher Andersen, Diana’s Boys: William and Harry and the Mother They Loved –> This book was really, really good!! His books read so smoothly. It’s like you’re reading a story, not non-fiction. I highly recommend this one. It’s hilarious to see how much those two got away with as children! 4/5
  5. Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl –> I cannot possibly say enough good things about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I cannot believe that I waited so long to not only buy it but to read it as well. Highly, highly recommended!! 5/5
  6. Jodi Picoult, The Pact –> After hearing such wonderful things about Picoult, I decided to try one of her books. Boy was I NOT disappointed! This book was so amazing! It was so heartfelt and thrilling. It was fast paced yet enjoyable too. Just great all around! 5/5
  7. Anita Shreve, The Pilot’s Wife –> Another new author for me. I found this one to be really great! I was hooked in from the first page and couldn barely wait to find out what happened in the end! Great book! 4/5
  8. Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas –> This one was definitely not one of his better books. I had a lot of trouble staying focused on this one. I don’t know, I just didn’t care much for it at all. It was just okay for me. 3/5
  9. J.D. Robb, Naked in Death –> Good book. Kind of weird setting, and I was disappointed that there was no real explanation as to the technological advances. But overall, it was a really good start to what I hope will be a great series! Looking forward to the next one! 4/5
  10. Nancy Pickard, The Virgin of Small Plains –> WOW! This book was awesome! I absolutely loved it!!! Great, great, great!! So suspenseful with lots of twists and turns, just a great book!! 5/5

Here are some statistics in regards to my reading:

  • Books read: 10
  • Pages read: 4,624
  • New Authors: 7
  • Fiction: 9
  • Nonfiction: 1
  • Read for Challenges: 8

5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, P, Read in 2008

The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard

Tara
The Virgin of Small Plains
by Nancy Pickard
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 336
Rating: 5/5
Read: March 29-31, 2008
Challenge: Eponymous Challenge

First Line: Abby Reynolds braked her truck on the icy highway, startled by what she imagined she saw off to the side of the road.

For nearly twenty years, a rural Kansas town has tended to the grave of an unknown teenage girl who has become known as “The Virgin.” The discovery of her body changed the lives of teens Mitch Newquist, Abby Reynolds, and Rex Shellenberger. For Mitch, he inexplicably left town the day after she was found, leaving his girlfriend, Abby and best friend, Rex, behind without a reason. But nearly twenty years later, Mitch will return to the small town of Small Plains in order to finally put a name on the Virgin’s grave and in the process will change the entire town forever.
This book was awesome! There were so many twists and turns. And the ending was a complete shocker to me! I loved it!! Highly recommended!
Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins #65

Tara

1. Some relationships are meant to flourish.
2. Linkin Park is the last concert I saw; it was awesome!
3. Spring should be a permanent season.
4. Oh no! I forgot to charge my cell phone again!
5. I’ve recently started doing the invoices at work.
6. My husband never fails to make me smile.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include doing nothing and Sunday, I want to sleep in!

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Eve Dallas, R, Read in 2008, SERIES

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

Tara
Naked in Death
J.D. Robb
Copyright: 1995
Pages: 306
Rating: 4/5
Read: March 23-27, 2008
Challenge: Triple Eight – 1st in a Series; Suspense & Thriller Challenge – romance thriller

First Line: She woke in the dark.

New York City police Lieutenant Eve Dallas thinks she’s seen it all in her 10 years on the force. But when the case of a murder of a Senator’s granddaughter comes across her desk, she experiences something she’s never thought about – being seduced by a possible suspect in the murder case. Even though every ounce in her body tells her to ignore the millionaire Roarke’s advances, she finds herself falling more and more. And before long, she realizes that she will need his help and resources in order to solve this murder.
Overall, I really liked this book. However, I felt a slight disappointment with it. I guess I had myself pumped up for a little more solidness to it. This book is set in the future, like the 2050s, but there was no real explanation for any of the technological advances when I felt like they were a little necessary. I’m sure I’m going to continue with this series, but I felt that this book could have been more solid.