Book Review: The Chase (Fox and O'Hare #2) by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare.  Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad. A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate all over the world.  But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

Janet Evanovich is one of my all-time favorite authors.  Her Stephanie Plum series is fast-paced and fun, never failing to entertain.   The Chase, the second novel in the Fox and O'Hare series does not quite live up to the Plum series.  

I'm not sure how these collaborations between writers work, how much each writer contributes; I have never read anything by Lee Goldberg with which to compare this book.  It feels to me like the difference between color and black and white.  The Fox and O'Hare series is just a little less colorful, a little less funny.

Nicolas Fox and Kate O'Hare are antagonists who are forced to work together, who begin to feel an attraction for each other.  It's obvious the series is leading to some sort of romance between the two, but it doesn't feel real.  Perhaps they are waiting to strengthen this in forthcoming books.

The gang that goes along for the ride is a fun mixed-up group of unique personalities.  My favorite is Kate's dad, Jack.  His idea of quality time while his daughter was growing up was teaching her how to shoot different weapons.  He loves it when she comes to him for help in her schemes to take out the bad guys and he has a plethora of old war buddies who are available to assist in the operations.  I'd love it if subsequent books in the series would flesh these characters and their personalities out even more.

There were a lot of similarities between the first book in the series, The Heist, and this one.  One genius evil mastermind with a network of highly trained goons to defeat.  A secluded isle/plantation to retreat to, lots of explosions and bullets.  

Yet I have to say the book was enjoyable to read.  If you like suspense thrillers, action-type books, you should enjoy this book.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley and RandomHouse Publishing.

I give this 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: Captive in Paradise by RJ Futh

Young backpackers have been traveling through Southeast Asia for decades, blissfully unaware of the political and social turmoil that surrounds them. That ignorance abruptly ends when eight travelers are kidnapped by a revolutionary organization and held captive in the rainforest of southern Thailand. Maimed, beaten and facing death, each much decide: stay and hope for rescue or attempt an escape that stands little chance of succeeding.

Basically, this book is about a group of rich, multi-national kids frolicking around southeast Asia who become involved in a Jihad movement and suffer the consequences.  It's a very interesting book, well-written, and easy to read.

The characters are very real.  The author, RJ Furth, did an excellent job of portraying four young people with too much money who try to escape their normal environment for pleasures of the world.  Captivity in the hands of the southeast Asian Muslims caused each of the kids to reassess their outlook on life and rapidly mature.  Actually, the main character is almost unbelievable, based on his background and experience and what he's able to accomplish after their capture.

 

Ralph gives this book 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: Vengeance by A.J. Scudiere

How would you react if the mafia took out your entire family? Cynthia Beller came up fighting. Years of training have made her the mafia's worst nightmare, but there is another who is out for Vengeance too and an FBI agent close on her heals.

Find out what is "right" and what is "justified" in AJ Scudiere's VENGEANCE.

Two characters, a man and a woman of differing ages, have each had experiences that justify hating the mafia.  They set out separately (they didn't know each other) to wipe out as many members of the mafia as possible.

The book is hard to get into at the start.  It took me until after page 100 to really get hooked.  There was just too much background at the beginning, it bogged the pacing down.  Also, the story wouldn't have been harmed any if the number of kills had been reduced, making a shorter and tighter book.

Vengeance was very well-written and well-edited.  It was refreshing in that it reflects the government security agencies as dedicated people that are hard working and honest.  For the squeamish, I have to add a warning.  This book is quite vivid in its descriptions of the actions taken in each kill.  It's very bloody and violent.  The ending was very unexpected and enjoyable.

 

Ralph gives this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: The Complex by Donald W. Tucker

United States Secret Service agent Wesley Charles is furious when his racist boss forces him to attend a seminar at the new law enforcement complex in Dallas. Wes knows the seminar is a monumental waste of his time; he belongs on the Chicago streets, doing what he does best, which is busting counterfeiters. The presence of Charles old friend Secret Service agent Louis Boron, Seattle cop James Allen, and beautiful DEA agent Wendy Weissman provide a welcome distraction from the mind-numbing classes. The four inadvertently discover that something menacing is lurking behind The Complex's facade of inter-agency cooperation. When their investigations reveal a conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of American democracy, they find themselves up against a powerful, unknown enemy- and running for their lives. The explosion came in the middle of the night, igniting the gas line, engulfing the little house in flames and tossing its occupants onto the floor. Wes choked on the smoke and felt for his piece. He tucked it into the waistband of his sweats, crawled to the bathroom and grabbed a towel from the rack. Somehow, the water was still running. He soaked himself and the towel in the tub thoroughly before attempting to break through the wall of smoke that had enveloped the master bedroom. He could hear Talbot's screams amid the crackling of the flames and the tinkling of glass. And he could hear Gordon calling his name from the direction of the kitchen."Gordon," he shouted, "Can you hear me?"

This book was right up my dad's alley, and since he's retired and reads even more than I do, I gave it to him to read first.  He gave me his opinion when he was finished, so I've written up his review.

The Complex was a well-written, fast-moving novel about the security establishment of the United States.  However, the plot was severely demeaned by the author's interjection of his own racial prejudice. It seems he feels that all white security agents are against the black ones. The story would have been much better served by allowing the plot and characters to expose any racial injustice in the security system rather than coming from the author.

The actual plot was good, it keeps the reader guessing what's going to happen until the end.  The twists weren't predictable, which made for an entertaining read.

 

Ralph gives this book 3 Bookworms!

Paperback:  280 pages

Publisher:  Dog Ear Publishing, LLC (August 23, 2011)

ISBN-10:  1457504707

ISBN-13: 978-1457504709

Book Review: Concerto (Book 1 of the Alexis Brooks Series) by Sandra Miller

Three simple words from her telephone in the dead of night send violinist Chrispen Marnett’s life spiraling in directions she never imagined. The chance to work with the greatest violinist alive drew her to Newton, but nothing could have prepared her for what she found there. Terror lurks in innocent places–a ringing phone, a late-night rehearsal, unexpected flowers.

And what could have prepared her for Alexis Brooks: symphony concertmaster, international superstar, and accused murderer? Withdrawn and moody, Alexis is cut off from everyone around him; his colleagues in the symphony, his fans, even his own father. Everyone from her mother to the Newton Police has warned Chrispen against Alexis, but as her own danger increases, he may be her only ally.

Join Chrispen on the journey of a lifetime as she fights for her sanity, her happiness, and her life. To survive, she must unravel the layers of the past and learn the secrets the Newton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra hides.

 

Concerto had its pluses and minuses for me.  I found it interesting being set around a professional symphony orchestra.  I don't know much about orchestras, I'm a singer, not a player.  So the book taught me a few things.  The main thing it taught me is I don't want to be in an orchestra - I thought choirs were full of backstabbers!

Chrispen annoyed me.  She blindly believed that Alexis was innocent.  Ok, love does that to people.  But to not keep evidence or report things to the police... that's just not realistic in today's era of CSI shows.

Still, I did enjoy the book.  Alexis was well done in his suffering hero status.  The plot was suspenseful and built to a satisfying climax.  I did figure out who the bad guy was, but it wasn't blatantly obvious.  Overall, it's a satisfying mystery suspense novel.

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Paperback:  288 pages

Publisher:  CreateSpace (October 6, 2010)

ISBN-10:  1453863850

ISBN-13:  978-1453863855

Ebook:  333kb

ASIN:  B00466HT8U

Book Review: Hot, Shot, and Bothered (Lilly Hawkins #2) by Nora McFarland

TV news photographer Lilly Hawkins is on the biggest assignment of her career. A deadly wildfire is racing through the California mountains toward the town of Elizabeth Lake. After barely slipping in ahead of road closures, Lilly has her hands full photographing the massive evacuation and approaching inferno. She has no time to cover the accidental drowning of a reckless party girl in the lake . . . until she learns the victim’s name. 

When Lilly knew her thirteen years ago, Jessica Egan was a principled environmental activist and not a bit reckless or wild. Could she have changed that much, or is a killer exploiting the chaos surrounding the fire to disguise a murder?

Soon Lilly’s juggling the story she should be covering with the story she can’t let go. What could have been the motive for Jessica’s death? Was it sexual jealousy, long-held grudges, or just plain old-fashioned greed that got Jessica killed? Meanwhile, Lily has to contend with her station’s low-budget technology, the antics of her dodgy uncle Bud, and the alarming job offers her boyfriend is fielding from big-city competitors. Lilly is racing against the clock to get answers. If only the murderer—or the fire—doesn’t get her first . . .

A fun, entertaining mystery.  Nora McFarland takes murder and adds just enough humor in the right places to keep this story more light-hearted than your usual mystery.  Lilly Hawkins is a spunky heroine that will stop at nothing to get the truth.  She's a little klutzy, she's impetuous, she has hair issues, she thinks bad things about people and then feels bad about it; so, she's just your average woman.

There's a very unique cast of supporting characters, though some seem so far out there as to be more like a caricature.  This may be because a series of books is planned and hopefully more about the "regulars" will be revealed in future stories. 

Hot, Shot, and Bothered is the second book in the Lilly Hawkins series, but it is easily read as a stand alone.  I hadn't read the first book and didn't feel like I missed anything.  So, start anywhere you like in the series, you'll enjoy it!


*Disclaimer:  I received this book free from the publisher, I was not required to write a positive review.

 

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

 

Paperback:  304 pages
Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (August 2, 2011)
ISBN-10:  1439155569
ISBN-13:  978-1439155561
Format:  Ebook
File Size:  706 KB
Print Length:  304 pages
Sold by:  Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc.
ASIN:  B004G8QSCG

Book Review: The Killing Song by P.J. Parrish

Matt Owens is a Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist, but at thirty-five, he’s adrift, more inclined to hit the bottle alone than the Miami Beach club scene. But when his beloved younger sister Mandy comes to visit, Matt wants to show her a new world. It’s the trip of her dreams, but the nightmare begins when Mandy disappears from a crowded dance floor. When her lifeless body is found, one clue—a grisly rock song downloaded onto her iPod—may be the calling card of a serial killer. Shattered with grief and guilt, Matt begins a lonely journey to find Mandy’s killer, following a chain of musical clues that lead him from an abandoned London rock club to a crumbling Scottish castle and finally to the ancient bone-strewn catacombs below Paris. Only one person believes in his quest—Eve Bellamont, a dedicated French detective whose own five-year obsession to find the phantom killer has left her an outcast in her own department. Together, they race to decipher the “killing songs” that the madman leaves with each victim and stop him before another beautiful young woman dies.

The author of The Killing Song, P.J. Parrish is actually two sisters, Kelly Nichols and Kris Montee.  How I have not been aware of this writing team, I do not know, but I want to read more.   This book was intense.  I could feel the evilness of the serial killer seeping off the pages.  He was twisted, disturbed, kinky, and very cunning - everything I love to hate in a villain.  Matt Owens is the ideal broken hero.  From Putlitzer Prize nominated to just shy of an alcoholic, he has to pull himself together to find his sister's killer.  He's not perfect, but he's determined, and I found it easy to care about him and root for him to succeed.

The story moves quickly from clue to clue with snippets of the killer's evil-doings in between.  It's not a fast read, but it's a gripping, emotional one.  When you start reading it, be prepared, and hang on for the ride.  It's worth it!

*Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher for free, I was not required to write a positive review.

 I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Paperback:  416 pages
Publisher:  Gallery (July 26, 2011)
ISBN-10:  1439189366
ISBN-13:  978-1439189368

Publisher:  Pocket (July 26, 2011)
Sold by:  Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc.
ASIN:  B004INHDAA
Format:  Ebook
File size:  715kb

Book Review: Lie for Me by Karen Young

Lauren Holloway's ex-fiance, Tucker Kane, is without an alibi when his ex-wife is murdered. Tucker claims to have been alone at a job site at the time, but he needs Lauren to lie for him so that he won't become a suspect in the murder. She refuses; now as a prime suspect, Tucker disappears without a trace. Years later, she sees him at an antique fair, and worried that Lauren will reveal his carefully constructed life, he forces his into her hotel room and tells her that he's trying to find evidence to clear his name. As Lauren tries to help Tucker, she questions her ability to judge character as she uncovers a labyrinth of deceit, putting her very life in danger.

Lie for Me fell a bit flat for me.  The writing style didn't draw me in to keep me reading.  I couldn't feel the romance between Lauren and Tucker at all.

The mystery storyline was pretty good.  I suspected, but didn't totally figure out who the "bad guy" was before the end.  There were some interesting twists and turns that kept me guessing.  Although, I did feel the book was longer than it needed to be.  I found myself hoping at times that it would hurry and end.

Since there are some redeeming qualities in the storyline and I see that a lot of other reviewers enjoyed this book far more than I, I'm giving it a tad higher rating than I originally decided upon and leaving the decision up to you readers.  Give it a try and let me know how you liked it.

*Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from the publisher, I was not required to write a positive review.

 I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Paperback:  368 pages

Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (August 2, 2011)

ISBN-10:  1416587640

ISBN-13:  978-1416587644

Format:  Ebook

File Size:  1,314 KB

Print Length:  368 pages

Sold By:  Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc.

ASIN:  B004INHCWE

Book Review: The First Victim by J.B. Lynn

She was like all the other victims. Naked, flawed, helpless... Fifteen years ago, Emily Wright barely escaped from a serial killer dubbed the Baby Doll Strangler. She wants nothing to do with the small town where she was abducted, but when her father is hospitalized she reluctantly returns home to care for her teenage sister.

 

When her sister's friend is killed and left in front of Emily's house, Emily begins to relive the nightmare she endured long ago. Soon she realizes that her sister, too, is in danger from the killer—and the only person who can help is the man Emily left behind: Deputy Bailey O'Neil. Together, Emily and Bailey must discover the killer's identity before he claims his next victim...

 The First Victim is a captivating mystery that will probably make your skin crawl and your teeth hurt occasionally.  I know it did mine.  The author, J.B. Lynn created a decidedly evil killer, and at times gets a bit graphic in the details of what the killer does.  It's not horribly over the top, though, not any worse than most crime tv shows.

The book flows well, I read it in one evening.  I had to find out what happened!  I will toot my own horn to say that I did figure out who the killer was, but I didn't realize how he/she fit in the story until the very end.  There are lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing, I suspected everyone at one time or another.  This novel will be a favorite for mystery/suspense fans!

I was given this book from the publishers, Carina Press, through Netgalley. 

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Format:  Ebook

File Size:  447 KB

Publisher:  Carina Press (June 13, 2011)

ASIN:  B004XVTPNU

Book Review: Warriors of the Cross by T.R. Graves

 

Allison La Crosse, beginning a challenging family medicine residency, leaves the protection of her family. With the transfer, her worst nightmares come true. Her closely guarded mystical talents – those which seldom appeared before the move – unleash themselves from her confinement and reveal their presence with very little provocation.

Allison’s most terrifying power is her compulsion to cure the dying with her touch. Given her career, this gift would be valuable if she were not drawn like a magnet to the ailing person's every symptom. Some of which are fatal.

At the hospital and surrounded by life-and-death emergencies, Allison’s inability to manage her impulse turns deadly. When it does, her mentor, Brody, rescues her from her own demise. His resuscitation ignites an exciting and tempestuous bond between them.

Desperate for a cure, they join forces and embark upon a journey to uncover the origins of Allison’s lethal curse. In the midst of their adventure, Allison exposes a secret pursued by many…known by few.

Warriors of the Cross is Book One in The Warrior Series. 

Warriors of the Cross has a little something for everyone.  There's romance, mystery, suspense, supernatural, and a bit of Christian theology thrown in for good measure.  The story flows fairly smoothly, though there are areas where it seems to drag some; but not enough for me to want to stop reading.

The characters were mostly written well.  It was easy to see Allison mature as she went through all the strange incidents happening to her.  I would have preferred Clark and Brody to be more well-rounded, I think maybe in trying to keep the mystery around them, they fell a little flat at times.  However, I adored the sisters and wished they would have been around more!

The suspense is kept drawn tight throughout the storyline, I had to keep reading because I needed to know where Allison got her gifts and how she was going to fight off the evil!  Overall, I really enjoyed the book and will be looking forward to the next two books in the series. 

*Disclaimer:  I received this book from the author through Goodreads.  I was not required to write a positive review.

 I give this book 4 Bookworms. 

Format:  Ebook

File Size:  479kb

Pages:  307

Publisher:  CreateSpace: Book 1 edition (April 16, 2011)

ASIN:  B004PLO6NC

Book Review: Take the Monkeys and Run (Barbara Marr Murder Mystery #1) by Karen Cantwell

Film lover Barbara Marr is a typical suburban mom living the typical suburban life in her sleepy little town of Rustic Woods, Virginia. Typical, that is until she sets out to find the missing link between a bizarre monkey sighting in her yard and the bone chilling middle-of-the-night fright fest at the strangely vacant house next door. When Barb talks her two friends into some seemingly innocent Charlie's Angels-like sleuthing, they stumble upon way more than they bargained for and uncover a piece of neighborhood history that certain people would kill to keep on the cutting room floor. Enter sexy PI Colt Baron, Barb's ex-boyfriend who would love to be cast as new leading man, filling the role just vacated by her recently estranged husband, Howard. When Colt flies in from out of town to help Barb, events careen out of control and suddenly this mini-van driving mother of three becomes a major player in a treacherous and potentially deadly FBI undercover operation. It's up to her now. With little time to spare, she and she alone, must summon the inner strength necessary to become a true action heroine and save the lives of those she loves. The question is can she get them out alive before the credits roll?

Take the Monkeys and Run is a quirky and fun murder mystery.  Barbara Marr is not your typical young, beautiful murder mystery heroine.  This is a good thing!  She's in her forties with two daughters and a husband who has just left her.  She's broken, but not destroyed.  Investigating the strange happenings next door is just what she needs to keep going.

The story has monkeys, a human skull, mobsters, and an ex-boyfriend.  What more does a mystery need?  Humor!  There's lots of it!  Barbara is sarcastic, with a self-deprecating wit.  The mobsters are so dumb, they are hysterical!  The author, Karen Cantwell, even managed to make the ending full of suspense, terror, and mirth.  I laughed my way to the end.  Read it and you will, too!

I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Paperback:  236 pages

Publisher:  CreateSpace (August 26, 2010)

ISBN-10:  1453721096

ISBN-13:  978-1453721094

Ebook:  410kb

ASIN:  B003SE7O40



Book Review: Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson

'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning. Thinking I'm still a child. Thinking I have a whole lifetime of choice ahead of me ...' Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine's life.

I sit here having a hard time writing this review.  Not because the book was bad, because it was really good.  But I just don't know how to describe it's goodness.  It's a very intense book.  The protagonist, Christine, suffers from anteretrograde amnesia where she loses her memory every night as she sleeps.  She wakes up in bed with a man she doesn't know.  He tells her that he's her husband and she was in an accident years ago.  I can't imagine being on either side of this situation.

S.J. Watson did an excellent job showing us how someone would feel waking up every morning with no memory.  I got tense with Christine as she found and read her diary over and over again every day; finding out new things about her past every day, yet forgetting them as she slept.  The author kept the tension building day after day as Christine would remember a little bit more.  S.J. Watson did a great job with the characters, letting us see clearly into Christine and her angst over her life and memory problems, but keeping the other characters just a little bit shady so you couldn't guess what the truth really was.

This was a great read, with twists and turns everywhere.  Just enough to keep you guessing and very entertained!

 *Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher, HarperCollins, through NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 4 Bookworms

Hardcover:  368 pages

Ebook:  578 kb

Publisher:  Harper; First Edition (June 14, 2011)

ISBN-10:  0062060554

ISBN-13:  978-0062060556

ASIN:  B004GUSG4M

Book Review: Uncommon Thief by William Manchee

A college student working part time as a bank messinger is framed for a huge bank robbery. When a Bank employee is found dead in the vault, Fred Fuller finds himself on trial for murder and must depend on his girlfriend and two high school buddies to prove him innocent.

I found Uncommon Thief to be a fairly good book.  The protagonist, Fred Fuller, was definitely a three dimensional character with strengths and weaknesses.  He faces some tough choices and makes mistakes, to which everyone can relate. 

There were a few things I didn't like about the book.  Fred's girlfriend, Maria, seems too good to be true.  The flashbacks were too long and not completely necessary to further the storyline.  Still, it's an entertaining story.

*Disclaimer:  I won this book from a GoodReads giveaway.  I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Paperback:  308 pages

Publisher:  Top (January 2011)

ISBN-10:  1929976747

ISBN-13:  978-1929976744