BOOK REVIEW: Three Sisters by Susan Mallery

March 19, 2013May 1, 2015 / Linda / 1 Comment

This is a story about three very different women who live in three very distinctive homes on the same street. Because theirs are the only homes on the street, they are thrown together to forge a very special bond.

Andi is jilted at the altar in Seattle and decides to make a drastic change in her life by buying a rundown home on Blackberry Island. Being a pediatrician, she plans to have her practice on the main level, and live on the floors above. Of course, the contractor she hires is single and sexy, but has his flaws too.

Deanna is the “perfect” mom, “perfect” wife, “perfect” homemaker. But by being perfect, she’s in danger of losing herself and her family.

Boston is an artist who married her college sweetheart. The death of their six month old son puts her marriage in jeopardy.

The stories of these three women and the men in their lives are intriguing, relateable, poignant, and compelling. The author weaves emotional tales of love, tragedy, courage and friendship. I felt so connected to the characters, that I actually cried at the end!

Top 15 Authors of 2012

March 16, 2013March 28, 2013 / Linda / Leave a comment

Most authors will tell you, it’s very hard to earn a living as an author. There are, however, a few exceptions to the rule! Forbes Magazine came up with the 15 top earning authors of 2012. Results are based on computations by the Forbes staff.

1. James Patterson – $94 million
2. Stephen King – $39 million
3. Janet Evanovich – $33 million
4. John Grisham – $26 million
5. Jeff Kinney – $25 million
6. Bill O’Reilly – $24 million
7. Nora Roberts – $23 million
8. Danielle Steel – $23 million
9. Suzanne Collins – $20 million
10. Dean Koontz – $19 million
11. J K Rowling – $17 million
12. George RR Martin – $15 million
13. Stephanie Meyer – $14 million
14. Ken Follett – $14 million
15. Rick Riordan – $13 million

Do you have a favorite?

BOOK REVIEW: When Summer Comes By Brenda Novak

March 12, 2013May 1, 2015 / Linda / Leave a comment

This is a beautifully written contemporary story of two strangers who meet in the middle of the night. A cliche? Yes. But, the story is anything but a cliche. This is book three of the Whiskey Creek series. It’s a little helpful to read them in order, but they can also stand alone. Whiskey Creek is a wonderful, small town where most of the residents were born and raised there. This series centers mainly on a group of high school friends now in their 30’s.

We are introduced to a professional photographer, Callie, who is in need of a liver transplant. She has decided to keep her illness from family and friends and has moved from town to the farm of her late grandparents to sort out what’s left of her life.

Levi McCloud is a former martial arts champion and military vet now turn drifter. His motorcycle breaks down not far from Callie’s farm. While pushing the bike, he is viciously attacked by two dogs and seeks help at Callie’s door.

It was very interesting to watch these two characters’ relationship develop. The author weaves a touching, emotional story about taking risks, forgiveness and letting your heart lead the way to a better life. I thought I was going to encounter an overused, worn story line with predictable scenes, but instead was totally drawn into a dramatic, believable story that I just couldn’t put down.

BOOK REVIEW – Killing Time by Cindy Gerard

February 27, 2013May 1, 2015 / Linda / Leave a comment

Once again New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cindy Gerard delivers a story that keeps her readers on the edge of their seats. It’s filled with red-hot, non-stop action told so vividly you think you are right in the middle of the action. ‘Killing Time’ is the first book in her new series called One Eyed Jacks.

Mike Brown is a Navy veteran who was dishonorably discharged 8 years earlier for a mission in Afghanistan that went horribly wrong. He spends his time languishing in Lima, Peru riddled with guilt, grief, rage , and self-destruction. The eighth anniversary of the day that mission went sour finds Mike in a small cantina getting drunk. A beautiful woman is at the cantina, dancing seductively and seeming only to have eyes for Mike. He decides this is about to become his lucky day not knowing the lady has other ideas.

Eva Salina is an attorney for the CIA. A classified file gets anonymously delivered to her outlining the details of a secret mission that went wrong 8 years ago – one in which her husband was killed. She assumes whoever gave her the file wants her to investigate the incident. After hitting one dead end after another in the States, she ends up in Peru to track down one of the three survivors of the mission.

What follows is fast paced action, luscious scenery, battles, treachery, mystery, intrigue, blood, sweat and tears, twists and turns and surprises that take you from Peru to Washington, D.C., to Quebec, to the mountains of Idaho. The characters are tough, raw, and dangerous. But what makes you fall in love with them is their vulnerability, their insecurities, their faults, their determination, their sense of right and wrong. This is a book you want to allow plenty of time to read because you are not going to want to put it down.

NOTE: To our Male Readers – This book is located in our Romance section because the publisher categorizes it Romantic Suspense. Most Romantic Suspense novels have very, very little romance in them, but plenty of intrigue and action. Take a chance and look through our Romance section. I guarantee you’ll find a whole wealth of titles to choose from that read more suspense than romance. Other authors you might enjoy are: Susanne Brockmann, Nina Bruhns, M LBuchman, Lori Foster, Catherine Mann, Stephanie Tyler.

BOOK REVIEW – Redemption by B.J. Daniels

February 25, 2013May 1, 2015 / Linda / Leave a comment

This is an entertaining, fast paced, contemporary western, romantic suspense thriller. It is book two in the Beartooth, Montana series. The books do not have to be read in order.

The story centers around cowboy Jack French, who spent two years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. On his first night home, he comes to the rescue of a woman who is being assaulted in an alley.

Kate Lafond is the mysterious new owner of the Branding Iron Cafe. When not working at the cafe, she is secretly looking for buried lost gold. When a stranger helps save her from an assault, she rudely tells him she doesn’t need or want his help.

Jack wants to clear his name and find out who framed him for the crime he was sent to prison for, but he can’t get the lovely, secretive Kate out of his mind.

No one knows how Kate became the new owner of the Branding Iron Cafe. She keeps to herself which leads the residents of Beartooth wondering what is behind the elusive Kate. She, like Jack, is trying to resolve some issues from her past.

The author weaves an intricate tale of intrigue, romance, lies, murder, cattle rustling, and treasure hunting. You are kept guessing the outcome of the two main characters while being introduced to some of the other town residents. The secondary stories are just as intriguing as the main story, the characters just as complex.

This was a very enjoyable journey that highlights the wild, wild west in modern times.