Not My Favorite

Missing and Endangered by J.A. Jance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not my favorite in this series. I just never got into the story line or the two story lines. The pace seemed slow to me and the mystery not that riveting. Still I will continue to read the series. This book slipped under the radar for me. I usually read Jance's books as soon as they come out.

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Two Points of View

Credible Threat by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is no mystery of who done it. The story has two points of view - the woman who plans a murder and Ali as she tries to find and stop her.. A interesting story line. It has the tension even as it does not have the mystery. It was fund to see Ali again. Hope to see more of B soon. Once again he was off on business.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Review # 289 - Field of Bones by J.A. Jance, Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan

Field of Bones by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Told for multiple points of view Field of Bones has it all. There is a great mystery, a unexpected birth, and several new characters. I loved seeing how Joanna handled being on maternity leave. The betting pool about how long she would stay home was a nice funny touch. The mystery is very complex and it looked like it would be hard to solve. As a reader we knew all the different players and Jance does a great job weaving all of that knowledge into a interesting and seat of your pants story. As the story progresses each characters comes up with the knowledge to solve the who, what, when and where.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started Ignite the Stars I thought the book was part of a series and I had missed the previous book or books. Turns out I was wrong. This is the first book in a new series. There are two main characters who fit the stock for YA. Flight Master, Knives is the main male characters and he wants to be out of the shadow of his famous father. Ia Cōcha is a 17 year old rebel who is forced to attend the military academy. These two are aided in the story by a group of side characters. Much of the story line is character development, back story and world building. The action, tension, danger and betrayal all lead to binding them into a team ready to face the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 267 - The Volga Rules by Eric Flint, Duel to the Death by J.A. Jance

1637: The Volga Rules by Eric Flint
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is another Ring of Fire story that just quit without any conclusion. That is enough to make my unhappy but there was more that was a disappointment. This series was character driven but that was not true in this book. There was more about how to change uptime to downtime with the story jumping between scenes that could have been left out and not damaged the book. I also felt that the authors missed the opportunity to add scenes that would have added more emotion to the story. A disappoint. Hope better for other stories by other authors.

Duel to the Death by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stuart Ramey has a problem and it can and will cause many more. He shut down Frigg and now he has to bring her back on line. Who is Frigg? A very complex computer program and there is someone who wants Frigg and will do anything to get her. This is a really interesting plot. We get to follow not only Stu, Ali, and B we also get to follow the characters who want the program. I loved following each character and seeing how everything would work out. It was also fun to watch the interaction between Frigg and the various characters. One of the best yet in this series.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 144 - A Talent for Temptation by Sabrina Jeffries, Deck the Halls by Donna Alward, Stand Down by J.A. Jance

A Talent for Temptation by Sabrina Jeffries
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Widow Meriel Vyse is living her life paying back her brother-in-law by spying on members of the ton when he asks. That means she cannot accept the suit of Quinn Raines even though she really wants to. When Quinn decides to change things all you know what breaks loose. A short fun read with to characters who want the same thing just have not know how it make it happen. I liked both Merrill and Quinn and loved how they finally found their HEA.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Deck the Halls by Donna Alward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I want to give three cheers to Donna Alward for telling George's story. He is older, was homeless, and has never forgiven himself for the death of his best friend in Iraq. He has been a side character in the first Darling, VT stories and started on the road to recovery when he takes a job sweeping up and watering plants at the Ladybug Garden Center. Now he is full time, has an apartment and even owns a truck. He is thrown back in time when Amy, the older sister of his brother-in-arms, finds him just before Christmas. She wants to know about her brother's last days but realizes that she must take it easy and give George the space he needs before he can tell his story. George is not your usual main characters and his story does not follow the usual path to an HEA. Instead George finds a path to accepting that he was not the cause of his friends death and he and Amy are looking forward not back. Both decide to see what happens as they celebrate Christmas with Amy's family.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Stand Down by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wondered what happened to the Special Crimes unit Beau and Mel belonged to and this tell what happened. The unit is gone and then we see Mel in her new job. Beau is at loose ends but that does not keep him from springing into action when Mel is in danger. A nice bridge novella that tells two stories in a very short time.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 137 - Remnants of Trust by Elizabeth Bonesteel, Bound Together by Christine Feehan, Second Watch by J.A. Jance

Remnants of Trust by Elizabeth Bonesteel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Things are not going well on the Galileo. After all that happened in The Cold Between I was looking forward to how events would proceed in book two. There is a lot of action and build up for the next book but I was a little disappointed as I felt the book just wandered around and never came to the point. Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster are back. There was no conclusion here. Nothing was solved but there were hints about things to come. Like many book in the middle of a trilogy it was not as good as the first book but did leave me wanting to read book three.


Bound Together by Christine Feehan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bound Together is the story of Victor and Blythe. Married five years ago and apart ever since. Now Victor is about to finish his assignment and take down the leader of a sex trafficking ring. As luck would happen that will be in Sea Haven where Blythe lives. There are some very entertaining moments in this book. Victor and his gang are missing some boundaries and that leads to laugh out loud moments when they intrude during inappropriate moments. This also introduces the next group of characters who will find HEA. Torpedo Ink is the motorcycle gang lead by Victor. It has 17 other members all who need their own story. The first book in that new series comes out soon.


Second Watch by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

J.P Beaumont is finally having the knee replacement and as he comes out of surgery the drugs are playing tricks on his memory. We get to see him on his first days as a detective on a case that was never solved and take a visit back to his tour in Vietnam. As a result he opens a cold case and looks up the fiancée of his Lieutenant who was killed and did not come home. All of this is woven around his recovery from the knee replacement. One of the really fun characters in this book is the retired nurse who he hires so he can get out of the hospital. She is one of a kind and is his match. That cold case seems to be solved but something is just no right and just when you think the book in ending it takes off in a new direction.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews #135 - Betrayal of Trust by J.A. Jance, The Brass Giant by Brooke Johnson, An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Cutis Craddock

Betrayal of Trust by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very taught story filled with tension. A video clip found on a young man's phone quickly becomes something more. This is the first J.P. Beaumont mystery I have read. I love the Joanna Brady and Ali Reynolds books but I never started the Beaumont series. Even though this is book 20 I was right at home listening to the story. I loved how one things quickly lead to even worst events. I did think I knew who was really to blame before it was revealed but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. This on also brings some closure to the Beaumont last name.


The Brass Giant by Brooke Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brooke Johnson lives where I do and I met her when she was doing a signing at our local Barnes and Nobel. That lead to a invitation to our Science Fiction book club. We had a great visit. It was such fun hearing about how she got the publishing contract (It was an open invitation with over 4000 submissions and she was one of 12 selected). It was also great having our question answered. Since this story features teens we wondered why it was not marketed as YA. Publishers choice was the answer. We did talk a lot about the story with the women liking the romance part more than the men. It was a great one on one. There is second book out with a third in progress so maybe we can get Brooke back again.


An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an extremely dense book. I found that I had to put it down and let everything settle before picking it up again. Craddock has created a intricate world with many layers. That world building is worked into the story line as backstory is revealed and characters are developed. For all of that Isabelle is in some ways a typical main characters. Her father does not like her, she has no magic and she loved being left alone to work on her math (something that is forbidden females). All that changes and those changes drive the story. Isabelle is the main character and she is backed up by her faithful musketeer, Jeane-Claude, who comes up with some very unique actions in support of Isabelle. While I had to put it down I also had trouble letting it stay down. It has a very good plot, some very interesting main and side characters, and unique magic. A very well written book.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 129 - The Old Grey Line by J.A. Dance, In the Cowboy's Arms by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Say Yes to the Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson

The Old Blue Line by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A nice novella that gives a look into Butch's past before Joanna. When Butch is framed for murder an unlikely group comes to his rescue. The old blue line is composed of retired cops, attorneys and others who step up to help rescue Butch. A fun story, easy to read or listen to and it gives more backstory to the Joanna Brady mysteries.


In the Cowboy's Arms by Vicki Lewis Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Matt Forrest is the latest Thunder Mountain Brotherhood member to find his HEA. I liked how Vicki has painted a very different picture of each man as they come home to the Thunder Mountain Ranch. Matt has just been set up by a co-star and is not happy about his PR person's reaction. The fun begins from there as Matt gets the support he needs on his return. Gene Lysander handles Matt's PR and when she follows Matt home she learns that the support she gets at Thunder Mountain is something she also needs. A nice story with a great HEA.


Say Yes to the Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just when you think you cannot depend on anyone you realize that you are wrong. It takes becoming a father to lead Zeke to realize that he really does want a family and he wants it with Tess Irwin. Zeke has always been a loaner at Thunder Mountain. He has taken comfort is being around but has not every made an effort to belong. It was fun seeing him change and accept his place at Thunder Mountain. Another more great story in the series.

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 88 - Convergence by C.J. Cherryh, Man Overboard by J.A. Dance, A Cowboy's Strength by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Convergence by C.J. Cherryh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really hate it when a book just ends in without having a proper ending. This one does just that. Bren is wishing he was home and nothing that has been set up is solved. Book 18 is Bren letting the humans know what the atevi expect and Cajeiri, the atevi heir, learning more about what was expected of him and seeing the power he had even as a child.

Convergence does set up a whole new set of problems for all of the humans and the atevi with Bren again at the heart of the problems and the solutions. Do not start this series here. It is long running and complex. A must read for fans of the series even with the ending that is really not an ending at all. I kept trying to find the next page but there just was not one.


Man Overboard by J.A. Jance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one was not as interesting to me as previous books. There were many character shifts as Ali and friends try to find out what really happened to a friend of Stuarts. I found myself skimming the Oden and Frigg parts and reading the parts that featured Ali and friends. This book also set up a new characters and sent another one out of the picture. That part was very well done. A nice addition to the series but not my favorite.


A Cowboy's Strength by Vicki Lewis Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mandy and Zane are old friends who have not seen each other for 10 years. When they do reconnect sparks fly. I liked how Mandy thought she knew what she wanted when in reality she needed to put to rest some things from her past to have the future she deserved. Zane is a great strong character who know where he belongs and wants Mandy to be there by his side. A very nice story with some great additions to how we need to treat wild life.

There are hints about the other McGavin Brothers, all sexy cowboys who need a strong woman to get their HEA.

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Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 - March 24, 2017

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

The Beginning:

"As the cruise ship rocked and rolled in open water, Roger McGeary stood in front of the mirror and tried for the fourteenth time to tie his damned bow tie." From the Prolog

"On the Tuesday morning after Labor Day, Ali Reynolds pulled into her reservedparking spot outside High Noon Enterprises in Cottonwood, Arizona, just as a dust-covered aging Dodge Ram pickup came to a stop in on of the two designated visitor slots." From Chapter One

Page 56:

"When Harold got home that night, and Irene asked him what Dr. Richards said, Harold made no mention of his real diagnosis."

Man Overboard by J.A.Jance. This is the latest Ali Reynolds novel. I got it from the library today and have not started yet. I do expect to enjoy it as this is one of the mystery series I follow.

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 - October 21, 2016

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

The Beginning:

Sheriff Joanna Brady pulled into the parking place in front of the Higgins Funeral Chapel, put her Buick enclave in park, and then sat staring at the storefront before her, only vaguely aware of her surrounding."

Page 56:

"Now, I ask you, why would the wife of a man who had a vasectomy twenty-five years ago need to have a supply of condoms on hand?"

From Downfall, A Brady Novel of Suspense by J.A. Jance. This is one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors. That beginning made sense because I read the novella that proceeded this story. Otherwise it would leave you wondering.

Short and Sweet Book Reviews #50 -Downfall by J.A. Jance, Unwrapping the Rancher's Secret by Lauri Robinson, Landon by Delores Fossen

Downfall by J.A. Jance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Downfall starts where the novella Random Acts ends; with Joanna pulling up to the Higgins Funeral Chapel to plan her mother and step-father's funeral. If that is not enough on her plate she is called to a double homicide. Two unrelated women are found dead at the bottom of a local mountain. From there the story gets more and more complicated. Jance does a great job of letting information out a little at a time building the picture and the tension as the book progresses. Each nugget of information leads to a new and different picture of what happened. Look for surprises and a very suspenseful climax. I love the characters in the books. The glimpses into Joanna and Butch's marriage are one of my a favorite parts in the series. Oh! Did I mention that Joanna is pregnant and up for re-election. I will have to wait for the baby to be born and the election to be over to see if Joanna wins or losses. I just do not see her as a stay-at-home mom.


Unwrapping the Rancher's Secret by Lauri Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lauri Robinson always writes a good story and Unwrapping the Rancher's Secret is no exception. Sarah and Crofton are both interesting characters who have to deal with each other in a very trying time. The death of Sarah's mother and step-father bring Crofton and Sarah together. Both are in danger and the story does a great job of building the danger. I was a little surprised to find out who was the bad guy. It was fun to try to guess even though I was wrong. The one thing I did not like about the book: the title. For me it did not fit the story.


Landon by Delores Fossen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read several of Delores Fossen's books and when I see one on Netgalley I always request it. Landon is part of the Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch series but it is the first one of this series that I have read. It follows a familiar theme. A Landon is one of the Rylands and he is back to solve a murder. His prime suspect is Tessa Sinclair his one time lover. There are several suspects and as the story progresses Tessa is cleared but danger is stalking her. Look for the many red herrings and of course a HEA for Landon and Tessa. Like Fossen's other books this is a interesting and fun read that keep you guessing who done it. It does stand alone but as I started to read I did feel like I was dropped into the story missing some of the pieces

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Stacking The Shelves - October 8, 2016

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

From the Library:

Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine

Downfall by J.A. Dance

From Amazon Vine:

Tempting the Earl  by Rachael Miles

Stacking the Shelves June 18, 2016

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

Purchased from Amazon

Draw One in the Dark (Shifter Book 1) by Sarah Hoyt

Honor’s Flight (Fallen Empire, Book 2) by Lindsay Buroker

Warrior Wench (The Asariai Wars Book 1) by Marie Andreas

Starseers  (Fallen Empire Book 3) by Lindsay Buroker

From the Library:

Clawback (An Ali Reynolds Novel) by J.A. Jance

Visitor (A Foreigner Novel) by C.J. Cherryh

Shattered Spear (The Lost Stars) by Jack Campbell

From Netgalley for Review:

Into Dust by B.J.Daniels

An Untimely Frost by Penny Richards

Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

Musing Mondays - May 11, 2 015

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme sponsored by A Daily Rhythm that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Do you have a “kindred” reading buddy — someone who very closely shares your taste in books? If not, do you wish you did?

We had a lot of rain over the last week and I used the time to do some serious reading.  I had 3 library books that I wanted to read and I got them all read.  I listened to Midnight Texas by Charlaine Harris and wanted to see how the series would progress.  Day Shift started off interesting but kind of tapered off a the story progressed.  It did give a lot more history about the main characters and there was a mystery to be solved.  I have not read her other series.  There is a little tie in between the two but that part just left me in the dark.

J.A. Jance has a new Ali Reynolds book and that was one of my other reads.  Cold Betrayal featured Ali and Sister Anselm.  There were two mysteries and both were interesting.  I like the series and love Ali and B her much younger husband.

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson was my other read.  This is book two in the series and both books were very long.  This is a series I share with one of my sons and he brought me up to date on the next book.  Sanderson has just started it so I have quite a wait to see what will happen next.

Two of my sons are my reading buddies.  I do belong to a Sci Fi Books club where some of the members share my taste.

Stacking the Shelves - May 2, 2015

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

Only three new books this week.  Two are from the library.  I listened to The Way of Kings on my trip and was ready for book two  Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. The library copy was missing so they got it from me using a inter-library loan.  I had Cold Betrayal on hold and my turn came at the same time Words of Radiance arrived. Cold Betrayal by J. A. Jance is the latest Ali Reynolds

mystery.

The last on is a book I purchased at Barnes and Noble.  It is by Lauri Robinson an author I have followed from her days where all of here books were published as ebooks.  She has been a Harlequin ebook author for sometime.  A Fortune for the Outlaw's Daughter is the first time I have seen one of her Harlequin books in print.  

Remains of Innocence (Joanna Brady #16) by J.A. Jance

Mystery

From Goodreads:

Sheriff Joanna Brady must solve two perplexing cases that may be tied together in New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance’s thrilling tale of suspense that brings to life Arizona’s Cochise County and the desert Southwest in all its beauty and mystery.

An old woman, a hoarder, is dying of emphysema in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In cleaning out her house, her daughter, Liza Machett, discovers a fortune in hundred dollar bills hidden in the tall stacks of books and magazines that crowd every corner.

Tracing the money’s origins will take Liza on a journey that will end in Cochise County, where Sheriff Joanna Brady is embroiled in a personal mystery of her own. A man she considers a family friend is found dead at the bottom of a hole in a limestone cavern near Bisbee. And now there is the mystery of Liza and the money. Are the two disparate cases connected? It’s up to Joanna to find out.

Remains of Innocence starts in Massachusetts and ends in Cochise County Arizona.  Once again Jance has done a superb job of weaving two different crimes into one tension filled story.  Joann Brady’s character just keeps growing.  More and more she is just what is Cochise County needs for their Sheriff. 

Look for the loss of two reoccurring characters in Remains of Innocence and a further look into Butch and Joanna’s family.  Remains of Innocence does a good job standing alone so don’t be afraid to read it first even though it is #16 in the series.  I have read the series starting with book one and so for me it was great seeing all of the characters again.

William Morrow published Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance in 2014.

I received an ARC of Remains of Innocence from Edelweiss.

Stacking theShelves, March 29, 2014

Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves.

From Amazon Vine:

For Honor We Stand (Man of War Series) by H. Paul Honsinger

Purchased:

To Do or Die by Mike Shepherd

Night Broken (A Mercy Thompson Novel) by Patricia Briggs

Won:

Obsidian Heart by Mark T. Barnes

For Review:

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E Pearson

The Escape by Mary Balogh

Rescue At Cardwell Ranch by B. J. Daniels

Deadly Curiosities  by Gail Z. Martin

Remains of Innocence by J. A. Jance