cover art from Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I have loved the other books in this series but somehow I just couldn’t get into this one.  It could have been that my kids and I started the book and then took a break because we travelled with a friend of the kids and then started another book and it took a while to get back to it so we lost the sequence of the book or maybe it just wasn’t as action packed as previous books or maybe we just weren’t in the right mood.

Jonah and Katherine are forced to go back in time to Hudson Bay Canada in 1611.  They land on a vessel captained by Henry Hudson and there is a mutiny in play.  The two of them cannot see any “tracers” and they remember little from Social Studies class.  Jonah is dressed up as John Hudson, the son of famous explorer and, to be frank, Jonah is more concerned about his friend Angela left in Roanoke in 1600 than he is in figuring out what is wrong in 1611.  Katherine spends the whole amount of time invisible and it seems that Jonah spends much of the time in the stocks.

There are good aspects of this book, but it isn’t the best of the series.  There is a climatic ending that let’s you know the series will continue and that maybe just maybe we will find out who Jonah actually is from history … but if nothing else, we know he is from the 20th century because JB says that since Second messed up history so badly, they can’t travel before the 20th century and then soto voce, he says “You can take a break … for now”.

So yes I would recommend it for those who have started the series because it is helpful to know the developments in the time travel group and the evil Second and the friendly JB, yet this is definitely not the book to recommend to someone who hasn’t read the others.  It is kind of slow…

from Amazon.com

Book Description

Series: Missing

Still reeling from their experiences in Roanoke in 1600, Jonah and Katherine arrive in 1611 only moments before a mutiny on Henry Hudson’s ship in the icy waters of James Bay. But things are messed up: They’ve lost the real John Hudson, and they find what seems to be the fabled Northwest Passage—even though they are pretty sure that route doesn’t actually exist. Will this new version of history replace everything they’ve ever known? Is this the end of time as we know it? With more at stake than ever before, Jonah and Katherine struggle to unravel the mysteries of 1611 and the Hudson Passage…before everything they know is lost.

cover art from Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

I have different ideas on books … there are some books that I will read and enjoy, but borrow from the library so that it can be returned.  There are some books that I love and I will buy either in print or eBook format.  This is definitely one that needs to be borrowed — good but not necessarily something that needs to be owned.

Emma Gavin is an author in New York City who writes best-selling romance novels with werewolf heroes.   She writes so accurately that she has garnered the attention of the werewolf community who feels that she must be getting her information first hand.  Some rogue is playing traitor to the pack and selling out.  So Aidan, the top security officer and heir to the pack, has been placed on the job and been watching her for three months.  What has been discovered that she leads a VERY quiet life, drinks too much coffee and dances alone in her apartment.

Emma is about ready to go on her book tour in the middle of winter when her plans change because of some loony emails she has received.  Aidan swoops in to save the day in a very heroic manner (just like one of her fictional heroes) and that is when all he** breaks loose!

Emma is a very environmentally conscious individual who always takes public transportation and though she could afford first class plane tickets, chooses economy class because more people can fit into the same place, and has decent but not expensive jewelry and / or clothing.

Aidan, her wealthy research study, has an $800,000 watch, flies either first class or charters an airplane and lives in the penthouse.

They have little in common other than a sense of attraction and yet somehow they seem to care about each other and are ‘fated’ for the other.  It was a pleasant book — but not one in which I feel that the relationship is based enough on realistic items … will they be together in 5 or 10 years?  Maybe they can build on what they have now but it seems that though the next book in the series is the younger brother Roarke, the anthropologist … I will look it up for I like the concept; but it wouldn’t be a book that I buy.

cover art from No Buddy Left Behind by Terri Crisp

I seem to be fluctuating from complete fluff to heavy military matters.  This is probably good because I would probably go crazy if I read all of one or the other!

Terri Crisp is an excellent writer and has some wonderful insight into helping animals in need and the people who care for them.  The soldiers’ lives in combat zones are so different and stressful that it is natural for them to want to find some joy and add a furry companion to help deal with stress.  The enemies have used this against Americans by using wounded animals to hide bombs and hurt soldiers who exhibit compassion.  So the military has issued orders that soldiers cannot have pets.  Yet somehow soldiers and civilians in combat zones still acquire animals and when groups are leaving and bases are being closed, animals can be in danger and their love of people can be their death as they are brutalized by people who don’t care for animals and do not know how to hunt for themselves.

Enter SPCA International and Terri Crisp.  One day she received an email from a soldier.  This email had been forwarded many times and eventually it ended up in her inbox and she knew she had to try and do something.  Logistically it was a mess with air lines not serving some areas and some legs of the journey which had to be flown on private contractors.  In my opinion, Terri shows courage for just attempting the vet certificates, regulations and quarantines of many different nations.  The restrictions of not traveling in summer because of killer heat and everything else, but you read about the soldiers and what these animals mean to them — it is truly worth it.  The life of a soldier is hell — and when an animal companion can help them smile and want them to live one more day, isn’t it good to help them save one more life?

This book is recommended to animal lovers and readers who respect our soldiers and their sacrifice.  When you are away from friends and family a little unconditional love can go a long way.

This is a great book.

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

The love of a dog or cat helps heal soldiers’ emotional trauma. One very special woman and program brings them back together after the war.

No Buddy Left Behind is an animal book with a difference. It is not only about rescued dogs and cats, but also about U.S. soldiers trying to survive the horrors of war and readjust to life back home. It unveils the life-altering relationships American troops serving in the Middle East share with the stray dogs and cats they rescue from the brutalities of war. Overcoming monumental obstacles, Terri Crisp makes it her mission to save these wartime “buddies,” get them out of danger, and bring them home to the soldiers who love them.So, how does someone get animals out of a country at war when normal resources are lacking and every step of a plan to transport animals could get you arrested, kidnapped, or blown apart? As Crisp soon learns, each rescue mission from first to last is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants experience, and no animal is truly safe until its paws touch American soil. Terri and her team have saved the lives of 223 dogs and forty-two cats befriended by military personnel since February 2008—and No Buddy Left Behind finally tells this story.

cover art from Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is funny and not-so-complicated, but in my opinion life is complicated enough, when I am listening to something, I want to it to help me get over holiday stress and winter rain / slush / wintry mix.  I need fun, light and down-right silly with Stephanie Plum, read by Lorelei King — that is what I get.

All the usual characters are present with bells on: Grandma Mazur texting Annie Hart, Connie with a herd of rats (what is the name for a group of rats?), Lula with her “new beau” thanks to a love potion by Annie Hart and every time Stephanie turned around she was getting bruised, battered, and attacked by a killer hair dresser.

We had FBI, faux FBI, a Somalian assassin, and computer hackers as well as a gaggle of usual skips.  Ms Evanovich has kept the pace fast and upped the technology to keep things current.  A pleasant and funny listen to on a series of winter errand running.

cover art from Know Your Power by Nancy Pelosi

I know I am going to step in it, BUT if Nancy Pelosi had been a CEO of a bank, daughter of a banker and sister to bankers this book would be seen as an inspiring tale to young women of what can be done with guts, determination, and support from family and friends.  Because she is a political figure it is not always read with a generous light.  However, no matter what your political background — credit does need to be given to her for a life of influence.

This book is a conversation — it is not always sequential, but what conversation is?  It starts with her upbringing — she comes from immigrant stock and her father became a mayor and a representative under the presidential term of FDR.  Ms Pelosi mentions the people she met acting with her father, when she was volunteering in California for the Democratic Convention and then under her own right as representative.

Ms Pelosi mentions how important faith, family heritage, and volunteering is to her and the examples that have been set by the men and women who have come before her and she does have an amazing perspective.  She didn’t run for any office until most of her 5 children were out of the house (her youngest was a senior in high school).  She was a “stay at home” Mother (who took kids in strollers to hand out political flyers).  She was involved in her community, church, and very devoted to her children.  She started her political career when she was able to do so without it interfering too much in her other duties and her skills of being a wife/home-maker helped her organize her platform and campaign for election.

Though I may not agree with everything she says … personally if I had 4 children and was living with MY mother-in-law, I wouldn’t care that the owner of the ‘perfect’ home was in the other political party … I think that the gist of what she says is true.

– never lose faith
– recognize opportunity
– let your voice be heard

Not everyone can be Susan B. Anthony or Ella Grasso, but you sure as anything can be you; be the best ‘you’ you can be.

cover art from Kiss to Remember by Teresa Medeiros

Laura needs a man — and she told God that too!  The reason why she needs a man is so that she can keep the house that she had been living in for the past seven years with her benefactor Lady Eleanor, who has stipulated that she can keep it if she married before she was 21.  Laura has three weeks.

So after her prayer of anguish to the heavens — she went for a walk and voila the Lord provided a man with “a face of an angel and a body like Adonis” was at the bottom of a ditch and he had amnesia (almost makes you want to take up prayer!).  So it was very easy to convince him that they were betrothed and they were going to be married quite soon.  The rest of the of the story was not quite so easy for Laura but it is a great story of amusing anecdotes and silly scenarios.  My favorite is when he wakes up from his sick-bed to find kittens playing with his feet and he screeches and calls them rats — he hates cats.  Yet Laura somehow convinces him that though it may have been a surprise to wake up having kittens chewing on his toes, he actually likes cats.

The thing is … the man knows that Laura isn’t being truthful, but he goes along with the ruse for he is curious about this country beauty.  Laura and her friends try to figure out who the Adonis-like man is while grooming him for marriage.  There is a great back-story that helps define their current personalities and overall just a pleasurable read next to the fire on a winter’s night.

Part of the Book Description from Amazon.com:

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2001

Award-winning author Teresa Medeiros has an extraordinary gift for weaving heart-stopping adventure into unforgettably sensual tales of romance. Her latest novel, a delightful retelling of the classic tale Sleeping Beauty, features a singular twist — as a young woman convinces a stranger with amnesia that they are betrothed … only to be shocked when his identity is finally revealed….

At the tender age of seven, Sterling Harlow, the seventh duke of Devonbrooke, was virtually sold to his coldhearted uncle to pay off his own father’s gambling debts. Sterling won his uncle’s title in the bargain — but lost the playful spirit of his youth.

Dubbed “the Devil of Devonbrooke,” Sterling’s exploits have earned him a reputation as a notorious rake. And when his mother dies, he is determined to take possession of the house — even if he must remove his mother’s ward, Laura Fairleigh, to do it. But while he is returning to Arden Manor, a riding accident knocks Sterling unconscious — and when he awakens, his memory is gone. …

cover art from Beware a Scot's Revenge by Sabrina Jeffries

I have been infatuated with Scotland, its history, and the fiction about it since I was a teenager.  In my more mystical moments I swear it is a past life thing.  This might explain why I took to Scottish Heavy Athletics for a few years (yes I actually attempted to toss a telephone pole … hmm I mean a caber) and why my children now do Scottish Highland Dance.  There is a strength and resilience in this country that most peoples don’t need … off the top of my head only Poland has had as many hardships in the European sphere of influence.

This book is great fluff reading.  A strong-willed heroine who is in her mid-twenties (wow a spinster for sure!) a handsome wounded Baronet who has sworn vengeance upon the strong-willed woman’s father and a very long family history that no one knows about until the last chapter.  It is a fun read with lots of conflict between the lead characters and a strong sense of secondary characters.  The landscape descriptions are what you would hope for in an historical romance based in Scotland.  Overall a wonderful, light historical romance worth reading.

It did get a little preachy about the evils of the Highland Clearances and changing vast Highland Estates into sheep pastures, but if you go to any Scottish Festival up or down the East Coast and the clans can tell you the same thing … which is why there are Scottish Festivals up and down the East Coast of the United States and Canada!

ISBN 978-0425244593

cover art from Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab

Liz Cooper is your typical no-nonsense clinical psychologist.  Her mother though, is another matter, for she is a tarot card reader and occultist and Liz has been trying to pull her head from the clouds for years.  Liz’s dear friend Robin is a successful associate with a PR company and deals with the idiosyncrasies of the rich and famous every day.  After Mrs. Cooper did a tarot reading for Robin’s husband and he died the day after – Robin has been very superstitious.  The book starts off with the sudden appearance of the cards that were part of that fatal spread are ending up on her porch … stuck to her door and Robin is living in fear.

Liz is smart and realistic.  She is very curious and protective of her friend.  So when more cards keep appearing and the police are not overly enthusiastic about mysterious tarot cards – Mrs. Cooper suggests that Liz speak to Dr. Nick Garfield occult expert and professor at the local university.  He is the consultant for when the police have questions beyond the normal.  Nick is also the old college room-mate of Liz’s brother who is currently a police officer.

When the girl-friend of Robin’s boss ends up dead and everyone remembers hearing a huge public argument between Robin and the girl-friend the finger of justice ends up pointing at Robin.  Liz’s protective nature and Nick’s occult knowledge kick in to save the day.

This is a wonderful mystery and it keeps you guessing until the very end.  The characters are developed nicely and I definitely want to see them again.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great mystery with a paranormal bent.

Book Description

Series: A Mind for Murder Mystery | Publication Date: November 1, 2011

Clinical psychologist Liz Cooper doesn’t believe in ghosts. But when her best friend finds a tarot card tacked to her front door-and is then accused of murder-Liz will have to find a way to embrace the occult if she wants to outwit the real killer…

cover art from Demolition Angel by Robert Crais

Carol Starkey is one of the most broken people I have ever met in life or in reading.  I suppose it is the foil of all those hard-edged male detectives of the 1940′s and 1950′s.  Starkey lives on gin and cigarettes and to hell with everyone else.  Mind you she had been to hell and was resuscitated so that may have had something to do with her broken nature.   Three years ago Starkey had been part of the bomb squad and an earthquake struck while she and her partner (both work and romantic) got caught in the blast of an unstable bomb.  Her partner Sugar had died and she did die as well but the EMT’s were able to revive her.  Since then she had been kicked to a different division and had kept her handy flask with her at all times … as well as Altoids mints and Tagaments.

The current case is a bomb that killed a bomb squad tech.  Everyone thinks it is the famous “Mr. Red” — a bomb aficionado who has a certain M.O. and a style of doing things.   He has a certain brand of bomb ingredients that he likes and even a way of wrapping the bombs that is all his own.  So Starkey gets this case because of her expertise and yet everyone is asking her “How are you doing?” … she has a hard time but pulls her way through by sheer will-power alone.

Using her bomb squad skills, she determines that even though everyone thinks that the bomber is Mr. Red … the style of bomb making leads her to believe that a second party was involved.  Her investigation also leads her to on-line chat rooms where bomb enthusiasts hang out and she “meets” Mr. Red.

Starkey has a run in with procedure problems and she gets suspended yet her investigation continues, especially when she resolves to continue her possible relationship with the only person more broken than herself.  But in the final scenes — their brokenness helps them to discover their strength.

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 2000

With the most unforgettable female lead character since Clarice Starling, Demolition Angel is a blistering stand-alone thriller from the freshest bestselling voice in crime fiction.

Carol Starkey is struggling to pick up the pieces of her former life as L.A.’s finest bomb squad technician.  Fueled with liberal doses of alcohol and Tagamet, she’s doing time as a Detective-2 with LAPD’s Criminal Conspiracy Section.  Three years have passed since the event that haunts her–a detonation that killed her partner and lover, David “Sugar” Boudreaux.  Fragments from the same explosion sliced through Starkey’s protective Kevlar, scarred her beyond repair, and left her outside looking in at the life she left behind.  Now she can’t bear her reflection in the mirror, and hasn’t been with another man since Sugar left her bed the morning they rolled out to the bomb site.

When a seemingly innocuous bomb call turns into a devastating murder scene, Carol catches the case and embarks on an investigation of a series of explosions that reveal intentions far more disturbing than one-shot acts of anarchy.  The bombs are designed expressly to kill bomb technicians, and as the one tech who survived the deadliest of blasts, Carol is in for the most intense fight of her life.

Against the dazzling and lonely backdrop of contemporary Los Angeles, Robert Crais has crafted a work of ingenious depth of character, matched with a transcendent narrative velocity.  Demolition Angel is sure to take its place among the finest thrillers of the modern age.

ISBN 0788734296 (9CDs and 10.5 hours)

I find myself saying this a lot, but before this I had never read and/or listened to anything by Bill Bryson.  I have decided that I will have to look up all of what he has written and eventually work my way through it for I love his voice.  He has a refreshing sense of humor which looks to himself and his ideas but doesn’t demean anyone.  That seems to be rare in a humorist nowadays!

Bill Bryson had just returned to the United States from Great Britain and wanted to renew his acquaintance with the land of his birth.  So he decided to go on a walk, a very long walk.  His friends and family at first didn’t know exactly how to take this decision since it was uncharacteristically active for him, but he mentioned it in his Christmas letter and one person asked if he would like company.

We hear (remember I listened to this on audio book!) how he selects his backpack and tent.  We hear his ideas on the cost of rain sheet protectors for backpacks (and later how effective they are!)  The whole list of gear is phenomenal and then especially when you have to think he is meant to carry everything on his back!

Enter Katz.

Katz is referred to by his wife as someone who travelled with Bill briefly in Europe and they had never spoken again until now when Katz offered to walk the Trail with him.  So Katz arrives from the mid west and Bill takes him shopping to get essential gear — and Katz brings his own idea of essential gear … Snickers Bars and Little Debbie snack cakes!

They fly down to Georgia and eventually get to the trail head.  They don their packs and start the trek.

Early on Bill starts getting ahead of Katz and the fun begins.  When Katz gets tired and needs less weight he starts emptying his pack … even the coffee filters.

This is a story about the Trail — actual and historical.  Bill gives little blurbs about the National Park system — its triumphs and hideous failures.   His friendship with Katz and some of the things they learn from each other on the Trail.

They do not complete the trail — ultimately they walk barely one-third of the way.  Yet they learn so much about themselves, the trail and people who live along it.

I hate to say it … but after listening to this I even asked my own son … so what do you think about the Appalachian Trail.  Thankfully he had been a cub scout and said, “Mom you have to be really fit and carry all of your own stuff — it would be hard!”  I guess that leads me out, but ….