Review:The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

I won Karin Slaughter's The Good Daughter some time ago through a Goodreads Giveaway. I hadn't won a Goodreads Giveaway in a while so I was pleasantly surprised to see a package with my name on it that was way too big to contain the iPhone X cases I'd ordered from Wish.com. Anyone who's ordered anything from Wish knows that in the length of time it takes for the product to arrive you no longer remember ordering anything at all, and it's virtually impossible to remember the item was in the first place. But hey, the prices are unbeatable. $2 for an iPhone X case. I don't think it gets better than that.

But I digress...

Reviews: Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline

This book was quite the thrill ride especially towards the end. Betrayed follows the story of Judy Carrier and associate with Rosato & Associates. This novel is the second installment in the Rosato and DiNunzio series. I read this novel while in my daily confessional... and it was highly entertaining.

Because I'm familiar with this author and some of the other guest appearances in the book. Judy Carrier is given the news from her aunt Barb that she's battling breast cancer and will need surgery soon. And in the midst of that tragic information, a woman named Iris, Barb's best friend, dies suspiciously on a lonely stretch of road from a supposed heart attack. Aunt Barb enlists Judy's help to investigate the suspicious death since the police don't seem too keen on solving an illegals' mysterious death. 

Then of course, things begin to be more and more bizarre. People begin to disappear or are mysteriously killed. And while Judy is carrying the weight of her aunt's health on her shoulders, a seemingly disengaged fiancee, an overbearing mother, and her first real solo case, she finds her own life in danger after delving a little too deep in the mysteries surrounding Iris. Yes... there are a lot of moving parts. 

The thing that makes novels like Betrayed easy to read are that there are so many moving parts. What makes it the furthest thing from literary aptitude but it sure is fun... at least for the purposes I used this novel for. Sure the characters are quite thin and the moments of suspense could have been a little further dragged out, overall, it was still a good mystery thriller. 

Betrayed is a fast, easy read that fans of Lisa Scottoline will surely find enjoyable. My 3-Star rating is due to the fact that the writing is just "ok" and the tense moments should have been reveled in and not so rushed through. The betray entices readers to see the unseen. ***

Copy provided by Goodreads via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: Wake by Anna Hope

Anna Hope's Wake is a touching and moving account of the affects of war on men and women alike. The book opens by defining what the word wake means:
(1) Emerge or cause to emerge from sleep
(2) Ritual for the dead
(3) Consequence or aftermath

Each definition can be used in one way or another to describe the characters Ada, Evelyn, and Hattie as we watch their stories unfold as the unidentified body of a World War I soldier is brought home to be buried. It is the two-year anniversary of Armistice Day and the excitement, fear, and dread of what it means brings each women on a paths that are only separated by a few men.

Ada is the mother of a young soldier named Michael. She mourns his death and walks around seeing his face in every young man that she sees on the streets. She is in a sort of dead sleep. She doesn't even see that she is a fraction of the person she once was. All she can accept is the guilt she feels for allowing her young son to go to war.

Evelyn works for a government that has long stopped caring for their veterans, meaning she works where stipends are to be provided to injured (or out of work) soldiers. She too is in a rut having lost her only love to war. Her brother, Edward, served in the army as a captain and has shown a clear difference since coming home from war. At one point they were so close but he seems much more distant. The truth is far worse than she knows. They both wander in the consequence of their lives after war.

The third woman, Hattie, is young and works as a dancer. She is paid to dance with men whenever they pay her boss. She shares those earnings with a volatile mother, and mute brother. He's barely spoken since the war. Hattie is unaware of the trauma he's been through and yearns for her brother to be whole again.

The characters in Wake can each define their lives in the before and after of war. This is the way that many can identify their lives. I had a friend who served in Iraq. She was 20 when she left. A vibrant, loving girl, unafraid of what was in store for her. She returned with a serious drug problem, a son, and only a few years to live. I identify with these men and women wholly, and I'm nothing more than a witness... a mere bystander.

Although the novel is written about a horrific time in history, Anna Hope manages to write poetically, vividly, and clearly. Wake doesn't read like a debut which is an awesome feat for any author coming out the gate. Even when I had to stop reading to take care of my own personal life, and ironically, plan my father's wake, the moment I picked it back up, I was once more gripped in the lives of each character. I couldn't wait to see how their stories tied into each other. And ohhhhh did they...

Overall, Wake is a beautifully written debut novel that fans of historic fiction will need to read. It's not a super sappy women's only novel that gets tiring as it describes one flighty woman after another but rather a journey for emerging from sleep. I loved this novel and hope that Hope (no pun intended) writes more like it.  ****

Copy provided by Random House via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: The Ascendant by Drew Chapman

I won The Ascendant a while ago through a Goodreads Giveaway and had been meaning to read it for so long. I have finished and loved every page of this novel. Drew Chapman is quite a writer and for The Ascendant to be a debut, not one page reads as one.

Garret Reilly is a numbers whiz. He sees patterns in numbers, people, life, everything. His ability to make sense of what seems totally random is the reason the government wants him on their team. Reilly, working as a bond analyst, notices that billions of dollars worth of U.S. Treasury bonds are being sold. The flooding of this money will cause economic ruin making the U.S. dollar virtually worthless. 

After discovering this anomaly, Reilly's life is turned upside-down. He's whisked away by the government because they believe he may be able to win a silent war against China. No one is supposed to know about this war and it all seems to be happening underground. China is slowly chipping away at the U.S. economy and that is where Reilly steps in to head a secret group named Ascendant.

The Ascendant leaves no room for the reader to ever get bored. Sometimes with financial thrillers there's a tendency to become mundane while all the financial mumbo-jumbo gets dumbed down for people like me who can't make heads or tails of any of it. Chapman does not do that with this novel. He keeps The Ascendant moving forward at such an alarming rate, I can't even describe.

Although the novel moves forward well, Chapman does not allow character development to be sacrificed. Every character seems real and full of depth. Especially Garrett Reilly. From the beginning it's clear he has a chip on his shoulder. As the novel progresses, there is real growth and development on his part. 

There is another storyline, which readers aren't quite sure how it's related to Reilly's story, that was just as paramount. Hu Mei is leading a revolt against the Chinese government, demanding rights for the people and a true reformation of China. Hu Mei is quite badass. 

Above all, I don't think I have anything bad to say about The Ascendant. I loved it and I wish I'd read it sooner. Since it's clear Reilly's story isn't over, I look forward to the next installment featuring Garrett Reilly. Drew Chapman, I am officially a fan!   ****

Copy provided by Simon & Schuster via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart

Let's get this straight, I was not always on board with The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart but I felt that I had a duty to read it since I will be reading The Keeper soon. Not to mention, I'd also won it in a Goodreads giveaway a year ago and attempted to read and complete it then, but to no avail. I just wasn't interested in this novel. It begins promising but then become endlessly boring, going on and on about... nothing really. But finally after having finished it, I'm glad I could push through the muck to find what an awesome read it was.

The Ophelia Cut is the 14th novel in the Dismas Hardy series. Hardy is a successful defense attorney who's latest trial has him fighting for the life of his good friend Moses McGuire. McGuire's daughter Brittany finds herself involved with a man for appearances sake is charming, handsome, and successful. The reality of the matter is that Rick Jessup is a monster. He's violent and sadistic, unable to control himself at times. He becomes increasingly violent towards Brittany.

The bulk of this novel centers around the Moses McGuire trial where he's been accused of being Jessup's killer. There is a buttload of evidence that suggests that he could in fact be the culprit. Hardy really has his work cut out for him if he wants to get an innocent verdict for his client.

I haven't followed this series since inception but am aware of how popular the Dismas Hardy series is. When I got word (a year ago) that I'd won this book, I did my happy jig and settled down to read it. The Ophelia Cut is gripping from page one. There are secrets, lies, and videotapes. Oh yes!!! Videotape. But as I continued on, the book just became boring. It seemed like it took forever to get to the plot. Really, I read legal thrillers for the trial. The trial is why I can spend hours on end watching Law & Orderepisodes. The trial is where it's at.

Once Lescroart finally gets to the trial, I became interested again. Sure, I appreciated the effort in the background and character development that Lescroart provided, I still wanted more suspense. By the end of this novel, I was no longer on the fence about why this author or this series is so popular. The characters are all faced with having to do some deep introspection and decide what they will do for the person (people) they love. What secrets will they keep? What shillelagh is better to use? What lies will they tell?

In retrospect, I should have given the The Ophelia Cut a fair shake from the beginning. I could have already been neck deep in The Keeper by now if I'd had just a little more patience. Sure it's a little slow at times but... well worth the journey in the end. There are some ties that need to be closed up but I'm hoping that future installments will satisfy closing up the holes. Fans of this series won't want to miss this one and new fans, such as myself, won't want to miss anymore novels by John Lescroart.

Copy provided by Simon and Schuster via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: The Doll by Taylor Stevens

I'll start by summing up my review: I loved this adventure with Vanessa Michael Munroe!!!!! Taylor Stevens has made a fan of me after only reading one novel, out of order in fact. Sure it's not flawless but is exactly what I want in an action, suspense thriller.

The novel begins with Bradford checking out leads for where Vanessa Michael Munroe could be. The teams' intel suggests that she was involved in an "accident" that set the stage for her kidnapping. This kidnapping was orchestrated by the infamous Dollmaker. He specializes in ripping women away from their lives in order to supply an endless variation of young women for his wealthy clientele. Only this time he's chosen to kidnap the wrong person.

The Dollmaker forces Munroe into an undesired mission by holding the fate of the person she loves most over her head. Munroe reluctantly agrees to completing the mission so long as the one she holds dear remains alive. Although she isn't naive, and is convinced she's dead along with Logan once the Dollmaker's requests are granted, she still moves forward with moving precious, human cargo to the big-wig that's demanding the product. Not only is she faced with delivering this famous cargo in one piece, she's responsible for maintaining the "doll" in a certain condition.

Enter Steven's weak link. Neeva is probably one of the most recognized faces at the time she's been kidnapped. Her celebrity makes the mission especially difficult but to add insult to injury, she's one of the worse hostages possible. Initially she comes off as a brat. I personally couldn't stand her but I understood that her role was necessary in moving the story forward. I guess I was so busy rooting for Munroe that I failed to realize that Neeva was fighting for her own life just the same. 

Pushed up against the ropes, Taylor Stevens presents to newbies (like me) a woman who's more than capable of holding her own. A master of disguise, a true polyglot, and skilled in the art of complete badassery. I mean really!!!! Is there nothing Munroe can't do? Actually, that brings me to my first gripe. Stevens wastes no time to remind readers, newbies and dedicated fans alike, of the many ways in which Munroe is not to be messed with. After hearing for the umpteenth time that the men were speaking languages, assuming she couldn't understand but in fact really could, it got a little redundant. Then to keep reminding me that she's able to use anything, I mean absolutely ANYTHING as a weapon got to be grating. In my opinion, Munroe's Rambo-esque ambition needed no more justification.

My final gripe is one of my own doing. When I entered in the Goodreads Giveaway to win this novel it was only because I was slightly interested in the blurb and wasn't going to be heartbroken if I'd lost. To top it off, I didn't pay attention to the fact that this was a part of a series. Usually I can read books out of succession so long as the author is good enough to keep me posted on trivial background aspects without ruining previous novels should I read them at a later date. Ultimately, I felt that all the characters, even Munroe, were a little one dimensional. Again I say that's my fault because I didn't take the time (time I really don't have) to catch up with all the characters in a manner that wouldn't leave me wanting more. I take some of the blame, but for the rest I'm giving Taylor Stevens the honor. A great author writes each novel, even in a series, as if they are reaching out to an audience that hasn't been following the characters from inception.

My gripes aside, The Doll was gripping from page one. Taylor Stevens manages to never allow me one moment to become bored with her story. She goes inside of the corrupt, despicable world of human trafficking and forces readers to consider what morals they will dismiss in the hopes of saving the one they love. And then leave you wondering if the life of the one you love is truly worth more than the life of an innocent. I look forward to reading another adventure of Stevens' featuring Vanessa Michael Munroe. Munroe proves that you don't send any man in to do a woman's job. Yes!!!!!!   ****

Copy provided by Broadway Books (Random House) via Goodreads Giveaway

Review: You Should Have Known Better by Jean Hanff Korelitz

It took quite a long time for me to finish this novel and the first thing I thought was ok?!!? That was it? You Should Have Known is the newest novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz about a marriage counselor Grace Reinhart Sachs and her rude awakening with the truth of her "picture-perfect" world. This novel is about her journey to reinvent herself and salvage any nugget of her life in the before.

Grace is soon to be releasing a novel named You Should Have Known which is an advice guide to women, urging them not to ignore the signs that caution the man they are with is not someone they should spend their lives with. She actually stands on her soapbox and looks down on the women who come to her office as she considers her own life. A caring husband who's a pediatrician, an intelligent son Henry, and a comfortable lifestyle that many in New York could only dream about. In other words, she's smug, uptight, almost unlikeable.

Then there's a death. A woman we really don't know, or have any idea how she is connected to this family is killed in an horrific manner. To top it off, Jonathan, Grace's husband disappears. With officer's knocking at the door, Grace finally takes a hard, long look in the mirror and sees she knows nothing or what she should have known.

Initially, I was on board with this novel. Korelitz had me eating out of her hand. I had to know more about the fall of this woman I never really came to like. After reading page after page of elusive, mysterious, and suggestive verbiage that just didn't give anything, I realized I didn't care anymore. Who cares who, where, or what the hell type of psychopath Jonathan is?

Amidst some well written passages is a storyline I felt couldn't stand up to my expectations anymore. The idea that it's suspenseful failed, but I hung in there. Some sort of sinister reveal was hoped for, but it never comes to fruition. I just wish... I would have known that after I'd spend more than a week on this novel, I would have feel so empty. Then again I did ignore all the signs. Shame on me.

All is not lost with this novel. I feel that maybe if I'd expected it to be more chick-litish as opposed to a true nail-biter I could have appreciated more. And there are moments when I could see that Jean Hanff Korelitz is actually a pretty good writer. It's just buried under a lot of nothing. My final grade is that You Should Have Known Better should have been better. 

Copy Provided by Grand Central Publishing via Goodreads Giveaway

Review: The Stolen Ones by Richard Montanari

Do You Dream?

The Stolen Ones is the 7th installment of Richard Montanari's novels featuring Philadelphia Detectives Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne. These detectives have been are brought in on a case after a wealthy businessman was found murdered in Priory Park. Before long, a series of murders and a mute two-year old girl bring them up against a man named Luther. Luther is the one person left behind after the closing of the Delaware Valley State Hospital. 

First off let me start by saying that I am so happy to finally become acquainted with this author. The Stolen Ones is the definition of what I look for in crime fiction. The pace is fast, characters are interesting, and the thrills come often. At times it felt I was reading a horror novel mixed with crime fiction, topped off with psychological suspense. And thankfully, those independant genres fuse well. 

Montanari does well to provide a 7th novel that doesn't read like there's something missing. There isn't a whole chunk of history in the two starring detectives lives that is eluded to and breezed over making the reader feel confused. Both Balzano and Byrne are well developed, interesting, and complementing of each other.

As the novel shifts between the past and present, we are introduced to a man named Luther and the people who crossed his path... for better or worse. His preferred travel method makes for some sleepless nights in the hopes of nothing being in my closet. Seriously. This novel had the perfect amount of suspense and sheer creepiness that I tried to steal a moment whenever I could to get back to the story.

Ultimately, The Stolen Ones by Richard Montanari is a great way to spend the day reading. It fuses many genres seamlessly and introduces the world of dreams to the unsuspecting. This is one nightmare I would never want to live through. I look forward to reading more by this author. ****

Copy provided by Mulholland Books via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: Success Through Stillness by Russell Simmons

When I initially threw my hat in the ring for a bid at winning Russell Simmons Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple I didn't think I'd be picked. Honestly, I wasn't hoping to be picked either. Not because I didn't want to read his book, but because I only requested entered into the giveaway off of name recognition. I'm too young to really have lived the impact RunDMC had on the hip-hop community, yet young enough to know the profound mark Russell Simmons has made on, not only music, but business in general. I've always known him to be a mogul who yells at the top of his lungs in that adorable lisp that some may find a reason not to take him serious. I knew better.

Suffice it to say, once I got the notification that I'd won a copy, I was beyond ecstatic. Although I allowed some time to pass before devoting time to this self help book, I feel that I've read it at the perfect time in my life. I'm working more than 50 hours at my job some weeks, and trying to maintain going to school part time. If anyone was in need of a few moments of stillness I would be that perfect candidate. Sure I'm not running a multi-million dollar company, in charge of a team that caters to my every need, nor am I a pop culture icon that has a huge platform to change the minds of the mass. I'm just me. An average person who's problem are just as important to me as Simmons are to him. Enough about me. I step off my soap box now.

Success Through Stillness is Russell Simmons plea to the world that meditation can solve many problems. He hails meditation as being the Holy Grail and that everyone should get in on the action. This self-help book is written with an excitement that is often lacking in other books in this genre. I felt as excited about beginning meditating as Simmons sounds encouraging me.

What is most appealing about this novel is that it's not just 200+ pages of "Uncle Rush" repeating and drilling the success of meditation into the heads of readers, although that does happen, he offers proof. It's clear and apparent that he researched the benefits of meditation and presented his findings in the most approachable terms as possible. In the beginning chapters, he mentions the science of the art of meditation by revealing how it changes the corpus colloseum and allows each hemisphere of the brain to communicate in a more productive manner with each other. I'm currently taking a Psychology class so these revelations made so much sense. Yet, if I had no knowledge of the brain and it's parts such as the Amygdala, or Frontal Lobe and their functions, the language is approachable and engaging.

Besides using a scientific approach, Simmons provides studies conducted on the brain of one who practices meditation and one who doesn't. Simmons provides articles naming some of the top psychologists and their proof of the meditating's benefits. I love that he doesn't think that readers aren't smart enough to know that his opinion alone isn't enough to drastically change their daily lives. Who really wants to devote 20 minutes twice a day to something that may or may not actually work? I know I don't. Free or not. Between work, school, my reviews, and life that seems like a huge undertaking.

If the scientific benefits of meditating was not enough, Russell Simmons does not waste an opportunity to name drop. I'm not mad at him. I would too if I had friends such as Deepak Chopra, Ellen Degeneres, and Oprah. He says they too accredit their ability to balance their lives in a productive manner is due to meditating. 

Because Success Through Stillness is so engaging and inspiring, I almost forgot to read it objectively. Once I came back down from cloud 9, after reading more than 85% of the book, I realized I was no closer to knowing how to meditate than when I open the book. I bet you're saying there's nothing to it. Just sit in a lotus position and mumble some mumbo-jumbo. I'm a little more technical and in need of direction than others. And I only came to this conclusion when one of my co-workers passed my cube and asked me if the book I was reading was good. I answered "Yes!" Without hesitation. And then I said aloud "but I'm no closer to knowing how to meditate than when I began the book."

Ultimately, all concerns were rectified and I'm confident in having the tools needed to begin meditating. I appreciate Russell Simmons for writing this book along with Chris Morrow. Meditation was never on my list of things to try until reading Success Through Stillness. Meditation is worth the try. Essentially, it's just like Simmons says, I risk nothing in trying it except an enlightenment I've never experienced before. ****


Copy provided through Penguin Group via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: Country Hardball by Steve Weddle

Steve Weddle introduces readers to a rural town that seems to be on its way to being obsolete in his debut Country Hardball. The jobs are scarce, the reasons to be happy are few and far between, and there is no shortage of more woes to come. As we are given insight to many different townsfolk, the main character Roy Allison seems to hold all the intermingling stories together.

Roy Allison has had more than a few run ins with the law. He's even endured a stint in Juvenile Detention. In an effort to remake his life, he returns to live with his grandmother to the town of his youth. From his first chapter on, it's apparent there are maybe some people who don't want him to remind him that his past is never too far from him. And it could quite possibly creep up and leave you bloody and dying in a creek.

Many of the stories in this novel are similar to Allison's. We are introduced to some hard working people who are one car repair away from bankruptcy, or banking on their sons ability to play baseball to climb out of the hole that has become this town. Weddle does not tell there story in an effort to get tears jerking but in a way that proves the resilience that is the human spirit.

Although with few resources, each character finds a way to get up each morning and keep moving on. Sure there are characters who may choose a sketchy way of skirting poverty while others just go to their 9-5s, each story relays the message that the choices we make are what matters. At many times I thought that maybe this town gave up... but that wasn't entirely true for me once I finished the novel. 

Ultimately, Country Hardball is an interesting told in stories that deserves to be read. Steve Weddle definitely held my attention and had me invested completely even with the short glimpses into their lives provided. I hope it doesn't always remain true that once somethings starts going, there's nothing that can bring it back. If that's true than our country has a problem.  ***

Copy provided by Tyrus Books via a Goodreads Giveaway

Review: House of the Hunted by Mark Mills

Won through a Goodreads Giveaway House of the Hunted is the first novel I've read by Mark Mills. While sleeping one night Tom's past comes back to haunt him with a vengence. He's tried to put to rest the man he used to be and the constant memories of his one love. The man who's paid to kill him is proof that he can no longer hide as he's sure there will be more looking for him. What he's most concerned with is who in his circle has sold him out. House of the Hunted takes place in the south of France during 1935, 16 years later from when we initially meet Tom who was a spy at the time. Traipsing from one party to another it seems, Tom is no longer a cold-blooded killer but sure knowes when to call on those skills when necessary. What I liked most about Mark Mills writing is how descriptive it is. Most thrillers are really shy on details. I felt that I lived Le Rayol with Tom and his friends. It almost felt like these people partied a little too much but when in France... There is an underlying romance that gives readers a whole nother layer to Tom's character. He's an emotionally damaged man after word that his first love Irina has been executed. Her ghost lingers in a haunting way that it allows readers to feel sorry for Tom. It is this attention to character development that makes Mills a master of his craft. It is why literary snobs that still love suspense flock to titles such as this. I'm no literary snob, but I do have gripes. Although I appreciate detail and character development as much as the next person, I couldn't help but feel like there was not enough of the espionage, or thriller feel. The moments of action were brief and over in a blink. I know this is not supposed to be some David Morrell novel where Tom's automatically turned into Rambo but I did expect a lot more of this person the book sleeve suggests Tom once was. I'm certain that because House of the Hunted is geared towards a more literary audience it's trying to make a point. What I found to be a recurring theme was that we never quite know the people we surround ourselves with or even love. I very much so enjoyed reading House of the Hunted and look forward to reading others I may have missed by this author.  ***

Review: What I Had Before I Had You by Sarah Cornwell

*Won Through a Goodreads Giveaway* WOW!!!! What an eye-opening literary account of bipolar disorder and how it has manifested itself in a family! Olivia returns to Ocean Vista with her two children, Carrie and Daniel, in tow. She decides that a stop on the beach may be just what the doctor ordered before they make the final trek to New York City where the beginning of a new life is on the horizon. During this time at the beach, her nine-year-old son Daniel, goes missing. The last thing Olivia needs is to be searching for her son when she's still coming to terms with the death of her marraige, and Daniel's recent bipolar disorder diagnosis. What I Had Before I Had You is beautifully narrated by Olivia. She recounts the time when she was fifteen and had to begin facing the truth of the world she lived in. As an only child to a whimsical mother who often disappeared for days, was her reality. Reflecting on the days of her youth in an abandoned hotel, as she searches for Daniel, is how we learn of her troubled past. Sarah Cornwell brilliantly fuses a tense, yet heartening, plot with eloquent prose and dynamic characters. The younger Olivia is trying to find her way in a world where she never quite felt she belonged. Actually, many of the characters find they are trapped in worlds that aren't suitable causing them to be tourists in lives in which they don't belong. As a teen, her escape is found in running with a fast crowd and as an adult, it's in the arms of random lovers. Olivia maintains the guilt for so many instances in her life. Leaving her ill mother at a young age, subjecting her children to that same abandonment, and presently losing Daniel. Her one ally. Carrie is someone she barely recognizes anymore. Olivia can feel the resentment and embarassment that permeates from her teenage pores. Unlike her own condition, whatever ails Carrie can't be fixed with pills. What I Had Before I Had You is not only about bipolar disorder. It's an insightful and detailed chronicle of a family that's trying to put back together the pieces of their lives. In very few pages Sarah Cornwell sucks readers in and forces us to care about Olivia and her family. What I Had Before I Had You is going to be on the minds of readers long after the last page.   ****

Review: The Rejected Stone by Rev Al Sharpton

Won Through a Goodreads Giveaway Honestly, I've never really known much about Rev. Al Sharpton besides the fact that he seemed to be a pretty popular caricature. From the moments where Kennan Thompson parodies him on SNL to the scene with Adam Sandler in the movie Mr. Deeds, I never was inclined to take the man seriously. I dropped my name in the hat of giveaway hopefuls in an effort to circumvent having to pay for something I wasn't too sure I wanted to invest my money in although I had a newfound interest in Al Sharpton. The reason I wanted to findout more about this man is because I watch a lot of MSNBC. I wake up with joe(Scarborough that is), play hardball with Chris Matthews, and usually hear what the last word is with Lawrence O'Donnell. Basically, I wanted to know who this guy hosting Politics Nation was, bringing to light the injustice of Voter ID laws. Up until then I was convinced he wasn't someone I should take seriously. The Rejected Stone by Al Sharpton opened my eyes to the person he is, was, and wants to be remembered as. Long past are the days of his ill-fitting tracksuits and frumpy figure. He has a more refined look now but his views are still the same. He's simply a man who came from humble beginnings hoping for all the world to see the value in EVERY human life. Yes he has accumulated a rolodex full of some of the most successful people to ever walk the planet, he's still more interested in making a difference. Sharpton has gotten a reputation of being only interested in the "black" agenda. Touted as being a person who only comes running when there seems to be some sort of racial injustice, seems to not be the only cause he fights for. The Rejected Stone chronicles his life as an activist, preacher, and celebrity. Many times this memoir seems more or less a self-help book which is pretty enjoyable seeing as he has lots of relevant ideas towards growth and changing. One of the most interesting endorsements Al Sharpton has made is his support of LGBT rights. Most mainstream religious figures find this to be taboo and an abomination to the very basic Christian fundamentals. Initially he was against the idea of these rights but started to see how the world is changing. To keep up with the change, he had to focus on the argument from a different perspective. Sharpton deduced that he can't have a lifetime of leading rallies for civil rights then choose to discriminate at will. The Rejected Stone provides a chapter heading that works as either a motivational message or guiding light for life. Define Yourself-Before Others Do it For You, Every Life Has Value, and a few others are snippets of his advice. This helps the book remain focused and easy to follow. The structure of this book helps it not be repetitive. Because every person has "haters" the fact that this book is published by Cash Money Content has been a source of claiming Al Sharpton to be one of the many, greatest liars. How can someone who has fought against the use of defamating language do a book deal with a music label that is its top exploiter? I only mention this because he even addresses in the book his constant fight for people to see themselves as something greater. He doesn't change his message to appease Cash Money Content. I'm sorry that I don't have an opinion on this. I figure if a convicted felon is in jail, then is turned preacher, does it sully his message of inspiration? If he were to come out with a rap album about civil rights on Death Row Records should it make the message any less important? He does have a chapter aptly named Be Open to Unlikely Allies. Surprisingly, The Rejected Stone was great insight to a man's life that I really had no knowledge of and I appreciate finally knowing more about this man than what a Wikipedia page can say. Sure, I saw him at Trayvon Martin rallies, heard the words he spoke at Michael Jackson's funeral, and remembered the cartoonish ways he used to dress, but I never really followed his career. He speaks of his highs, his lows, and why he's the most unlikely of the rejected stones to be where he is today.  ****

Review: Japantown by Barry Lancet

Won Through a Goodreads Giveaway I should have opened this book upon receiving it in the mail but in the interest of me being a slacker I decided to put it on the back-burner. Big Mistake! Huge!(In my Pretty Woman voice to those snobby Rodeo Drive women.) Japantown by Barry Lancet is what I look for in all thrillers. A great plot that has all the bells and whistles such as dead bodies, major butt-kicking, and impossibly awesome villains is nonnegotiable. Thank you Barry Lancet for fulfilling this criteria. An antique dealer, Jim Brodie, is asked to consult with the San Francisco PD on a recent murder of a Japanese family. Because of his expertise in all things Japan, he's the go to guy. He's also part-owner of his deceased father's PI firm in Japan. Immediately Brodie notices there is something very calculated and expert about this killing. Similar to his wife's death, there is a kanji note found at the murder. Ultimately, his investigation places him in a dangerous position that threatens the life of his friends and his only living relative. Barry Lancet uses his knowledge of Japanese culture and the language to writeJapantown. This debut novel is descriptive, absorbing, and thrilling. Suffice it to say it does not read like a debut novel. Lancet scraps unnecessary dialogue for a more intelligent thriller. Instead of littering the pages with failed one-liners, Lancet goes for a more believable approach with a strong pivotal character. Japantown shifts focus between Jim Brodie's narratives and a third party view of the bad guys movements. It is not clear how the two are related but we are privy to the understanding that Jim has definitely pissed the wrong guy off. As more layers of mystery are unraveled, the tension is palpable. The world of high-stakes business is a lot more deadly than one would have thought. Barry Lancet is a great new voice in the thriller genre. I hope his next novel is just as good as Japantown. It's an in-depth look at Japanese culture, business, and values. Sign me up for his next book. PLEASE!?!   ****

Review: The Biology of Luck by Jacob M. Appel

Received through a Goodreads Giveaway When reading literary fiction it is either hit-or-miss for me. Luckily (no pun intended)The Biology of Luck by Jacob M. Appel was a definite hit and I'm sure nothing I can write in this review will suffice. But... I must try and throw my views on this novel into the fray. Larry Bloom is in love with Starshine Hart and to prove that love has written a manuscript detailing her day up until the moment they have dinner. This dinner is not like any other because this is the one where he's determined to profess his love for her. And hopefully in return she will do the same. No Larry is not charismatic, memorable, good looking, or rich. He's a man who hopes that the letter he holds in his pocket from the publishing company Stroop & Stone, will seal the deal with Starshine. The Biology of Luck cleverly alternates between Larry's reality and the fiction of Starshine's life by using situations in his own life to fill in the gaps that he couldn't possibly know unless having been told. The fiction of Starshine's life, Larry's manuscript, is named The Biology of Luck. It is where we are fall victim to the beauty that is Starshine and are introduced to all the people she's left in her wake. Starshine is a beautiful, bike riding, odd-job queen, who has hopes and dreams of becoming any sort of star (still no pun intended). Aware of her ability to melt hearts, often using it to her advantage when asking money for the Cambodian Children's Fund, also fears the impending doom of those powers fading. I'm never sure I actually like Starshine most of the novel, but I too was drawn to her like every person in this novel seemed to be. What's most fascinating about this novel is the level of depth given to each character. The characters Larry and Starshine encounter are real and they seem as interesting as our leads. From the insane landlord Bone to the dilettante Colby Parker, Appel seems to have produced a character study on the moving parts of New York. Their interactions and happenings eventually come full circle in both novels culminating in a hilarious scene that is just too good to believe and very romance movie-ish. Among these characters is also an Armenian florist who can determine someone's level of luck in their biology just by looking at them. I would love to hear what my biology says of my luck. Please introduce me to that guy. Amidst all the chaos that does happen on the day that Larry hopes to win Starshine's heart, is the vivid picture painted of New York by Jacob M. Appel. Larry is a tour guide so this detail could not be ignored. I felt that I came alive just as the patrons of Harlem did in the opening chapter. I have never been to New York but The Biology of Luckrestores the incessant need to see its architecture for myself. To encounter the crazies roaming the streets. To have a conversation with people who are the embodiment of unique. Thank you Jacob M. Appel for writing such an interesting, multilayered novel that does end without resolution. The Biology of Luck leaves a HUGE unanswered question in the end but I'm hoping his next novel (feauturing these characters) will answer it for me. After reading The Biology of Luck I am certain the need to hold on to hope in matters of love and life are what gets us up in the morning. Also, I should really acquaint myself with the poetry of Walt Whitman. ****

Review: Accused by Lisa Scottoline

Accused is the latest novel Lisa Scottoline featuring Rosato & Associates. Mary DiNunzio is celebrating her recent promotion as a partner in the Rosato & Associates law firm when a thirteen year old seeks her counsel in the murder of her older sister. Six years earlier, Allegra Gardner's sister Fiona is murdered at the age of sixteen.

Allegra is anxious to exonerate the man who stands accused of her murder. Against her better judgement, Mary agrees to take the case. Although there is a lot of evidence and a guilty plea to exonerate the accused, Lonnie Stall, it does not dissuade her belief in his innocence. As she begins to dig deeper and deeper into what really happened that fateful night, family secrets surface, intricately woven lies unravel, and Mary's own life hangs in the balance.

Lisa Scottoline couples an intense legal thriller with all the required twists and turns with heartfelt moments that make you believe in the power of family. There are two types of families represented in Accused. We have Mary's loving Italian family that borders overbearing at times while on the other hand Allegra's family seems so distant and uncaring. Mainly they're unsure of how to move forward and are still grieving. Mary can see the hurt in Allegra and becomes way too emotionally involved in a case that even her best friend says she shouldn't take on.

This isn't the first novel I've read by Scottoline so I expected a fast moving mystery thriller that would have me glued to its pages until it's conclusion. Scottoline delivers on giving fans what they expect in the Accused but there is generally nothing groundbreaking about this title. Even so, fans of legal thrillers and of hers will want to read this. I very much enjoyed becoming acquainted with Rosato & Associates.  ***

Review: High Treason John Gilstrap

*Won Through a Goodreads Giveaway* John Gilstrap has been on my radar for a long time because fellow readers have suggested that since I like high octane espionage thrillers, he should not be overlooked. Suffice it to say, these recommendations were true to form and I am more than thankful to whatever system found me suitable for winning this giveaway of John Gilstrap's High Treason. High Treason is the 5th book in the Jonathan Grave series. Jonathan Grave and his team are who you send when someone is taken hostage and their return is of the highest importance. Grave is a former Special Forces officer and specialist in security turned Hostage rescue specialist. His team does whatever it takes to return their PC(precious cargo) to saftety. Enter his latest assignment. Because of the sensitivity of the situation, Grave and his team are called in to find the FLOTUS. The FBI director Irene Rivers, an old friend and sometimes employer, inducts them into the search for the First Lady. Because, news of her kidnapping could destabilize the already weak economy and also cause some other secrets to be found out, this situation must be neutralized ASAP. Hesitantly, Grave agrees to find the FLOTUS. High Treason barely allows the readers time to blink let alone allow it's characters breathe before they are on to the next situation. This approach is precisely why I love the brain-candy that are thrillers. The focus on action helps to mask the fact that there is a very thin storyline accompanied by even thinner characters. I don't mean that as a diss, sincerely. It's why movies of this same formula make less than stellar actors A-listers. It sells and I'm buying. In some cases I feel like I haven't missed anything when starting a series anywhere except at the beginning. Reading No Mercy, at least, would have seemed benefitting because I have a lot of questions still. Why is our hero so rich? Who is this man? Where did he come from? Why's he so great at giving speeches? I mean, these speeches entice people who have never handled guns to find the inner ability to thwart mercenaries and thugs. I mean, who is this badass that is Jonathan Grave. Ultimately, I did enjoy reading High Treason by John Gilstrap and plan on reading more. There's plenty of action, suspense, guns, and reasons for conspiracy theorists to always have new material. This political thriller should not be missed by fans of this series. Now I wonder who's out there making sure the secrets at the highest level of government stay just that, secret.  ****

Review: The Last Winter of Dani Lancing by P.D. Viner

*Won through a goodreads giveaway* The Last Winter of Dani Lancing is P.D. Viner's enthralling debut effort featuring a cast of people I don't think I'd want to be alone in a room with. Not one. I don't think there's one hero for me in this novel. From the beginning it's obvious there are some strange things going to happen in theThe Last Winter of Dani Lancing because of her still seeming to be an alive and breathing character and the chapter heading saying it was December 2010. If I had not read the book sleeve I would have assumed that Dani was still up and at 'em. She's not up and at 'em. She's very much so not up and at 'em. Jim Lancing, Patty Lancing, and Tom Bevans are all still engulfed in at least one state of mourning 20 years later since the death of Dani Lancing as if it has only happened 20 minutes earlier. Jim, Dani's father, still walks around having conversations with her ghost. Tom tries to move on but is unable to let the torch he's held for Dani go out. He constantly compares every potential mate to her but they just don't fit the bill. Patty is probably the worse off. News that many cold cases would be looked at because of breakthroughs in DNA testing is what really sets the ball rolling...down hill. Tom, Dani's childhood love, mentions this to Patty, Dani's mother. Patty, once a successful journalist, sees this as the break she needs. The break from feeling so consumed with guilt that has cost her her job, her husband, and her sanity. Tom, now a detective who investigates cases such as Dani's, is not even aware of the crazy he has unleashed. Eventually, we learn all about the last winter of Dani Lancing. The Last Winter of Dani Lancing jumps from the past during the late 80s and the present 2010 in an nonsequential way that I found highly annoying at first. I couldn't decipher the past Dani from the present Dani thanks to the father making this so torturous. As pages flew by, I daresay I enjoyed this order because it allowed the layers to be peeled back slowly as most chapters ended with no closure or cliff-hangers. As mentioned earlier in this review, I would not want to be alone in a room with any of these characters. Especially not Patty. They are all proof of what guilt, lies, secrets, and grief can do to a person. They all seem like former shells of themselves but there isn't enough information given about the people they used to be. I guess that's the point with anyone who's ever been dealt a devastating loss and how that loss creates a new person who can never go back to being who they once were. It may seem that there are few more gripes than one should have if rating a novel 4 stars. My reason for such a high rating is because I couldn't help but be invested in the mystery of the last winter of Dani Lancing. Even when I wanted to shake these characters from their fog, I remember how broken someone feels when they are dealing with the loss of someone at the eve of beginning their "real" adult life. I felt sorry that these people were dealing with their grief so poorly and seemingly had no escape except for the truth of her death being revealed. What a reveal! This debut effort is deserving of its 4-star rating although I found so much fault in the characters and their inability to move on. The Last Winter of Dani Lancing will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers. I enjoyed reading this very much and hope Viner's next will be just as good. The truth, no matter how ugly, needs to be told before any ghosts can be set free. ****

Review: The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton

The Edge of Normal is the first fiction novel written by Carla Norton. Immediately the plot sucks readers in with the failed attempt to move Reeve LeClaire from one hiding place to another ten years earlier. It's the perfect mix of irony and realism. I don't want to spoil it because I thought it was pretty good.

The main plot in The Edge of Normal begins with Reeve speaking to her therapist Dr. Lerner. They discuss how much she's recovered since her abduction and captivity. Reeve isn't able to see the changes but Dr. Lerner insists they are there. Then news of a newly escaped victim, a young girl named Tilly, thrusts Dr. Lerner and Reeve back into the spotlight. The spotlight also places Reeve in danger of the person who's trying desperately to keep his secrets untold.

Carla Norton does not skimp on the details of the heinous crimes done to these girls while in captivity. The violence Reeve endured by the sexual sadist in this novel gave me chills. I could not imagine another human being treating someone that way. The Edge of Normal is not for the faint of heart, but it is such a worth it read.

On her journey to becoming "normal" Reeve discovers she can help Tilly, and others in her same situation. With her high intelligence, she is able to piece together clues that the police are either ignoring, or not made aware of. No one knows the dungeons like she does and she's hoping to find this accomplice for Tilly and every other girls sake. Reeve really evolves into a character that will stick with readers past the last page. I would love to see her featured in future novels by this author. 

The Edge of Normal also showcases Carla Norton's knowledge of the differences between Captivity syndrome, Stockholm syndrome, and PTSD. This psychological insight gives The Edge of Normal a depth many suspenseful thrillers lack. 

The one gripe I have is that the characters, outside of Reeve, Tilly, and the predator Duke, all seem to be under developed. There's a scene with Tilly's older brother that leaves me wishing he'd been kept out of the book. I don't know why every teenager has to be as selfish as they are written. It's enfuriating!! Also, the prosecutor Burke is a jerk. I mean what sadist crawled up her anus and decided to live there? Are all prosecutors that numb to cases and only want to win that they forget how to care? And a woman prosecutor at that who seemingly has no sympathy. 

The Edge of Normal will have readers on the edge of their seats (cliche...I know but I had to say it). I am so happy I did not allow this to gather dust on my shelf. I recommend this novel to lover's of suspenseful thrillers laced with psychological insight. The Edge of Normal is such an awesome, page turning debut!   ****