Review - The Dells by K.L. Barnes

The Dells by K.L. Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who doesn't love a weekend getaway with the girls?  8 friends from Arizona, spend one weekend a year together for a getaway.  They leave the husbands and kids and worries behind and enjoy their time, eating, drinking and being very merry.  But, this weekend is a little different.  When one of the ladies, meets a handsome stranger their weekend is about to take a turn for the worse.

This was a very enjoyable book to read.  The only drawback was that there were too many characters.  8 different women and I could probably only remember 2-3 names. This made for not very good character development.  It could probably take 1/4 of the book to describe these ladies in a way where you felt you knew them personally.   Add on their husbands(6) and the police force that helps them, and that's a lot of people to worry about.

The thing I did like about this story was about how resilient these women are. They let nothing or no one stand in their way of doing what they want and how they want.  No matter if it means interfering in a police investigation or dividing rooms for those who sleep and those who don't.

There were a few grammatical errors in the book. A name not being capitalized and wrong usage of words(here instead of hear), but overall this book held my attention and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.  It would have been just as good or maybe better if the focus was on just 4 friends instead of 8, but still a book I will recommend to others.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**


View all my reviews

Review -- The Warrior by Ty Patterson

The Warrior by Ty Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Major Zebadiah(Zeb) Carter is an extraordinary person.  A member of the Special Forces, he is one guy you want to keep on your good side.  Not one for many social interactions, he always completes his missions to the best of his abilities(which are amazing).

When Zeb is sent to the Congo to complete a mission, he sees some things he shouldn't have seen.  When he reports these things back to his superiors, they tell him to leave it alone, but he can't.  He can't stand by and watch innocent women and children be raped and killed for sport.  So he decides that he will find the people who are responsible for this and punish them himself.

On his down time, he likes to check in on his sister.  On one such occasion, he meets Rory, her 7 year old next door neighbor, who is all but thrilled to have Zeb around.  With two busy parents and not too many friends, Zeb is great for Rory.  These two have an instant bond that no one would have expected.

When Zeb's mission and a story being written by Rory's dad, Connor, crossing paths, Rory gets to see Zeb in action.

For the most part this was a really great book.  I gave it three stars because there were parts that were confusing and I had to go back and read.  I felt as though the book could have gotten a little deeper into the character of Zeb.  We really don't know more about him than everyone else around him and I would have liked to know more.  There is a part at the end of the book, that helps you understand his stoicism a bit more, but knowing that at the beginning of the book may have made me enjoy this better.  It's a good book and I plan on reading the rest of the series.  The Reluctant Warrior is the next book in the series.  And The Warrior Code is coming out later this month.  You should get them all!!


View all my reviews

+Ty Patterson

Review -- Unlucky 13 by James Patterson

Unlucky 13 by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Women's Murder Club really has their hands full this time.  Burger bombs, hijacked ships, and an old "friend" back for a visit, these ladies have their work cut out for them this time.

One thing I really like about James Patterson books is how quickly I can get through one.  With the short chapters and the excitement around every corner, there is never a dull moment.

My thoughts...look out for 14 in the coming year or so....there is some unfinished business that needs to be attended to.


View all my reviews

Review -- Missing by Jenni Boyd

Missing by Jenni Boyd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Blake Stanley needs a new housekeeper.  Terry Johnson isn't exactly what he expected when he picked her up from the airport.  Terry, along with her son Dale have come to help Blake and his son, Brad with the day to day operations around their home in the outback of Australia.  From the moment Blake first lays eyes on Terry, he can tell there is something different about her and her son Dale is unlike any other little boy he has ever met.  When Blake gets a frantic call from Dale while out on a muster, he hurries back to the homestead to find Terry lying on the ground in a pool of blood with Dale no where to be found.  What is this lady into and where is Dale?  Sent on a wild chase all throughout Australia, and finding out things about the past he should never know, Blake is determined to find out who Terry is and where Dale is.

Missing is a good book based in Australia.  With so many twists and turns, you are never sure where you are headed next.  This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and wondering what is going to happen next.  There are a few parts of the book that get confusing at times and I had to read over these a couple of times.  There are a lot of components to keep track of which adds to the confusion.  Overall, though, this is a book that is a good read.

**I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.**


View all my reviews

Review - Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's Labor Day weekend and Henry needs new clothes for school.  His mother, Adele, rarely leaves the house anymore, since the divorce from Henry's father. They go to the local store and pick out a few things.  There they meet Frank, a recently escaped convict.  Frank has them take him to their home and stays with them through the long weekend until he can move on.

Henry and Adele aren't really sure what to do, but they do their best not to be too afraid so they can make it through.  When Frank turns out to be more than they bargained for, they are in for a lot of surprises.  This is a story about love.  Love lost, love shared and new love.  What happens when love is lost or gone forever.

Joyce Maynard has put together quite a great book.  Filled with different kinds of love without being a romance novel.  This book teaches you that you can never judge a book by its cover and that the world is full of surprises.

Henry is your typical teenage boy going through all of the strange changes that happens to a boy at 13.  His mother has been so shut off from the world since losing her father and a baby, that Henry often has to play the role of husband as well as son.  When Frank enters their lives, it's an interesting change for them both.  Adele seems to have come out of her depression and Henry has a relationship with a man, that he has been unable to get with his own father.

Together these three bake, dance, and try not to get caught during the long holiday weekend. This is a must read for anyone who is in love with love.


View all my reviews

Review - The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson

The Opposite of Maybe by Maddie Dawson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rosie and Jonathan have been together for 15 years.  They never married or had kids even though everyone around them were.  They were content with their lives the way they were, or at least that is what Rosie thought.  One morning, when birth control goes out the window all because of a strange name on the caller ID, Rosie is about to find out exactly who and what it is she wants in life.

This story was really very interesting.  Jonathan doesn't seem like the kind of guy that any woman would want to date.  He is all about himself and doesn't really seem to notice or care what is going on around him.  He used to be an artist until he wasn't anymore and then he started to collect teacups.  When he gets the opportunity to be a part of a museum for the precious teacups, he jumps at the chance.  Rosie isn't quite as eager as he is and he promises marriage as a way to get her on board.

Rosie has a lot going on in her life, but then Jonathan shows his true colors just days before the wedding and it makes quite an impact.  Finally, Rosie decides to do something that is going to be best for herself instead of going along with what Jonathan wants.   In making this decision to stay and take care of her grandmother and settle things, she discovers something amazing about her life.

Too many women in this world put their lives on hold to do what is best for the family.  Following their military spouse all around the world, giving up a career for children, leaving behind family to pursue a dream.  If we don't we are labeled as unsupportive and when we do we are also given grief about leaving our own wishes and desires to support someone else.  You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Rosie learns a lot about her life through this book and is a testament to others about doing what is best for yourself.  
I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.


View all my reviews

Review -- Mother's Day Out by Karen MacInerney

Mother's Day Out by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**I received this book as a part of Goodreads Giveaways**

Margie Peterson is your typical stay at home mom.  As if carpool lines, PTA fundraisers, and school newsletters weren't enough to keep her busy, she decides to take a part-time job to help with the family finances.  The job she took is not one that is typical of a stay home mom, but it's one that is sending her on quite an adventure.  She gets the opportunity to work for a private investigator.  The job is simple, but could be dangerous at times.  Her first case goes off without a hitch(almost).  The second, on the other hand, get really complicated really fast when she finds a dead body in the bathroom of a gay bar!

Margie Peterson is the mom we all hope that we could be.  She's strong, fearless, and is able to think quickly on her feet.  All great characteristics of a private investigator, but it tends to also get her in trouble from time to time.

This book had me laughing out loud, and sitting on the edge of my seat.  There is a twist around every corner and mystery that you have to get to the bottom of.  I enjoyed this book, but only gave it three stars because even though it had me on the edge of my seat, it took a while for me to get there.  It took me nearly a month to read this book.  Some because my life has gotten busy and there is hardly any time to read. But books that are hard to put down find a time to get read.

I do recommend this book for mystery/thriller/chick-lit.  And I will read more from this author and this series.


View all my reviews