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Somebody I Used To Know by David Bell - Reviewed by Edee

7/6/2015

 
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On a trip to the grocery store, Nick Hansen sees a young girl who is the spitting image of his old college girlfriend Marissa.  Even their mannerisms are the same.  Nick approaches the girl and she rushes away without even speaking to him.  Nick is slightly unnerved by the whole encounter, especially considering his college girlfriend died tragically in a fire, just after breaking up with him.  Things only get more mysterious when the girl from the grocery store turns up dead the next day with a note in her pocket with Nick's name and address on it.  

David Bell does an excellent job weaving this multi-layered tale of suspense.  There are just enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.  Just when I thought I had something figured out, a new development in the story would lead me in another direction.  I would recommend clearing your schedule because once you start reading this book, you won't want to put it down.  It just simply is that good.  

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.  

The Patriot Threat by Steve Berry - Reviewed by Edee

4/23/2015

 
Cotton Malone is back and Steve Berry has another spellbinding tale!  If you aren't acquainted with Steve Berry's work or his main character Cotton Malone, your life isn't complete (in my opinion).  Cotton Malone is back working for the Magellan Billet, a special government agency and this time, he is pursuing some potentially damaging documents that have gotten into the hands of the brother of the North Korean leader.  Without telling too much of the plot, those documents could have an impact on the legality of income tax and some potential governmental coverup.  Steve Berry writes extraordinary thrillers and ties in some very interesting historical points.  I always appreciate at the end of the book, he points out all that is fictional and all that is factual.  I'm never disappointed in a Steve Berry book and again, feel that Cotton Malone has to be one of the best literary characters of all time.  Our book club selected this book and I'm looking forward to discussing it with our members.  Highly recommend this book!
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Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner - Reviewed by Edee

4/23/2015

 
As followers of this blog may know, Lisa Gardner is an author that I enjoy and look forward to reading.  Touch & Go brings back the character of Tessa Leoni from Love You More and this time she is trying to rescue a family from their abductors before time runs out.  Like most of Lisa Gardner's novels, there is usually an unexpected twist at the end and this novel did not disappoint.  Lisa Gardner always pens a good thriller and Touch & Go should be added to that long list.  
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The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon - Reviewed by Edee

3/6/2015

 
I received this book as part of the First Reads program on Goodreads and was really excited to read it.  I had not read anything by Jennifer McMahon before and my cousin had recommended the book to me.  The Winter People will definitely keep you reading late into the night.  The story is very suspenseful and twisted.  The writing is well paced and unfolds quickly.  The author does an excellent job of character development and you feel like you know each character well.  Honestly, this book is a little outside of what I normally read, but I did enjoy it and believe that fans of Steven King and Gillian Flynn should add this book to their to-read list.  
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The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio - Reviewed by Edee

2/25/2015

 
This was the second book that I had read by Sarah Jio and I enjoyed it very much.  Her earlier book The Violets of March was a great read as well, but I felt that you could really see how much she had grown as an author in this second selection.  
The Last Camellia is a story told from two different perspectives.  We meet Flora, who is traveling to England just prior to the beginning of World War II, to work as a nanny but her real purpose is to help flower thieves locate the elusive Middlebury Pink Camellia which is believed to be located on the estate.  Flora uncovers mysterious happenings at the estate.  We also meet Addison in present day who travels to the same estate and learns that some of those same mysteries were never solved.  This is great book for fans of historical fiction.  
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The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - Reviewed by Edee

2/18/2015

 
The Girl on the Train is a very suspenseful story and could definitely be read in one setting.  It is written from three different perspectives.  Rachel is the main protagonist and is certainly not without her own set of problems.  Rachel drinks excessively and then blacks out, not remembering what has happened.  She hasn't been able to move on from her divorce, and invents stories and personas for people that she sees in their homes while passing by on her daily train ride.  Anna was the 'other woman' and is now married to Rachel's ex-husband.  Anna is very disturbed by Rachel and is ready for Rachel to move on.  Megan is one of the people that Rachel feels like she knows since she watches her each day on her train ride, but hasn't actually ever met her.  Megan disappears and Rachel finds herself right in the middle of the case.  This story is fast moving and has many twists and turns.  
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Tanglewood Plantation by Jocelyn Miller - Reviewed by Edee

2/13/2015

 
Tanglewood Plantation has all the makings of an interesting story.  It weaves historical fiction, a little romance, ghost story, time travel/science fiction and mystery.  It is a little bit of a bumpy ride, but I wanted to keep reading to see how the story would end.  This book is a quick read and fans of Southern Fiction should find it interesting.  
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The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty - Reviewed by Edee

1/8/2015

 
The Husband's Secret has it all: suspense, romance, intrigue and humor.  The Husband's Secret is the story of three women: Cecelia, the perfect mom of three daughters with the perfect life (or is it); Tess, who thought she had the perfect marriage until her husband fell in love with her cousin; and Rachel, who can't get past her daughter's unsolved murder.  Each woman has unique struggles, yet their stories become intertwined as they develop through the course of the book.  I'm so glad our book club chose this book and I think we will have a wonderful discussion about the different characters, their motivations and rationales.  I especially appreciated the ending of the book.  It is always a good feeling to close a book and feel like you not only enjoyed the story but your time reading it was well spent.  I look forward to reading other novels by Liane Moriarty.  I would definitely recommend this book to other book clubs and anyone looking for a great read!
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The Catch by Taylor Stevens - Reviewed by Edee

11/23/2014

 
Let me start by saying, I'm a huge Taylor Stevens fan.  I loved her three previous books The Informationist, The Innocent and The Doll, and Vanessa Michael Munroe is a dynamic literary character.  Each book in the series just kept getting better and better.  So, all that being said, it pains me to say, I was slightly disappointed in The Catch. I had a difficult time developing an interest in any of the characters in the book other than Munroe and it felt like the plot developed slowly.  I will plan to read more books by Taylor Stevens and am looking forward to what else is in store for Vanessa Michael Munroe.  
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Love You More by Lisa Gardner - Reviewed by Edee

10/12/2014

 
I have been a Lisa Gardner fan for many years and Love You More was yet another page turning mystery that kept me reading late into the night.  Love You More introduces Tessa Leoni, a state trooper who appears to have murdered her husband and her six year old daughter Sophie is missing as well.  D.D. Warren and Bobby Dodge are on the case.  D.D. has just recently learned she is pregnant.  She isn't sure how she feels about being a mother and it certainly seems out of character for her.  With a six year old missing and possibly murdered, D.D. is determined to save her or at least have the case resolved as quickly as possible. Bobby and D.D. quickly realize that things with State Trooper Tessa Leoni aren't what they seem.  This is fast paced mystery with many twists and turns.  One good thing about the D.D. Warren series is that you wouldn't necessarily have to start with the first book in the series as they are each stand alone novels, in my opinion.  I would recommend Lisa Gardner novels to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.  
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