ReadingGrrls Paper Safari

Title: Slow Burn by Julie Garwood Publisher: Ballantine Books 424 pages Genre: Romance/mystery Synopsis: An unpretentious beauty who radiates kindness, Kate MacKenna doesn’t have a bad bone in her body–or an enemy in the world. So why are bombs igniting everywhere she goes? The first explosion brings her face-to-face with a handsome Charleston police detective. The second sends her into the arms of her best friend’s brother–a Boston cop who’s a little too reckless and way too charming for comfort. But Dylan Buchanan won’t let emotion prevent him from doing his job: Someone is trying to kill Kate, and Dylan is the only one standing between her and the monster who wants her dead. Review: Another well done Romance by Julie Garwood. I love the way she can mix, mystery, thrillers, and romance all in one.The men are all hot and the woman are strong yet in need of assistance. Garwood's characters are witty and realistic. And who else could come up with someone being saved from a

Title: The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd Publisher: William Morrow 390 pages Genre: Thriller Synopsis: FBI deputy assistant director Kate Bannon tracks down Steve Vail, a maverick FBI agent who left the bureau for a new life as a Chicago bricklayer, because she needs Vail's help in apprehending a criminal gang, the Rubaco Pentad, with a grudge against the FBI. The Pentad follows up the murder of L.A. reporter Connie Lysander, who wrote a story critical of the FBI, with ever-increasing demands for money from the bureau to forestall future killings and the setting of sophisticated death traps. When an agent disappears while making a payoff to the gang, he becomes a prime suspect, despite Vail's reservations. Review: This was an exciting, nonstop action thriller.  The writing isn't the highest quality and there were some places that could have been written better but it didn't matter because the characters and the story were just so fun.  Noah Boyd knows how to keep rea

Title: Through the Heart by Kate Morgenroth Publisher: A Plume Book 312 Pages Genre: Mystery Synopsis: Bullied Nora is stuck in a dead-end job in Kansas, caring for her cancer-stricken mother. Spoiled rich boy Timothy walks into the coffee shop where Nora works, and it's mad love at first sight. A more unlikable pair of lovers is hard to imagine. She's spineless, he's brutally selfish, but they are united in their mutual distaste for their dreadful, if hopelessly stereotypical, families, who return their disdain. Alternating chapters—Timothy, Nora, and The Investigation—describe the course of their relationship and its consequences, one of which is a murder the morning of their wedding, the same murder that opens the book. Review: I found this book to be entirely entertaining.  The mystery wasn't too mysterious but I like seeing both sides of the story.  It was like being a psychic fly on the wall of a budding new relationship. You got to see both sides of the

Title: The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood Publisher: Dutton Adult 336 Pages Genre: Romance - Suspense I received this book through netgalley.com as an advanced electronic ebook.  This title is set to be released August 9, 2011 Synopsis: Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her Fellowship at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter's face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation.Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he's definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she's attracted to him in a way she can't explain. Ellie heads home to Winston Falls, South Carolina, to attend her sister's wedding. Shortly after she arrives, though, she receives a surprise visitor: Max Daniels. The Landrys have been captured, and she'll be calle

Title: Striking Back by Mark Nykanen Publisher: Bell Bridge Books 295 pages Genre: Mystery I received this book through netgalley.com - their site states that it isn't due to be published until July 24 2013 but it is for sale on amazon.com already in kindle and paperback.  You figure that one out. Synopsis: Los Angeles therapist Gwyn Sanders keeps her ugly family history to herself. More than twenty years ago, when she was still a teen, her violent stepfather died a grisly, mysterious death. Gwyn knows all the secrets but she's not talking about the past-she's too busy trying to change the future by breaking the cycle of domestic violence. The men she counsels aren't saints, but maybe she can change the mindset that makes their lives-and the lives of the people closest to them-so miserable. But when someone starts killing her controversial clients, Gwyn becomes LAPD's primary suspect. After all, there's the unsolved mystery of her stepfather's bi

Title: Smokin Seventeen by Janet Evanovitch Publisher: Bantam 320 Pages Genre: Fiction Synopsis: Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list. Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Ste

Title: Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin  (Game of Thrones Book 2) Publisher: Bantam Books 969 pages Genre: Fantasy Synopsis: The Seven Kingdoms have come apart. Joffrey, Queen Cersei's sadistic son, ascends the Iron Throne following the death of Robert Baratheon, the Usurper, who won it in battle. Queen Cersei's family, the Lannisters, fight to hold it for him. Both the dour Stannis and the charismatic Renly Baratheon, Robert's brothers, also seek the throne. Robb Stark, declared King in the North, battles to avenge his father and retrieve his sister from Joffrey's court. Daenerys, the exiled last heir of the former ruling family, nurtures three dragons and seeks a way home. Meanwhile the Night's Watch, sworn to protect the realm from dangers north of the Wall, dwindle in numbers, even as barbarian forces gather and beings out of legend stalk the Haunted Forest. Review: I've always found it hard to review books in a series especially if they rely

Title: Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison Publisher: Penguin 224 Pages Genre: non-fiction - foster care- adoption Synopsis: It's 1988, and Harrison, a happily married mother of three, takes a job with Head Start, working with at-risk four-year-olds. Her heart goes out to the foster kids; before long, she and her husband take state training and adopt two sisters. Five children make a big family, but Harrison finds it tough to turn her back on needy children. She and her husband start accepting emergency care "hot-line" foster children, too; soon, Harrison quits her day job and becomes a full-time-overtime, really-foster parent. In addition to a stay-at-home mom's usual duties, Harrison is caring for children with serious emotional baggage and often complex medical problems. There are lawyers, therapists and social service people to meet with, plus the scheduling of visits to birth mothers, an emotional roller coaster for all parties. Birth mothers, she

Title: Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich Publisher: St. Martins Press 352 pages Genre: Mystery Synopsis: A personal case distracts the Trenton, N.J., bondswoman from tracking the usual group of eccentric skips--the kidnapping of her cousin, Vinnie, who's being held for ransom in the high six figures. As Stephanie, sidekick Lula, and office manager Connie soon realize, Vincent Plum Bail Bonds is seriously in the red due to Vinnie's gambling. Vinnie's also gotten caught up with local mobster Bobby Sunflower in a complicated scheme. Even though her sleazy cousin isn't her favorite person and chasing oddball felons isn't her ideal career, Stephanie knows family loyalty counts for something, plus she owes him for giving her a job all those years ago. So with Lula and Connie in tow--and romantic interests Morelli and Ranger lurking in the background-- Stephanie must save the day once again. Review: I always consider Stephanie Plum novels as mind candy. I don&#