Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Review: Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold Romance) by Susan Mallery



  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 422 KB
  • Print Length: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Harlequin HQN (Sep 24 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00CV30Y1Y


Book Description

There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped... Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle...and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing.

Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse....


About the Author

 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publishers Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry and made the world a happier place to live. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

My Review

An excellent addition to the Fool's Gold series. You will always find uplifting and heart racing drama in Susan Mallery's books. A great series. This novel has two wounded souls who find each other in the every day magic of Fool's Gold. And there is plenty of Christmas magic as well! If you want a good romance series to follow, this is the one. 

 

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Review: How the Light Gets In (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #9) by Louise Penny








  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 676 KB
  • Print Length: 416 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0312655479
  • Publisher: Minotaur Books (Aug 27 2013)
  • Sold by: Macmillan CA
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00AQUTNIE




Book Description


“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” —Leonard Cohen

Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it’s a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn’t spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining up against him. When Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people not just in North America, but in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo.

As events come to a head, Gamache is drawn ever deeper into the world of Three Pines. Increasingly, he is not only investigating the disappearance of Myrna’s friend but also seeking a safe place for himself and his still-loyal colleagues. Is there peace to be found even in Three Pines, and at what cost to Gamache and the people he holds dear?

How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from Louise Penny.



The stunning, ingenious and sinister new novel in the internationally bestselling Inspector Gamache series.


A DETECTIVE

As a fierce, unrelenting winter grips Quebec, shadows are closing in on Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department and hostile forces are lining up against him.

A DISAPPEARANCE

When Gamache receives a message about a mysterious case in Three Pines, he is compelled to investigate -- a woman who was once one of the most famous people in the world has vanished.

A DEADLY CONCLUSION

As he begins to shed light on the investigation, he is drawn into a web of murder, lies and unimaginable corruption at the heart of the city. Facing his most challenging, and personal, case to date, can Gamache save the reputation of the Sûreté, those he holds dear and himself?

Evocative, gripping and atmospheric, this magnificent work of crime fiction from international bestselling author Louise Penny will stay with you long after you turn the final page.


About the Author

LOUISE PENNY is the New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of eight previous Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has been awarded the John Creasey Dagger, Nero, Macavity and Barry Awards, as well as two each of the Arthur Ellis and Dilys Awards. Additionally, Louise has won four Agatha Awards and four Anthony Awards. Her most recent novel, The Beautiful Mystery debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. She lives in a small village south of Montréal.


My Review

Louise Penny, an incredibly talented Canadian author, quickly became one of my favorite authors. She is an amazing storyteller and the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series is superb. This book debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Everyone obviously recognizes the greatness now.

Impossible to put down, particularly if you are emotionally invested in the characters in this series. I cannot emphasize enough that you, yes you, need to read this series in its entirety, in the correct order. If you do, you will experience one of the best written series and fascinating examination of the human psyche.

It is Christmas time and Gamache's family is in Paris. He'll join them soon, but not before he gets to the bottom of the murder of the last Ouelette quintuplet. Of course this evokes memories of  the famous Dionne quintuplets of were Quebecois. They were a huge part of 20th century Canadian history. Everyone knew about the Dionne quintuplets. And their supposed fairy tale life. Of course, a complete fabrication, but I digress.

Three Pines is a magical place in the Quebec Eastern townships, an area southeast of Montreal. If you've been following the series, then you'll want to know that all of your favorite characters are back the brilliant poet Ruth Zardo, Clara the amazing painter but pining for her absent husband, Myrna and the bookshop, and our favorite inn keepers and bistro owners Gabri and Olivier. In fact it is Myrna, who brings Gamanche back to the village once again, in search of her missing friend.

Gamanche's Sûreté du Québec is in an uproar.  Jean-Guy is not speaking to Gamanche and he is giving in to his addictions. Gamanche's team has been disbanded and he is left with a team who are not loyal to him. Who in the Sûreté du Québec is out to get Gamanche...and why? This mystery has been in the background of the last few books...

Leading up to the ending, the novel is quite is suspense filled and action packed. Gamanche is brilliant.  Beauvoir's coming out his self pity fog. But what really makes a Louise Penny novel so special is her understanding of the human character and her ability to depict the details that make people so unique and special. The ending itself is beautiful.

There is a crack in everything, that is how the lights gets in.

This book is No. 1 this week for a reason. It is incredibly well-written. The characters are like your family. You really must read the entire series to fully appreciate this amazing story in its entirety.






Monday, September 2, 2013

Review: Never Go Back (Jack Reacher #18) by Lee Child


  • Hardcover: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Delacorte Press (Sep 3 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385344341
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385344340
 Book Description

After an epic and interrupted journey all the way from the snows of South Dakota, former military cop Jack Reacher has finally made it to Virginia. His destination: a sturdy stone building a short bus ride from Washington D.C., the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. It was the closest thing to a home he ever had.

Why? He wants to meet the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner. He liked her voice on the phone. But the officer sitting behind his old desk isn’t a woman. Is Susan Turner dead? In Afghanistan? Or in a car wreck?

What Reacher doesn’t expect to hear is that Turner has just been fired from her command. Nor that he himself is in big trouble, accused of a sixteen-year-old homicide. And he certainly doesn't expect to hear these words: ‘You’re back in the army, Major. And your ass is mine.’

Will he be sorry he went back? Or – will someone else?

 About The Author

Lee Child is the author of eighteen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with eight having reached the #1 position. All have been optioned for major motion pictures; the first of which, Jack Reacher, was based on One Shot. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in almost a hundred territories. A native of England and a former television director, Child lives in New York City.

My Review

Astonished that I was granted a review copy before Never Go Back was released! This is one of my favorite series to read.  Always action packed with a great story.

Jack Reacher is a favorite of both men and women readers..mostly because he is nothing like Tom Cruise.  Every man wants to be like him and every women wants to be saved by him! 

Jack Reacher finally gets to Washington, DC in Never Go Back.  He was intrigued by the voice of Major Susan Turner, the latest leader of the army's 110th division, since back in the novel 61 Hours, which seems like years ago but is only a few weeks in Reacher time. 

Does he find Susan? You'll have to read this to find out.  Lots of twists and surprises for Reacher in this latest outing. At one point I thought Reacher might want something else out of life, but he is who he is.

I highly recommend this entire series...don't base your knowledge of the series on one bad movie. Great addition to the series.