Murder Among Neighbors by Jonnie Jacobs

This entertaining debut introduces Kate Austen, a resilient young northern California mom. When her husband sets off to ``find himself'' in Europe, Kate is pregnant and jobless, and their daughter is only five. Then her next-door neighbor is murdered. Kate doubts that the killer was an intruder-nothing of value was stolen, and it wasn't like the orderly Pepper Livingston to have left a window open. Along with her acerbic best friend, Kate begins to look at her neighbors in a new light, especially Pepper's cool husband, Robert. Searching through Pepper's things at the request of nearly divorced homicide Lt. Michael Stone, Kate finds a matchbook in an old purse of Pepper's and a hidden diaphragm; she is also shown an earring the police have found in the hallway. Later, after she and Michael have become more intimate, she uses these clues to come up with the culprit and motive. Jacobs tops off this slice of suburban life off with a dollop of romance and a twist of suspense.

A good/great book. I love the writing in this book and was wavering between giving it a 3 or 4 rating. However about half way through the book it definatley picked up and began to become a non stop page turner. I never would have guessed the killer however i'm still not sure if I like the ending but that's ok lol. It was a weird book in that aspect however i will continue on in the series to see what happens later on with Kate and in her life.

Four Blind Mice by James Patterson

With Patterson continuing to move in unexpected directions (his next novel, The Jester, due out in March 2003, is a medieval adventure), it's a pleasure to see him touch home base with another Alex Cross thriller this one the best Cross yet. The mice of the title are three homicidal Army Rangers, Vietnam vets, and their mysterious controller; as is usual in the Cross novels, we know this much sooner than does the black Washington, D.C., detective, who gets involved when an army careerist, Sgt. Ellis Cooper, an old pal of Cross's colleague and best friend, John Sampson, is found guilty at military trial for the brutal murder of three women, but claims innocence. Traveling to North Carolina, where Cooper awaits execution, and to Fort Bragg to investigate, Cross and Sampson encounter stonewalling among the military which only intensifies as they uncover a pattern of other military men executed for like crimes they may not have committed. As the duo visits West Point, they confront an even thicker "gray" wall of silence. Meanwhile, the killers strike again, and when Cross and Sampson identify them, the Rangers begin hunting the cops. The action leads, as is Patterson's custom, to a firecracker string of climaxes; the finale finds Cross handcuffed and stripped naked in deep woods, about to be killed. Throughout, Patterson expertly balances the conspiratorial action with intriguing developments in Cross's domestic life, including health problems for his family's anchor, the elderly Nana, and growing romance between him and a California cop. Everything clicks in this novel, from Patterson's patented short chapters (115 here) to the whiplash plotting. This may not be high lit, but it sure is entertainment. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc

wow this was great. one of the best in the alex cross series. As soon as I thought i knew who the killer was it proved me wrong. There were times in the book that i thought i would start to cry but then was smiling in triumph as James Patterson did it again with the emotional attachment that he is so go at. A must read for any suspense/mystery lover.

Night Light By Terri Blackstock

After a catastrophic event, the Banning family, along with the rest of the world, must learn to live without electricity. Crime abounds, danger is ever present, and no one knows or understands what is happening. Doug Banning seeks to organize a neighborhood group to learn to help each other. His daughter, Deni, fears for her fianc, who lives hundreds of miles away and, under the circumstances, has no means of communication. Suspense abounds in this dramatic thriller, and so does love. Breck adds to the intensity and drama with her superb presentation.


Book 9 for 2008
Book 2 for March
Rating: 5 stars
Finished 3/6/08

Another great installment in this series! A lot of drama, suspense, and some things that makes you want to throw the book or smack someone for the things that some of the characters do lol. I will definatley recommend this series!!!!!

Last Light by Terri Blackstock

From Publishers Weekly
The first book in Blackstock's Restoration series literally begins with a bang: airplanes fall out of the sky in the opening paragraphs, at which point the novel's protagonists and readers become swept up in a stunning set of circumstances, the import of which slowly sink in as the novel briskly moves forward. Unlike the deluge of dramatic depictions of the end times, in which Christians disappear and the world reacts, this story focuses on a natural phenomenon-albeit one that most of the characters believe is a message from God-that profoundly alters human society. Blackstock's main characters, the affluent Bannings, who live in suburban Birmingham, Alabama, initially react to this disaster by putting themselves first, for fear that any other strategy would endanger their lives. Soon, however, challenged by the Sermon on the Mount, they begin reaching out generously to neighbors. Their nascent attempts at a communal approach to life will likely be picked up in future novels in this series. Blackstock's subplots are less compelling than her vision of an Electromagnetic Pulse-damaged world; particularly contrived is the story's murder mystery, which plays out predictably. Still, at its best moments, this novel is in league with first-rate adventure fiction and bodes well for the series to come.

Book 8 for 2008
Book 1 for March
Rating: 5 stars
Finished 3/5/08

What a great series!!!!! A total surprise and change from other books that i have read that have been recommended to me! Really makes you think of what you would do if this situation would happen to you while enveloping you in the story and connecting you with the characters like you have known them forever. I cant wait to read the rest of the series and other books from this author.

Book Catch Up

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

From Publishers Weekly
In bestseller Evanovich's breezy third holiday novella (after Plum Lovin'), Stephanie Plum's kooky Grandma Mazur finds a duffle full of money on the street and hightails it to Atlantic City. When Stephanie learns that the money was stolen from Delvina, a notorious Trenton mobster, she and her friend Lula head off in pursuit. In Atlantic City, the Jersey bounty hunter discovers she's not the only one after Grandma after meeting Snuggy, an ex-jockey who originally stole the money and is convinced he's a leprechaun. With her on-again off-again boyfriend Morelli tied up with a murder case and the sexy Ranger otherwise occupied, Stephanie turns to the mysterious Diesel for help. As she tries to keep Grandma safe and fend off the advances of Diesel amid the slot machines and craps tables, Stephanie realizes she may be in over her head. With her trademark wit, cast of eccentric side characters and hilariously absurd plot twists, Evanovich treats her fans to a delightful miniadventure sure to whet their appetites for the next full-length Plum escapade. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Book 6 for 2008
Rating: 4 stars

A good read. Not to thrilling as I find all the between the numbers but a good read. Enough of a taste of Stephanie to get me through till the next "number" book.




Dark Torte by Diane Mott Davidson

From Publishers Weekly
At the start of bestseller Davidson's delicious 13th culinary adventure featuring caterer Goldy Schulz (after 2004's Double Shot), Goldy stumbles over the body of neighbor Dusty Routt, a paralegal at Hanrahan & Jule, a boutique law firm in Aspen Meadow, Colo., with which Goldy has a lucrative contract to provide breakfasts and occasional lunches for its attorneys and well-heeled clients. By all accounts, Dusty's future was bright, no longer overshadowed by a tragic, poverty-stricken past. Her untimely death shatters her mother and grandfather, still reeling from the death of her brother while in police custody. When Dusty's mother, who distrusts the police, asks Goldy to investigate, the caterer feels she can't refuse. Between catering jobs, teaching son Arch how to drive and assuaging her own grief, Goldy chases down clues with the help of her policeman husband, Tom, and her catering partners. Though a few stones remain unturned (perhaps intentionally), Davidson delivers another entertaining whodunit with delectable recipes. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Book 7 for 2008
Rating: 4 stars

Another very intriguing read in these series. A great mystery/thriller as usual. The series has yet to disappoint me.

Help Wanted Desperately by Ariel HOrn

From Publishers Weekly Alexa Hoffman, the 21-year-old University of Pennsylvania senior at the center of Ariel Horn's debut novel, has got exactly seven months, three weeks and two days before her initiation into the real world. Determined to secure a job in New York City, she embarks on a life-altering journey from one bizarre interview to the next. As a last resort and to avoid moving back in with her parents, she signs up to become an English teacher on the Third World island of Majuro while continuing her search for a job that will prevent her from actually having to go there. Over the course of this witty and wise coming-of-age novel, Alexa interviews for every imaginable position—earthworm breeder, deodorant sniffer, phone sex operator—evoking all the expectations and anxiety of the modern-day career search. Each chapter ends with a list of "Lessons Learned" comprising such hard-learned aphorisms as "Never assume your mother believes in something you plan on doing simply because she doesn't say otherwise" and "Do not—under any circumstances—interview for Internet jobs listed as 'other' ever again." Blithe and fresh-voiced, this book covers almost every tribulation of entering adulthood, forging a career and falling in love, against the odds. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.



Book 5 for 2008
Book 5 for January
Finished book on 1/31/08
Rating: 4 stars



A good book. A light and quick read. Alexa Hoffman is a character that you can relate to if you have ever tried to figure out what you want to do with your life. The book got into a couple of small parts that kinda dragged by but all in all a good book. I wasnt too thrilled with it but it was a funny and light book just what i needed then.

Bubbles Abroad by Sarah Strohmeyer

From Publishers Weekly Broad humor, in more than one sense, permeates Strohmeyer's fourth amusing adventure (after 2003's Bubbles Ablaze) of Bubbles Yablonsky, Lehigh, Pa.'s unique combination of hairdresser, single mother, aspiring journalist and bumbling sleuth. Bubbles doesn't so much solve a crime as wait until all the dust settles and then see what's left standing. While the management and the workers at Lehigh Steel wage class war, the irrepressible Bubbles tries to parlay her degree from Two Guys Community College and a one-week tryout at the News-Times into a full-time reporting gig. The appearance on her doorstep of Carol Weaver, convicted for the murder of her husband, a Lehigh Steel executive, newly escaped from prison and claiming that someone is trying to kill her, may be just the break Bubbles needs. Strohmeyer expertly plays Bubbles's blue-collar working class background against the monolithic Lehigh Steel's country club types and their wives. On the other hand, Strohmeyer's targets are so big that just hitting them isn't enough, and the frequent bull's-eyes don't impress as much as they might. Bubbles may be Two Guys' "Biggest Loser Ever," but she's good-hearted, persistent and very, very funny. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book 4 for 2008

Book 4 for January

Finished book on 1/20/08

Rating: 5 stars

Another great book from Sarah Stohmeyer! I read this one very quickly a definate page turner. I laughed, screamed, and was irritated all at the same time lol. Bubbles is really a character that you can relate to if you are a mother. Her daughter is a total teenager that you want to strangle sometimes lol. This series is really a must read for anyone that likes mysteries or comedies.

Bubbles Ablaze by Sarah Strohmeyer

From Publishers WeeklyAgatha winner Strohmeyer provides lots of madcap fun in her third book (after 2002's Bubbles in Trouble) to feature budding reporter/detective/hairdresser Bubbles Yablonsky. Lured into an unused Pennsylvania coal mine, Bubbles and her "Mel Gibson dead ringer" photographer boyfriend, Steve Stiletto, narrowly escape harm in a cave-in right after they stumble on car-sales magnate Bud Price with "a six-inch bloody hole blown into the middle of his chest." They also find the abandoned car of Bubbles's cousin-in-law, Carl "Stinky" Koolball, the cartographer for McMullen Coal, the company that owns the mine. And now Stinky's missing. The plot thickens like a vat of kapusta as more and more ingredients are added-perhaps too many. On top of her crime-solving, Bubbles must deal with her rebellious teenage daughter, her biker-chick mother's vendetta over some stolen Polish recipes, and a clean-cut stud named Zeke who keeps following her. Some lines are laugh-out-loud funny. Asked if she knows who John Gotti was, Bubbles is "almost positive [he] ran a pizza parlor in Allentown." The dumb-blonde schtick works well with the whole loony business, and Strohmeyer's sharp eye for styles and regional details (Tastykakes, scrapple) adds to the realism and the charm.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book 3 for 2008
Book 3 for January
Finished book on 1/15/08
Rating: 5 stars

I love this series!!!! Its so funny. I feel bad for Bubbles some times but then i have to giggle and think that she deserves what she got lol. You never know what you are going to get when you turn the page on these series. A must read.

Bubbles in Trouble by Sarah Strohmeyer

From Publishers Weekly: In her second novel featuring the high-energy beautician/rookie reporter, Bubbles Yablonsky (after 2001's Bubbles Unbound), Strohmeyer successfully navigates the fine line between humorous stereotype and sympathetic amateur investigator. As the novel opens, the tube top-wearing, Camaro-driving, self-described last "Polish-Lithuanian Barbie doll in Lehigh, Pennsylvania" is taking the blame for jinxing the nuptials of her shy friend, Janice, a records clerk in the local police department. Janice has not only gone missing but the uncle with whom she lives is soon found dead in his gated retirement home. Bubbles retraces Janice's last steps, which lead to some shady doings in Amish country. Bubbles goes undercover, frantically (and hilariously) shifting between her role as a sexy reporter and her cover as an Amish widow. Despite her bumbling in a foreign culture, Bubbles manages to win the friendship and trust of this tight-knit community, and her own respect and growing understanding of the Plain folk is nicely conveyed. Bubbles's hunky beau, photographer Steve Stiletto, makes a steamy appearance, along with many other well-wrought oddball characters, including Bubbles's mother, Lulu, who's going through a Jackie O. phase. The over-the-top force-of-nature protagonist and the lovingly detailed descriptions of clothing and hair styles make up for some gaps in logic and a slightly rushed ending. Also delightful are the useful recipes (hangover cure, cuticle softener, etc.) all involving vinegar sprinkled throughout.Unbound won an Agatha Award for Best First Mystery Novel. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book 2 for 2008
Book 2 for January
Finished book on 1/8/08
Rating: 5 stars

Great book! Started out kinda iffy but by the end i couldn't put it down. A lot of suspense and a little romance thrown in. This book you start to know more about the characters you have read about. A very intriguing book at the very least. I will definitely read the next in the series.

The Rising by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B,

From Amazon.com:
The Rising begins a new Left Behind series that will give you a glimpse into the lives of your favorite characters before the Rapture. Have you ever wondered what life was like before the Rapture for Rayford, Irene, and Chloe Steele, Bruce Barnes, Buck Williams, and Tsion Ben Judah? Plus, see why Viv Ivins plays such a pivotal role in Nicolae Carpathia's life. What were the events surrounding Nicolae's sudden rise to power? How did he become filled with evil? You will find all these answers and more in this exciting new series!

In The Rising,Marilena Carpathia has only one dream: to be a mother. So when a mysterious clairvoyant promises the fulfillment of this dream, Marilena does not hesitate. Through genetic engineering and the power of the prince of darkness himself, Marilena is about to become a chosen vessel, one who will unknowingly give birth to the greatest evil the world has ever known.

Halfway around the world, God's plans are subtly being carried out too. Young Ray Steele is determined to avoid one day taking over the family business. Instead, Ray sets his heart on becoming a pilot.

Soon Carpathia's and Steele's lives will intersect. And good and evil will clash in an explosion that will shake the world.

Book 1 for 2008
Book 1 for January
Finished book on 1/2/08
Rating: 4 stars

Great Book! A definite must read if you read the original Left Behind Series. This gives a lot of answers to the questions about what happened before the Rapture. The only thing that got me was the use of some words that I couldnt even begin to comprehend. I think they were foreign but not sure what language. But all in all a great book and must read for all left behind fans.

Books I read in 2007 but didnt blog

10-9 It happened to Nancy by Beatrice Sparks
10-11 Knocked out by my nunga nungas by Louise Rennison
10-12 Dates, Mates and Sole Survivors by Cathy Hopkins
10-15 311 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber
10-17 Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski
10-18 Dates Mates and Mad Mistakes by Cathy Hopkins
10-23 Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
10-29 Key of Valor by Nora Roberts
10-31 Party Princess by Meg Cabot

11-4 Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
11-9 Sex, Murder and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis
11-13 6th Target by James Paterson
11-21 Lean Mean 13 by Janet Evanovich
11-22 Let's Pretend this never happened by Jim Benton
11-29 Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

December All American Dad (Harlequin Super Romance)
December Married By Mistake by Abby Gaines
December Trouble in Tennessee by Tanya Michaels

Double Shot by Diane Mott Davidson

Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham

From Publishers Weekly
Maggie, Roxanne and Candice, the heroines of Wickham's latest Brit romp, are three successful women in their early 30s working in the editorial office of the Londoner, a magazine enjoying a circulation renaissance. They meet on the first of every month at the Manhattan Bar, a posh lounge that caters to clientele sporting Prada bags. There, Wickham serves up a healthy dose of good-natured witticisms mixed with biting retorts as the trio bonds over adultery, pregnancy jitters and guilt. Freelancer Roxanne secretly dates an unknown referred to by the women as Mr. Married while jet-setting to Cypress and other foreign locales on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Maggie's stuck at home in the country on pregnancy leave from her position as editor. It is kindhearted reporter Candice, however, who is in for serious trouble. When she recognizes a waitress at the Manhattan Bar as Heather Trelawney, whose family was ruined by Candice's father, Candice decides to make amends. When Heather applies for a job as editorial assistant at the magazine, Candice supplies her with a writing sample of her own, landing her a job over 300 other applicants. Not heeding her friends' advice to leave well enough alone, Candice continues to extend herself beyond normal bounds of generosity and is surprised to discover in the end she's been duped and betrayed by Heather. In a predictable climax, Wickham delivers a nicely sewn up ending with each of the character's problems resolved, although none all that happily. Readers desiring a chatty, neatly told tale will be delighted by the author's deft handling of character development and drama.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book 29 for 2007
Book 1 for October
Finished book on 10/6/07
Rating: 3 stars

It was on ok book. Not bad enough to stop reading it, just enough to keep me reading but not enough to keep me totally enthralled. I had a connection with the mother in the story but even that wasnt a great reason to keep reading. This is one that I don't think I would recommend to anyone else but who knows someone probably loved it.

Up next is Double Shot.

Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer

From Publishers Weekly
Meet Bubbles Yablonsky, beautician-reporter-sleuth and blazing star of Strohmeyer's entertaining, establishment-bashing debut as a mystery writer. Like the mills that gird the book's seen-better-days steel town of Lehigh, Pa., the city is itself a seething cauldron. Battle lines are sharply drawn between the haves and have-nots. Bubbles is hell-bent on getting even with the overlords, especially her former husband, a heel who has gone over to the other side. Opportunity knocks when Bubbles incriminates a wealthy socialite in a brutal murder and then uncovers a murky past, where corpses are littered around the accused's steel-magnate husband. The going is never easy, as Bubbles faces more perils than Pauline: falling off a bridge in the arms of a potential suicide; dodging drive-by gunmen and car bombers; being handcuffed and fitted for cement boots; and always searching for a better way to display her cleavage. Armed with her certificate from Two Guys Community College, abetted by a quirky array of social castoffs and fueled by Doritos, Velveeta and Diet Pepsi, Bubbles overcomes every obstacle on her way to shaking the foundations of the corporate world and, in the process, leaving more than a few wrinkles in her ex's tailored Brooks Brothers suits. Hop in the Camaro and buckle up: Bubbles is behind the wheel, and a wild ride awaits. Agent, Heather Schroder at ICM.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book 29 for 2007
Book 7 for September
Finished book on 9/25/07
Rating: 5 stars

Great Book!!!! Laugh out loud funny, A great and quick read. Loved it!! Would definatley recommend to anyone. This series is a must read. Can't wait to read the next one!!!!!!

Up next is Cocktails for three.

Full House by Janet Evanovich

From Publishers Weekly
Originally published in 1989 under the pen name Steffie Hall, Evanovich's comic romantic suspense novel Full House reappears here in what the author calls a "bigger and better" form. Wealthy newspaper owner and horseman Nick Kaharchek meets divorced mom Billie Pearce when she makes polo lessons at his stables part of her summer self-improvement program. Though she's hopeless at polo, Billie is so cute that Nick begins to invent excuses to spend time with her. First, he takes care of her when a horse steps on her foot; then, he arranges for his nutty cousin Deedee, a self-absorbed airhead, to board with Billie while her kids are away. As if that isn't enough, Billie must also contend with a bomb-setting teenager, professional wrestlers, an outbreak of spiders and threats from a mysterious intruder. Evanovich acknowledges in a note to readers that her plotting has gotten more intricate since this book was first written (she's right), but her attempt to rework a formulaic '80s love story for the new millennium doesn't come off. The outcome of the artificial romance between Nick and Billie is obvious from the start, as is the identity of the intruder. Instead, the book's focus is on the slapstick comedy provided by the cast of wacky, though mostly loveable, eccentrics. (Sept.) Forecast: Thanks to Evanovich's sterling reputation and substantial fan base, sales won't falter much, but this trussed-up tale may fall flat for both her mystery-loving fans and readers seeking a truly contemporary romance.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book 28 for 2007
Book 2 for September
Finished book on 9/18/07
Rating: 4 stars

Good book. Kinda similar to the stephanie plum series but not as good. i will def. try the rest in the series. Some great laugh out loud moments in this book.

Up next is Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer

Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

From Publishers Weekly Following hot on the heels of the first installment in Roberts's Key trilogy, this second book (following Key of Light) continues the story of three contemporary female friends chosen to free the souls of ancient demigoddesses called the Daughters of Glass. This time, the heroine is Dana Steele, a librarian who is sure that the key she's seeking lies in a book. As she begins her search, Dana renovates Indulgence, the gallery-cum-salon-cum-bookstore she is opening with her friends Malory Price and Zoe McCourt. She also spends sometimes passionate, sometimes vexing time with Jordan Hawke, the thriller writer who broke her heart years earlier when he abandoned her and their small Pennsylvania town of Pleasant Valley to seek fame in New York. Dana slowly realizes that the love they once felt for each other has not died-and that Jordan's writing is inextricably entwined with her supernatural quest. In the end, Jordan must join with Dana to fight the spells of the sorcerer Kane and fulfill the terms of her quest. Despite lots of special effects, Kane isn't powerful enough to create much suspense, and Dana is a surprisingly inefficient detective for one so bright. But Roberts's zesty characterizations and fresh, energetic style succeed in drawing readers into this far-fetched tale. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book 28 for 2007
Book 1 for September
Finished book on 9/16/07
Rating: 5 stars

Great series. However this book wasn't as good as the first. I hope the last book is better. A total must read tho. The main character in this book is one that you want to smack around a little in a couple of the of the points in the books.

Up next is Full House by Janet Evanovich

204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber

From Publishers Weekly Life goes on in the small coastal town of Cedar Cove, Wash., as real life does everywhere with small dramas and personal epiphanies in this sedate slice-of-life drama. The last time readers visited Cedar Cove in Macomber's 16 Lighthouse Road, family court judge Olivia Lockhart had refused to grant a divorce to a young couple trying to come to terms with the loss of their infant daughter. This time around, Olivia has problems of her own; her ex-husband wants her back, which makes her on-again, off-again relationship with newspaper editor Jack Griffin even rockier. Elsewhere around town, Olivia's daughter finally follows her heart and marries her high school sweetheart instead of the troublemaking older man she'd been dating; Zach and Rose Cox find their marriage falling apart when Rosie begins neglecting her family for volunteer work; and Maryellen Sherman, the manager of the local art gallery, becomes pregnant after a brief affair with an artist. Despite all these goings-on, the book's main focus is librarian Grace Sherman, whose husband of 35 years is still missing after disappearing six months earlier. The first few chapters, in which Macomber reacquaints readers with the town and its occupants, may feel sluggish to those familiar with the series, but this smooth yet simplistic offering will claim the reader's attention once the introductions are over. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book 27 for 2007
Book 4 for August
Started book on 8/20/7
Finished book on 8/30/07
Rating: 5 stars

This is a cute series but i recommend you read the books close together as the books rely heavily upon the last one. The characters are great and very loveable. Makes you feel like you live there in cedar cove with them. A great light read with some mystery and romance intermingled together for a delightful entertaining read.

Up next is Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joane Fluke

From Publishers Weekly
Following her successful debut, 2000's Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Fluke brings back amateur sleuth and Lake Eden, Minn., bakery owner Hannah Swensen for another delicious adventure. Hannah has the honor of serving as head judge of the first annual Hartland Flour Dessert Bake-off, which she anticipates will be good advertising for her already popular bakery, The Cookie Jar. Then one of the judges, high school basketball coach Boyd Watson, is found dead, face down in Hannah's strawberry shortcake, and suspicion falls on Watson's abused wife, Danielle. Determined to prove Danielle's innocence, Hannah ignores the warnings of romantic interest Mike Kingston, the supervisor of detectives at the Winnetka County sheriff's station, not to get involved. Tempting descriptions of meals served at the local establishments, mouth-watering recipes and a warm family of characters ward off the vividly depicted bitter chill of a Minnesota winter. While the other characters tend to be stereotypical, Hannah is a believable, down-to-earth protagonist who can't function without her morning coffee, justifies her passion for chocolate as a biological need for endorphins and deals with a matchmaking mother and a needy sister with understanding and humor. Add the ingredients of a cleverly crafted mystery and a realistic portrayal of smalltown life, and you have a superior cozy sure to leave readers satisfied... but hungry for more.

Book 26 for 2007
Book 3 for August
Started book on 8/09/7
Finished book on 8/20/07

I wish i could have read more quicker but things were crazy with school starting this week. This was a great book. I so had the murderer picked out about 2/3 of the way through but that didnt stop the books from being a page turner whenever i got an extra minute to read. A great cozy and the recipes sounded devine :)

Up next is 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber

The Nanny Diaries by by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus

From Amazon.com:
The Nanny Diaries is an absolutely addictive peek into the utterly weird world of child rearing in the upper reaches of Manhattan's social strata. Cowritten by two former nannies, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, the novel follows the adventures of the aptly named Nan as she negotiates the Byzantine byways of working for Mrs. X, a Park Avenue mommy. Nan's 4-year-old charge, the hilariously named Grayer (his pals include Josephina, Christabelle, Brandford, and Darwin) is a genuinely good sort. He can't help it if his mom has scheduled him for every activity known to the Upper East Side, including ice skating, French lessons, and a Mommy and Me group largely attended by nannies. What makes the book so impossible to put down is the suspense of finding out what the unbelievably inconsiderate Mrs. X will demand of Nan next. One pictures the two authors having the last hearty laugh on their former employers.


Book 25 for 2007
Book 2 for August
Started book on 8/06/7
Finished book on 8/08/07


Such a good book!! Was superbly written by two former nannies. Follows Nan (yes the nanny's name is Nanny) lol. I thought the book was hilarious and so so true as to the life of a 4 year old. The end is sad but funny at the same time. Great book, a must read.

Up next is Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Cat and Mouse by James Patterson

Back of the Book:
A murderer named Gary Soneji patiently waits in the basement of Alex Cross's home in Washington. He has come to kill Cross and his family. That's just the beginning of the greatest page-turner in years. Two mind-numbing killers- one operating up and down the east coast of America, one in Europe- believe Cross is their only worthy opponent. They dare to ask the ultimate question: Is Alex Cross about to die? You won't putCat & Mouse down until the question is answered.

Book 24 for 2007
Book 1 for August
Started book on 7/24/07
Finished book on 8/05/07

What a great book!!! Definite page turner!!!
I had the killer picked out tho before it was told in the book.
However it didnt spoil it tho. Another great book in the Alex Cross series.

Up next is The Nannie Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus