Review: 99. Justice by Karen Robards...

Justice was supposed to post last Thursday for a blog tour, but I was out of town and didn't get the book in time... Hopefully I'm not too late with this, as it's definitely one for the to-read pile!

About the author:
Karen Robards is the author of thirty-four novels and one novella. A regular on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, among others, she is the mother of three boys, ages 12, 17, and 23, and lives in Louisville, Kentucky. Find her online at www.karenrobards.com.

About the book:

Feisty criminal attorney Jessica Ford has done her best to comply with the orders of the Secret Service’s unofficial witness protection program ever since she became the lone witness to the First Lady’s murder. She changed her name, dyed her dark hair blonde, and traded her sturdy black-rimmed glasses for contact lenses. Unfortunately, winning her first high-profile case for prestigious Washington, D.C., law firm Ellis Hayes, and subsequently landing her face all over the news, is not exactly “keeping a low profile.” Or so says hunky Secret Service agent Mark Ryan, whose newest assignment—despite Jess’s stubborn protests—is keeping her safe at all costs. It just so happens he’s also her ex-boyfriend.

The trial earns Jess a permanent spot on the firm’s elite legal defense team, replacing an associate who eloped suddenly and never came back. It’s the chance of a lifetime. But Jess’s mind has raced with questions from the moment the prosecution’s star witness shocked the courtroom with an electrifying revelation involving the handsome son of a powerful U.S. senator. Was the pretty, young mother intimidated into changing her story on the stand? Why will she not return Jess’s calls? Did Jess’s ambitious predecessor on the case really just abandon her successful career? Or did both women mysteriously disappear?

After Mark rescues Jess from an attacker outside her apartment, she begins to consider the possibility that she is a target. Maybe it’s not so bad to have her irresistibly charming and hard-bodied former lover around for protection. Maybe. The question is, which of the many inadvertent enemies Jess has made recently is he protecting her from? The investigation leads her to some startling coincidences—and to a teenage runaway who may just hold the missing link . . . if Jess can find her.

As Jess hurtles closer to the truth—and the sexual tension between her and Mark grows hotter than ever—she finds herself in a race against the clock to find the answers before what she doesn’t know gets them both killed.

Title: Justice
Author: Karen Robards
ISBN-13: 9781439183700
Hardcover: 342 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket

drey's thoughts:
Karen Robards' Justice is a gripping read that you will not be able to put down. It starts off with a woman getting killed while two teenagers are hiding under her bed. And moves to a courtroom scene where Jess is surprised by the outcome because, well, she's absolutely certain her client is actually guilty.

Then danger shows up on her doorstep. Literally. And Jess has to figure out who's trying to kill her, and why. Luckily she has Mark to watch out for her, and luckily he has skillz. However, she hasn't quite figured out if she can (or wants to) put up with him, skillz notwithstanding.

The story moves quickly and flows nicely. When the action picks up, it doesn't quit until everything's over and the bad guys are done for. You'll definitely want to add this to your reading pile.

drey's rating: Excellent!

Have you read Justice? What did you think?

Review: 49. Thr3e by Ted Dekker...

After a few serious urban fantasy reads, I thought a bit of thriller/suspense would be just what the doctor ordered! And lookee here, it's Ted Dekker...

Title: Three (Thr3e)
Author: Ted Dekker
ISBN-13: 9781599953144
Paperback: 398 pages
Publisher: Center Street, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
Dekker's Thr3e is an engrossing read about a guy who is targeted by a madman who's going to kill him if he doesn't confess his biggest sin. The problem? Kevin has no clue what sin he's supposed to confess. Orphaned at a young age, he's had a hard childhood, but is finally getting his life on track. Or is he?

When the madman gets Kevin's childhood best friend Samantha involved, Kevin has no choice but to relive his most traumatic memories, and face the fact that he may have something to confess after all. But can he do it? He'll have to decide quickly, as lives are on the line...

Ted Dekker weaves a compellingly suspenseful tale of a man caught between his desire to protect all that is good and his aversion to all that is evil. How, then, can he save Samantha--and himself?

You will not put this one down until you're done. I'd say more, but I'm afraid that would give it all away and you know I don't do spoilers. *grin* Read it for yourself!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Have you read Thr3e? What did you think?

Review & Giveaway: 43. The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly...

If you've read Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer, then you've been introduced to Mickey Haller. And if you've seen the movie, then you will not be able to picture anyone other than Matthew McConaughey as Mickey. Or if you're like me, you haven't seen it yet, but still pictured Matthew as Mickey throughout the entirety of The Fifth Witness, drawl and all...

Title: The Fifth Witness (Mickey Haller #4)
Author: Michael Connelly
ISBN-13: 9780316069359
ARC: 421 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
I didn't know that The Fifth Witness was the fourth Mickey Haller novel--where've I been? And just in case you didn't know either, The Brass Verdict (2008) and The Reversal (2010) featured both Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch. I'm going to add them to my to-read list...

Anyway, back to Mickey. He's branched out into foreclosures, and has more clients than he knows what to do with, so there's a new face in the firm--fresh out of law school. When one of his foreclosure clients is arrested on charges of murdering a bank executive, Mickey agrees to defend her. Then, because you just know that things can't quite be that easy, he uncovers a trail that to mob ties that could have set her on the path to being framed.

I still like Mickey. He's trying to juggle the demands of the trial with mending fences with his ex-wife & daughter, and he's not doing too badly at it either. And no, picturing Matthew as Mickey didn't hurt that in the least. *wink* But back to the book. The storyline flows quickly, as does the plot. There are a few twists, but nothing crazy or far out in left field, just the usual legal-thriller innocent-or-guilty stuff... And I finally figured out what the title refers to. *grin*

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent: Loved this legal thriller (and no, it wasn't all 'cuz of Matthew!)--pick it up if that's your thing. It's fit equally well as a beach read as a curl-up-in-blankets read...

Have you read The Fifth Witness? What did you think? And if you haven't, here's your chance...

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have one copy of The Fifth Witness for you, if you live in the US or Canada (no PO Boxes, please)! To enter, comment with your email address and tell us if you've read any of Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller books (or any of Michael Connelly's books). That's it. Do it before 6pm CST April 14th. Good luck!

Review: 35. The Thieves of Darkness by Richard Doetsch...

Richard Doetsch is a new-to-me author, and I'll be looking for more of his work after reading The Thieves of Darkness...

Title: The Thieves of Darkness
Author: Richard Doetsch
ISBN-13: 9781416598978
Paperback: 564 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon & Schuster

drey's thoughts:
What do you do when you find out that your best friend is in prison? If you're Michael St. Pierre, you pack your bags and stage a rescue. And when you find out your girlfriend of one month is in the next cell? Why, you rescue her too, of course. And once everyone's safely away from the resulting manhunt, you try to figure out why. Along with wondering who, exactly, you've been dating. Not exactly easy to do when you're running from all manners of bad guys who're right on your heels...

Character: Michael is a bad-guy-gone-good, a complex person who's surprisingly easy to like in this offering from Richard Doetsch. He's had  experiences, I guess you could say, but he's trying to stay on the straight and narrow now, with deviations from that path only for a good cause. And that's "good cause" according to his conscience! KC seemed a bit more superficial to me, she's the perfect girlfriend with a past, who's attempting to deal with the boyfriend and sister finding out her truth, while trying to save her sister from kidnappers. The chemistry between KC and Michael is there, but I would quite call it palpable. Rounding out the group are Father Simon Bellatori, the man-of-the-cloth BFF who needed rescuing, and Paul Busch, Michael's former parole officer turned accomplice-in-complicated-rescues.

Pace & Plot: The Thieves of Darkness reads so fast and furious, I could see the action scenes in my head, complete with car chases and things blowing up spectacularly. There are no gaping holes in the plot, and no confusing, over-complicated storylines. And no beating you over the head repeatedly with "see, this is how this relates to that", just in case you missed it or couldn't figure it out (which was one of my peeves with Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons... This doesn't mean there aren't surprises, so don't go thinking this is boring.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent: A must-read for fans of the mystery/thriller with a historical background.

Have you read The Thieves of Darkness? What did you think?

Review: 26. The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly...

My copy of The Lincoln Lawyer has Matthew McConaughey on the cover... *drool* But, I did manage to tear myself away from the cover and crack open the pages. *grin*

Title: The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller #1)
Author: Michael Connelly
ISBN-13: 9781455500246
Paperback: 404 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
Ok, so not only does The Lincoln Lawyer look good, it reads good, too. Mickey Haller is a criminal defense attorney, which doesn't quite put him on people's favorite-person-on-earth (or even in LA) list. But he's nice enough to still be on speaking terms with both his ex-wives, which should count for something, right?

Anyway. Mickey is looking for his next franchise client, which means the $ comes in regularly, which boosts his ability to pay his employees and his mortgage. Whoever said law was lucrative has obviously never done it in Mickey's shoes... When Beverly Hills rich-boy Louis Roulet picks Mickey to represent him in an aggravated-assault case, Mickey thinks this is his franchise client, and goes gang-busters to defend him. Until his digging starts leaving bodies in the dust. What do you do when you think your client isn't just guilty of the crime, but he's guilty of more?

Character: Maybe having yummilicious Matthew on the cover tipped the scales for me, but I really liked Mickey Haller. Yeah, he's a lawyer, and we've all heard the bottom-feeding-scum jokes, but he's nice. And conscientious. His gut-instincts take a while to convince his brain about his client, but watching the realization dawn and his resulting actions unfolding makes for a gripping, can't-put-it-down read.

The bad guy doesn't come across bad for most of the book, in fact he barely appears except when necessary. And you never see him as bad, you only see him as Mickey relates to his feelings towards him. Until he decides it's time to gloat, because they all have to gloat...

Pace & Plot: The Lincoln Lawyer is a pretty quick read, even at 404 pages. The story sometimes goes off on tangents, but they're there to show that Mickey isn't just dependent on one case, and some of his cases have an impact on others, while at least one shows his humanity. Because yes, lawyers can be nice people too. I've already mentioned that, haven't I? In any case (ha ha), you won't put this down until you've finished reading the last page.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent: Awesome beach read if you're lucky enough to not be in freezing-cold weather.

Have you read The Lincoln Lawyer? What did you think?

Review: 11. The Cypress House by Michael Koryta...

Michael Koryta is on my list of authors to pick up for that hook-you-in thriller (yes, I like 'em, and no, they don't have to be espionage-type thrillers). This one's set in the south during the Depression.

Title: The Cypress House
Author: Michael Koryta
ISBN-13: 9780316053723
ARC: 415 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
Michael Koryta's latest combines elements of desperation, need, and death, into a gripping tale of two men trying to find work who get cornered into a situation way beyond their control. And then he adds in a twist--Arlen can "see" when a person is going to die. Not how, or when, but he knows that when he sees that smoke in your eyes, you will die.

Not wanting to die along with all the other men he's with on the train heading to the Florida keys, Arlen hops off at a remote station with one of the younger men, Paul Brickhill. Which then poses a problem--where can they stay, and how will they get themselves to the Keys?

The answer shows up in the form of a traveling salesman, Walt Sorenson, who gets them to an inn for the night, then has the two traveling with him as he drives along the coast. His last stop bears the title of this book, The Cypress House, and it is there that Arlen and Paul find themselves stuck as events beyond their comprehension spiral out of control, and they have to figure out how to survive it.

Character: Arlen Wagner has seen a lot of things, most of them not-so-nice. And you can tell from his crusty character. He's not cranky or belligerent, mind you, just one of those guys who isn't tempted to say something just to hear his own voice or fill a silence. In fact, he usually doesn't say much at all. I like Arlen. Paul is young, only nineteen, and I was surprised that he listened to Arlen and got off the train--shows the boy has some sense in his noggin. But being only nineteen, Paul's pretty full of himself, and gets in over his head at the Cypress House, especially with his feelings (real or imagined) for Rebecca, the owner.

The bad guys are truly bad and irredeemable. And Rebecca is so entangled with them that Arlen and Paul don't really know what to think.

Pace & Plot: The Cypress House seems to take a while to start up and get going, but I think it's because the last bunch of books I've read all started with action right away, then provided the backstory whereas this one starts at point A and moves to point B. The plot does get slow in spots, and some things aren't clear until way later in the story, but it's still a very well-written thriller.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent: Check this out if you're a fan of Koryta's or if you like a good, well-told, gotta-get-to-the-end yarn.

Have you read The Cypress House? What did you think?

Other reviews of The Cypress House:
Bermudaonion's Weblog

Review: 1. The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer...

The Inner Circle is my first Brad Meltzer, so I'm starting off the new year with a new author! Yay!

Title: The Inner Circle
Author: Brad Meltzer
ISBN-13: 9780446577892
ARC: 449 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
This thriller got me interested when I found out the main character is an archivist. I mean, how cool is that? *grin* Anyway. Beecher White works at the Archives, and gets in way over his head one day while showing off for an old childhood crush who shows up out of the blue. (Moral of this story: don't show off for old childhood crushes...)

Next thing he knows, he's on the run with the girl and an old dictionary, and trying to stay one step ahead of their pursuers--difficult enough on a normal day, almost impossible when he doesn't even know who they are. Except that they may be working for the President of the United States...

Character: Beecher is an earnest hero. He tries to always do the right thing, and can't seem to not help out if asked. He's not the brightest, but eventually does put two and two together to get four--even if it is at gunpoint and the bad guys are staring him right in the face. Not your typical hero, but more of a nerdy-type-does-good kinda dude, which is alright in my book!

Pace & Plot: The story moves along quickly, and you're never bored or wondering "what on earth?". I felt that it got a bit convoluted in the middle--there was a lot of who-can-you-trust  (or not!) situations, and I didn't think Beecher was that dumb that he couldn't figure this out. But then again, he's not your typical hero, so maybe he did need the help?

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: Pick this up if you're a fan of the underdog-vs-powers-that-be thrillers.

2011 Challenge: New Author

Tour: 136. Stronger Than Sin by Caridad Piñeiro...

Today, I am one of the tour stops for Caridad Piñeiro's Stronger Than Sin!

About the author:
Caridad Piñeiro is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project: write a book for a class lending library. Her love of writing continued through high school, college, and law school. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, her passion for the written word led to a determination to publish and share the stories she loved with others. In 1999, Caridad's first novel was released and a decade later, she is the author of more than twenty novels and novellas. Find Caridad online at her website www.caridad.com, on facebook and on twitter.

About the book:
Title: Stronger Than Sin
Author: Caridad Piñeiro
ISBN-13: 9780446543842
ARC: 317 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Source: Hachette Book Group

It's been six months since Liliana Carrera helped her brother rescue Caterina Shaw from Wardwell Laboratories, a group of fringe scientists experimenting on human beings. Now, Liliana--with funding from the FBI--has set up a new facility to continue testing the inhibitor complex, a cure for the patients of Wardwell. What's even better is the FBI has managed to recover another of the patients, Jesse Bradford.

When Jesse arrives at Liliana's facility, he has been drugged and displays violent erratic behavior. As Liliana helps him detox, Jesse demonstrates strange powers--superhuman strength and the ability to heal quickly.

Despite their growing attraction, Jesse is secretive and Liliana remains fearful of him. Eventually he admits that Wardwell scientists threatening his sister's life in order to maintain control over him and his powers. As they try to locate her, they begin to suspect that the scientists may have corrupted the FBI. Unless they can discover Wardwell's master plan soon, Jesse's sister, the other patients, and an unknown number of innocent people, will pay the price.

drey's thoughts:
Caridad Piñeiro sure knows how to mix up interesting characters, great back-stories, and fast action. Stronger Than Sin continues with the devious plot first brought to us in Sins of the Flesh, with Wardwell scientists still experimenting on human beings. Only this time, they're also trying to get theirs hands on Liliana's inhibitor compound, so that their genetically-modified humans don't die away so quickly... After all, if she found a way to save Catarina's life, why not the others'?

When the FBI brings Jesse Bradford to Liliana, she finds a guy who's slowly being calcified to death. And as she tries to find out how to stop the process, she realizes that people are not always who you think they are, and has to decide whether Jesse is worth going all-in for, even if that means she might not survive the experience.

Stronger Than Sin offers an interesting plot to go with the romance. Pick it up if that's how you like 'em!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Check out Stronger Than Sin:

Giveaway!
Like what you see? Then enter this giveaway! 5 lucky ducks will get their very own copy of Stronger Than Sin, US and Canada only (no PO Boxes please!). To enter, comment with why you're interested in this book. Remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Do it before 6pm CST November 21st.

Extra entries:
+1 for tweeting (comment with the link to your tweet)
+1 for linking on your blog sidebar (comment with the link to your blog)

Can't wait? Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

Challenges: 100+, Pub

122. Blind Man's Alley by Justin Peacock...

Title: Blind Man's Alley
Author: Justin Peacock
ISBN-13: 9780385531061
Hardcover: 465 pages
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Blind Man's Alley was provided by the publisher for this review. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Justin Peacock's Blind Man's Alley is a legal thriller that will satisfy the legal-thriller fan... If you can make it through the first 20-30 pages, that is. I liked it, but thought it took a while to get up to cruising speed. 0-to-60 did not occur in 5.1 seconds here! Then again, good things come to those who wait. *grin*

Dustin Riley is a nice guy--as nice as a successful lawyer can be, anyway. He's on the up-and-coming path at work, with partnership just around the corner. He's just got to get through this libel lawsuit for their biggest client and he's a shoo-in. And for feel-good purposes, he's doing a pro-bono case to help some folks keep their home. Life is good.

Then things slowly start getting complicated, and next thing you know his pro-bono client's on the hook for murder. And his boss is telling him to make a deal and close the case. But things aren't quite as they seem, and Dustin's curiosity gets him poking around things better left un-poked.

While Dustin's legal life is getting complicated, Candace Snow's gets downright loopy. She's the reporter being sued for libel. And she's adamant that not a single word she printed is untruth. So she sets out to prove her side of things, and she finds out that getting wrapped up with big-time property developers can have scary consequences.

The bad guys are bad, the good guys are good, and the lawyer makes his way from the fence to pick a side. When the pace picks up, you won't want to put this down. Promise.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Doubleday, I have 2 copies of Blind Man's Alley for you, if you live in the US (no PO Boxes, please)! To enter, comment with your email address and tell me you want it. Do it before 6pm CST October 21st. That's it, good luck!

Extra entries:
+1 Tweet this giveaway, comment separately with your twitter status.
+1 FB share (www.facebook.com/dreyslibrary), comment separately with your FB name.
+1 List this on your blog sidebar, comment separately with your blog link.

89. Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich (& a giveaway!)...

Title: Rules of Betrayal (Jonathan Ransom #3)
Author: Christopher Reich
ISBN-13: 9780385531542
Hardcover: 372 pages
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Rules of Betrayal was provided by the publisher for this review. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I wonder how it is that I've never read Christopher Reich before. Especially since I picked up Rules of Betrayal, whilst half-awake due to lack of sleep because my son's been up coughing for the last 4 nights, just to read a few chapters before I took a quick nap so I could get through the rest of the evening. And I could NOT put it down. So, thanks, Christopher--I'm now even more sleep-deprived than I was a few hours ago (no, I never made it to the nap).

In Rules of Betrayal, Jonathan Ransom is doing the do-gooder thing (to make up for the not-so-good things he's done in his past), treating the sick in Afghanistan, when he is kidnapped by a local warlord-slash-druglord-slash-all-'round-bad-guy. Not for money, oh no. But to heal his father, a top-of-everybody's-terrorist-list bad guy. Guess it runs in the family. However, through no fault of Jonathan's, bad guy's dad is offed while he's there. And he gets dragged heels kicking into the world of international espionage.

Not that he had much choice. Especially since the poor guy still loves his wife, an infamous spy herself. Never mind that he has no clue where she's at or what she's doing. Which is a good thing, since what she's doing is pretty dangerous, and a girl could get herself plenty hurt at it. Anyhoo.

The plot is tight with the usual cast of characters you'd expect in a spy thriller. Hero? Check. Lost love interest? Check. New girl interest? Check. Bad guys galore? Check. Some sort of weapon that could blow us all into a gajillion bits? Check. Double-crosses and twists and turns? Definitely. And, of course, spies galore. And while at times I could just imagine Matt Damon as Jonathan (who couldn't, after watching Damon in the Bourne movies?), I found that reading Mr. Reich is definitely less heavy on prose and more to the point than reading Mr. Van Lustbader. After all, who needs to wander all over Pakistan on a mule when you can just ride in a Humvee?

Thriller fans should pick this up. Or better yet, win it--read on!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to the awesome folks at Doubleday, I have two copies of Rules of Betrayal up for grabs, if you're a US resident (no PO Boxes, please!). To enter, comment and tell me you're a GFC follower--I'm shamelessly promoting my blog! Include an email address where you can be reached. +1 entry if you tweet (comment separately with the tweet link, please). +1 entry if you blog or link in your sidebar (comment separately with the link, please). Do it before 6:00pm CST August 18th. Good luck!

80. So Cold the River by Michael Koryta...

Title: So Cold the River
Author: Michael Koryta
ISBN-13: 9780316053631
ARC: 503 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of So Cold the River was provided by the publisher for this review, which I will admit, is late. I am an affiliate for IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Oh. My. Goodness. I was completely and utterly sucked into So Cold the River--so completely sucked in that I went to bed absolutely way too late for a work night, could not sleep because I still had the creepy-crawlies from reading so late into the night, and spent the next day only half-awake, trying only somewhat successfully to focus on work.

Eric Shaw is a photographer hired to document the life (& history) of a dying old man. But when he travels to the old man's hometown, he finds himself entranced by the town's history. Shuttling between researching the old man's past and trying to figure out the mystery of the bottled mineral spring water that he drank, Eric's life will never be the same. If he survives this adventure. So Cold the River is layered with plot and character, and peels those layers back one at a time, exposing a sordid past intertwined with a current-day mystery. The question: Who is Campbell Bradford? The answer: Read this and find out. But if you're prone to creepy-crawlies, don't read this at night. Now don't say I didn't warn you!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub

54. Altar of Eden by James Rollins...

Title: Altar of Eden
Author: James Rollins
ISBN-13: 9780061231421
Hardcover: 393 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Altar of Eden was on loan from my local library and is now gracing another lucky reader's bookshelves. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I've been meaning to pick up Altar of Eden for a while now. No, seriously--especially when it was making the rounds early in the year. But, with my TBR pile what it is, I just never got around to it. Until James Rollins said "yes" to being my Featured Author for May (yay me!).

So. What did I think? A very quick summary: I've got a new author to add to my favorites list.

The action is frenetic, with things happening (almost) quicker than you can read about them. I loved the characters--they're so very real, and the interaction between Lorna and Jack is pretty dang believable. The bad guy was pretty predictable for a bad guy, and that's ok. Sometimes you need your villain to be a teeny bit predictable.

The detail in this book shows the level of research that went into it. Of course, I'm not a former veterinarian, so I wouldn't know if James Rollins was pulling a leg or two... But I'll go ahead and say he wasn't. There's plenty of scientific jargon scattered liberally throughout, and the Frankenstein-ish creatures that populate Altar of Eden are literally out of this world.

Thriller fans will love this. There's plenty of action to keep you turning the pages as quickly as you can. I know I wished I read faster, to get to the end as soon as I could. I'm adding the rest of James' books to my want-to-read list. But don't take my word for it, go check it out for yourself!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

52. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow...

Title: Presumed Innocent
Author: Scott Turow
ISBN-13: 9780446359863
Paperback: 421 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010 (reprint)
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Presumed Innocent was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Presumed Innocent is a riveting tale of murder, politics, corruption, and cover-ups. Rusty Sabich had an affair with a fellow lawyer, who (after parting ways) ends up dead. And guess who is lead prosecuting attorney for the investigation? Don't think too hard...

It doesn't take too long before things start getting hairy for Rusty. Evidence skips off into who-knows-where. Evidence that points to his involvement in the deceased's condition. Next thing you know, he goes from investigating, to being investigated.

It's hard to believe Presumed Innocent was published in 1989. It still reads fresh, and even though I've read the book and seen the movie, I still went whoa at the end. I cannot wait to pick up Scott Turow's Innocent, coming out next week.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+

Tour: 42. The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker...

Calling Ted Dekker fans! His new book, The Bride Collector, is out on April 13th! And it's wicked good!

Title: The Bride Collector
Author: Ted Dekker
ISBN-13: 9781599951966
ARC: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My ARC of The Bride Collector was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
Ted Dekker is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels with a total of more than 3 million books in print. He is known for thrillers that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil. Find Ted online at his website, www.teddekker.com.

drey's thoughts:
There's a serial killer on the loose, and he's hunting young, beautiful women, because he is returning God's favorites to Him, as brides. He is smart, meticulous, and completely nuts.

Brad Raines is the FBI agent hunting down the Bride Collector. He doesn't seem to play well with others, with the exception of his partner Nikki Holden, and displays obsessive-compulsive tendencies. In the course of their investigation, Brad and Nikki visit a home for the mentally ill and exceptionally gifted. There, they meet a quartet of patients whose help they eventually enlist.

The best part of The Bride Collector is the interaction with, and amongst, the patients. The stark differences between when they are "normal"--as we would consider it--and not, is eye-opening. I was a little surprised at how easy it was for the FBI to convince them to help with the case, as this is surely not standard operating procedure. But sometimes you take whatever help you can get. And with 4 bodies already, they need any help they can get.

While The Bride Collector excelled at its character portrayal (not just the patients, but the killer as well), I thought it was predictable. As soon as Brad and Nikki visited The Center for Wellness and Intelligence, I knew where that would bring the story arc. Then reading became a matter of seeing how they got to the end. Nonetheless, this is a satisfying read for fans of the genre.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have two (2!) copies of The Bride Collector for you. This is open to US and Canada residents only, no PO Boxes please! To enter, comment below: Have there been any high-profile serial killers in your neck of the woods? Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested in Milwaukee, the summer before I came for school. I remember my mom asking me if I was sure I wanted to come to Wisconsin. Now they're thinking he was the one who really abducted and killed Adam Walsh.

Please remember to include your email address! Do it all before 6:00 pm CST April 16th. And good luck!!

34. Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Last Snow was provided by Authors on the Web for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

Jack McClure, Special Advisor and closest friend to the new President of the United States, interprets the world very differently from the rest of us. It’s his greatest liability, and his greatest asset.

An American senator, supposedly on a political trip to the Ukraine, turns up dead on the island of Capri. When the President asks him to find out how and why, Jack sets out from Moscow across Eastern Europe, following a perilous trail of diplomats, criminals, and corrupt politicians. Thrust into the midst of a global jigsaw puzzle, Jack’s unique dyslexic mind allows him to put together the pieces that others can’t even see.

Still unreconciled to the recent death of his daughter and the dissolution of his marriage, Jack takes on a personal mission along with his official one: keeping safe from harm his two unlikely, unexpected, and incompatible companions—Annika Dementieva, a rogue Russian FSB agent, and Alli Carson, the President’s daughter. As he struggles to keep both young women safe and unearth the answers he seeks, hunted by everyone from the Russian mafia to the Ukrainian police to his own NSA, Jack learns just how far up the American and Russian political ladders corruption and treachery has reached.

In the vein of Eric Van Lustbader’s latest bestselling Jason Bourne novels, Lustbader takes us on an international adventure in this powerful page-turner that will keep you reading through the night.

drey's thoughts:
I've read a few of Eric Van Lustbader's other books, including First Daughter, and wanted to see where he took Jack McClure next... And I have to say that Last Snow started off well enough. Jack's working for the Prez, keeping an eye out on Alli too... Then he gets sent off to find out why a Senator was killed where he wasn't even supposed to be. And the chase is on.

There are spies galore, a bunch of not-so-squeaky businessmen, a crooked head of state, a delusional General, a few assassins, and a couple (or more) shady characters in this crock-pot of international intrigue. Which is cool with me--the more the merrier, especially when half of them get offed anyway.

I do wish though, that Last Snow continued as strongly as it started out. Somewhere in the middle it started meandering around, before eventually wrapping things up all nicely and tidily like a good thriller should. Lustbader fans will pick this one up, definitely.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Last Snow
Author: Eric Van Lustbader
ISBN-13: 9780765325150
Hardcover: 414 pages
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Want to check out Last Snow? Thanks to Authors on the Web, there is one copy up for grabs, if you live in the US or Canada. So what're you waiting for? This one ends 6:00 pm CST, March 31st! Fill out the form, like, now!

28. First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of First Daughter was provided by Authors on the Web for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

When ATF legend Jack McClure lost his daughter Emma in a terrible accident, his world came undone. Then a phone call from the newly elected president--an old friend--puts Jack on a collision course with his past. The president's daughter, who was once Emma's best friend, has been kidnapped.

Jack dives headlong into the investigation, tearing open the wounds of Emma's death. His search leads him to a conspiracy that reaches deep into the shadows of power throughout the world and into the path of a cold and calculating man--someone whose actions are as dangerous as they are brilliant, whose power and reach are seemingly infinite. A man who, Jack will soon discover, has affected his life and country in more ways than he could imagine.

drey's thoughts:
So I've been jonesing for a bit of the action-packed-thriller kind of read, especially after all the urban fantasy I've picked up lately. And First Daughter delivered the action-packed kind of read that fit the bill.

Jack McClure is in chaos. He hasn't come to grips with his daughter's death, nor figured out how to mend his marriage. And he gets pulled into the President-elect's daughter's kidnapping, and thrown in with the wolves. There's quite a bit of intrigue, a lot of conspiracy, and a smart villain (sure beats a stupid one!).

In addition to the kidnapping at hand, First Daughter also covers quite a bit of Jack's past. Which is cool, because you get a sense of the guy, but it also seemed a bit contrived, with all the bits of string tying up the package as you read. I mean, there are coincidences, and there are coincidences, you know what I mean? Plus, some of the bad guys are so comically bad, it's tragic.

But all in all, it's still a very good read, and I can't wait to pick up Last Snow!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Title: First Daughter
Author: Eric Van Lustbader
ISBN-13: 9780765361424
Paperback: 434 pages
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+

Giveaway!
Ok. You know you want this! And thanks to Authors on the Web, there is one copy of First Daughter up for grabs, if you live in the US or Canada. So don't wait. This one ends 6:00 pm CST, March 17th!

Tour & Giveaway: 183. Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly...

About the book:

LAPD Detective Harry Bosch is off the chain in the fastest, fiercest, and highest-stakes case of his life.

Fortune Liquors is a small shop in a tough South L.A. neighborhood, a store Bosch has known for years. The murder of John Li, the store's owner, hits Bosch hard, and he promises Li's family that he'll find the killer.

The world Bosch steps into next is unknown territory. He brings in a detective from the Asian Gang Unit for help with translation—not just of languages but also of the cultural norms and expectations that guided Li's life. He uncovers a link to a Hong Kong triad, a lethal and far-reaching crime ring that follows many immigrants to their new lives in the U.S.

And instantly his world explodes. The one good thing in Bosch's life, the person he holds most dear, is taken from him and Bosch travels to Hong Kong in an all-or-nothing bid to regain what he's lost. In a place known as Nine Dragons, as the city's Hungry Ghosts festival burns around him, Bosch puts aside everything he knows and risks everything he has in a desperate bid to outmatch the triad's ferocity.

About the author:
Michael Connelly, a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist and a former journalist, has won numerous crime fiction prizes. He lives in Florida.

drey's thoughts:
I never knew Kowloon meant "nine dragons." Although, once I read it, it was like, duh! Anyway, that's neither here nor there... =P

Nine Dragons starts off slowly, compared to the frenetic pace of the rest of the book... This is my first Harry Bosch book (I believe there are 14 others), but Mr. Connelly's writing is so good that I didn't feel like I was missing anything from the previous books.

In this one, Harry's got a gang-related murder to solve. When all the evidence--that they have, anyway--points to the triads, Harry asks for help navigating the complexities of Asian gangs. While he's involved in this case, and dealing with a skittish partner, he gets word (or, in this case, video) that his daughter's disappeared. In Hong Kong. Two plus two equals four (right??), so Harry hops on the first flight over, to find his daughter before the triad hurts her. Or so he assumes.

Nine Dragons is detective drama at its best. It will grip you and not let you go until you've turned the last page.

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have up to five copies of Nine Dragons for you...
Rules:
-- Contest is open to US and Canada residents, no PO Boxes please!
-- To enter, comment and share: Have you been to Hong Kong? If yes, when, & what did you do there? If no, would you want to & why? I've only been twice--both times I spent 5 hours at the airport, on the way home, and on the way back. So while I have set foot on HK soil, I haven't actually been. Not sure I want to, either...
-- Follow for 1 extra entry.
-- Share for 2 extra entries (let me know what & where, please).
-- Every 10 people entered gets another copy in the hat, so tell everyone! =)
-- Do it all before 6:00 pm CST October 28th. Good luck!

Tour stops:
10/13: Revenge of the Book Nerds, Chick with Books, Review from Here, Just One More Page...or Two

10/14: Pick of the Literate, Book Series Reviews, Bookin' with Bingo

10/15: drey's library, Starting Fresh, Froggaritaville's Bookcase

10/16: Rundpinne, Wendy's Minding Spot

10/17: Readaholic, Booking Mama

10/18: One Person's Journey through a World of Book, A Bookworm's World, Pop Culture Nerd

10/19: Just Another New Blog, Reading at the Beach, Booksie's Blog

10/20: A Few of My Favorite Things, Bermudaonion's Weblog

10/21: Libby's Library News, A Book Blogger's Diary

Disclosure: My copy of Nine Dragons was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour.

165. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo...

About the book:

In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and "English" residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish.

Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as chief of police. Her Amish roots and big-city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She's certain she's come to terms with her past--until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again, but to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past--and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.

drey's thoughts:
Sworn to Silence is a Library Thing Early Reviewers book that I just got around to reading. And I cannot fathom why I waited. Well, other than the fact that I'm buried in books right now, that is.

Anyway. If you're a fan of mystery/thrillers, you'll want to pick this one up. It's chock-full of characters you root for, crimes that'll make you shudder, and the ever-present wish that they find the killer before they find another body. What else do you want? =)

Title: Sworn to Silence
Author: Linda Castillo
ISBN-10: 0312374976
ISBN-13: 9780312374976
Hardcover: 321 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2009

Challenges: 100+, Pub

126. I Can See You by Karen Rose ...

About the book:

New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose delivers her latest pulse-pounding suspense novel, where the line between the virtual world and everyday reality blurs when it comes to murder.

Eve Wilson's face was once scarred by a vicious assault. Terrified and ashamed, she escaped to the online realm, where she could choose the face she allowed people to see. Years later, her outer scars faded and inner scars buried, Eve has fought her way back to the real world and is determined to help others do the same. Now a graduate student moonlighting as a bartender, Eve researches the addictive powers of online communities. When her test subjects begin turning up dead as a result of apparent suicides, she doesn't know where to turn.

Homicide detective Noah Webster is one of the few people who believe the victims are connected murders. Eve becomes Noah's online guide and realizes that the handsome detective may have secret scars as painful as her own. As Eve and Noah chase a killer who is always one step ahead of them, together they try to overcome the tragedies of their pasts and learn to trust again, but they soon discover that danger is much closer than they think.

drey's thoughts:
I Can See You is my first Karen Rose novel, and I'll start this review by saying it won't be my last. I like Noah's character--he's strong yet wracked by his demons. Eve, well, Eve has had her share of bad times. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for her, to finally emerge from her shell. Karen Rose has not only drawn up two very real characters, but a whole book-full of them--from Eve and Noah, to Jack and Abbott, the Farmers, and most definitely the serial killer. *shudder*

The plot is pretty straight-forward, and doesn't leave too many clues for those who like to guess whodunit. I did, but not on page 10, lol! The criminals differ enough to provide a contrast--the one is logical and calm(ish), the other(s) erratic and rash. I almost prefer the latter--the thought of that dump pit still gives me shivers.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, pick this recently released (yesterday) book up.

Many thanks to Hachette for my review copy!

Title: I Can See You
Author: Karen Rose
ISBN-10: 0446538345
ISBN-13: 9780446538343
ARC: 480 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, August 2009

Read an excerpt:

92. The Bourne Deception by Eric Van Lustbader...

I heart Jason Bourne. I was a fan of the books before Matt Damon played him on film, and I heart Matt, too. *grin* So when I heard The Bourne Deception was coming out, I begged for a copy to read.

Jason survives The Bourne Sanction, and his nemesis Leonid Arkadin is dead. But then somebody shoots Jason while he's in Bali on vacation. Whodunit? This next installment in Bourne's story takes you on another whirlwind around the world, and is chock-full of spies, suspense, unethical mercenaries, and political wrangling.

Turns out Arkadin isn't dead, after all. And he's got a wide-scale plan in the works to nab Bourne once and for all. Past hurts & all that... Y'know, this might be the last Bourne book I pick up. It's kinda at the point of the Stephanie Plum novels--you know there's always something he's gotta go figure out & set right, bad guys to kill, etc. & Halliday is always going to try to get his clammy paws on the CIA. At some point though, Plum at least has humor going for her. Bourne? Just makes me sad that he's still working through identity issues, still doesn't know the whole picture of his past. Still can't get on with his life... And as more people die around him, who knows how that changes the man from what he might have been?

Title: The Bourne Deception
Author: Eric Van Lustbader
ISBN-10: 0446539821
ISBN-13: 978-0-446-53982-1
Paperback: 423 pages (ARC)
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, June 9, 2009