Review for: Death of the Black Widow by James Patterson /J.D. Barker

 She destroys the men she loves—and escapes every time. The most dangerous killer James Patterson has ever created is also his most seductive. 

On his first night with Detroit PD, Officer Walter O’Brien is called to a murder scene. A terrified twenty-year-old has bludgeoned her kidnapper with the skill that shocks even O’Brien’s veteran partner. The young woman is also a brilliant escape artist. Her bold flight from police custody makes the case impossible to solve—and, for Walter, even more, impossible to forget.
 
By the time Walter’s promoted to detective, his fascination with the missing, gray-eyed woman is approaching obsession. And when Walter discovers that he’s not alone in his search, one truth is certain. This deadly string of secrets didn’t begin in his home city—but he’s going to make sure it ends there.   

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (April 19, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 560 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 153875309X
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1538753095

My review:  This is a big book. A long book. And my honest review isn't going to get me any fans. But I was so disappointed with this book. I was very invested in the story before I realized where the story was going. Otherwise, I would not have finished it. I didn't see the story going in this direction. So then I just wanted to finish it and be done. I won't stop reading a book if I am halfway through it. But this one I should have. 

I read all of James Patterson's books. Even the ones he so-called co-writers with others. Or slaps his name on it to sell it for another author. Whatever way you want to look at it. I won't be reading another with this co-author. It sucked. And to start out going in a different direction than the way it ended just disappointed me so much. I invested a lot into the story and then it took a turn and I am like is this fantasy, a paranormal story, or what. I should have read reviews first and I would not have read this at all. I could have saved myself a lot of time. 

I give it 2.5 stars. 

I won't be reading anymore with this cowriter. They just aren't my type of book. 

Review for: What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline

 

From #1 bestselling author Lisa Scottoline comes a pulse-pounding new novel.

Your family has been attacked, never again to be the same.
Now you have to choose between law…and justice.

     Jason Bennett is a suburban dad who owns a court-reporting business, but one night, his life takes a horrific turn. He is driving his family home after his daughter’s field hockey game when a pickup truck begins tailgating them, on a dark stretch of road. Suddenly two men jump from the pickup and pull guns on Jason, demanding the car. A horrific flash of violence changes his life forever.
 
Later that awful night, Jason and his family receive a visit from the FBI. The agents tell them that the carjackers were members of a dangerous drug-trafficking organization—and now Jason and his family are in their crosshairs.
 
The agents advise the Bennetts to enter the witness protection program right away, and they have no choice but to agree. But WITSEC was designed to protect criminal informants, not law-abiding families. Taken from all they know, trapped in an unfamiliar life, the Bennetts begin to fall apart at the seams. Then Jason learns a shocking truth and realizes that he has to take matters into his own hands.
 
Sometimes justice is a one-man show.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons; First Edition (March 29, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525539670
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0525539674

My Review: This was a quick read for me because there was such a need to keep reading to find out what would happen next. There were heart-wrenching moments I had to put it down briefly. But I didn't want to stop reading it. I shed tears over the story a few times. It puts in perspective how our lives can change in an instant. And it makes you think about how our lives can intertwine with perfect strangers and have a huge impact. And life isn't always what it seems. I really like the author. And I enjoyed this book. 

I give it 5 stars. 

What I read in June

 My list of the books I read in June.

1. Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery

2. What Happened to the Bennetts by Lisa Scottoline

3. Death of the Black Widow by James Patterson / J.D. Barker

4. Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak

5. 22 Seconds by James Patterson / Maxine Paetro

A few reviews will be coming soon! 

I have come back to reclaim my book blog.

I have come back to reclaim this blog and see if I can make something out of it. I have always loved to read. I have a reading group on Facebook that I put a lot of time and attention into. I would like to make this part of that as well. 

But I also would like to do some book reviews on some of the books I read. I am not sure if anyone would be interested in reading them. But I am going to try. I would like to get people to visit here and enjoy what I post. 

Time will tell what will happen here. I will start inviting people to visit. That is all I can do and post here as often as possible. Without boring people to tears. 

I hope to see my Bookloving friends come here. More to come. Stay tuned. 

 

Review of Redemption by David Baldacci

• Publication Date: April 16, 2019

Detective Amos Decker discovers that a mistake he made as a rookie detective may have led to deadly consequences in this compelling Memory Man thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.

Decker is visiting his hometown of Burlington, Ohio when he's approached by a man named Meryl Hawkins. Hawkins is a convicted murderer. In fact, he's the very first killer Decker ever put behind bars. But he's innocent, he claims. Now suffering from terminal cancer, it's his dying wish that Decker clears his name.

It's unthinkable. The case was open and shut, with rock-solid forensic evidence. But then Hawkins later turns up dead with a bullet in his head, and even Decker begins to have doubts. Is it possible that he really did get it wrong, all those years ago?

Decker's determined to uncover the truth, no matter the personal cost. But solving a case this cold may be impossible, especially when it becomes clear that someone doesn't want the old case reopened. Someone who is willing to kill to keep the truth buried, and hide a decades-old secret that may have devastating repercussions...

• Print Length: 433 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1538761416
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 16, 2019)
• Publication Date: April 16, 2019

My review:  David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors. I think I have read all of his books up to this point. This one didn't disappoint. This is #5 in the Memory Man Series. Decker the main character in this series is one of my favorites. The Character that Decker has developed into you can't help but like. He has come a long way from book #1. 

This book is long. But it covers a lot. So many things keep happening. It keeps you in the dark until very close to the end. Many times I thought the murderer was someone else. That kept me very intrigued and not wanting to put the book down. I like David Baldacci's writing style and character development. There is never a shortage of characters in his books. And he is true to his characters in his book series. Of which he has several.  Amos Decker will be back I am sure. He always leaves it open to bring his characters back. 

I would recommend this book to anyone that loves mysteries and murder stories. As a big fan of all of David Baldacci's books, I would say you don't have to read this series in order. The characters' backgrounds are explained somewhat in each book. This book is one you won't want to put down. 

My Review: Blessings in Disguise by Danielle Steel

 Published May 7th 2019 by Dell

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In Danielle Steel’s remarkable new novel, one of her most memorable characters comes to terms with unfinished business and long-buried truths as the mother of three very different daughters with three singular fathers. 

As a young intern at an art gallery in Paris, Isabelle McAvoy meets Putnam Armstrong, wealthy, gentle, older, and secluded from the world. Isabelle’s relationship with Putnam, and her time at his château on the Normandy coast are the stuff of dreams. But it turns real when she becomes pregnant, for she knows that marriage is out of the question.

When Isabelle returns to New York, she enters a new relationship that she hopes will be more stable and traditional. But she soon realizes she has made a terrible mistake and again finds herself a single mother.

With two young daughters and no husband, Isabelle finally and unexpectedly finds happiness and a love that gives her a third child, a baby as happy as her beloved father. And yet, once again, life brings dramatic changes.

The three girls grow up to be very different women, and Isabelle’s relationship with each of them is unique. While raising her girls alone, Isabelle also begins building a career as a successful art consultant. Then one final turn of fate brings a past secret to light, bonds mother and daughters closer, and turns a challenge into a blessing.

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press (May 7, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399179321
• ISBN-13: 978-0399179327

My review: I am a huge Danielle Steel fan. I have been reading her books for 20+ years.  I usually pick her books up after I have finished a few murder mysteries and want something light to read. Danielle Steel seems to have a pattern of developing her female characters from a very vulnerable state to extremely strong and in control. I have seen this pattern in most of the books I have read in the last few years. I still enjoy her books. And I do like the fact that she leaves the women in her books very strong in the end. Her main female characters always seem to beat the odds. And there always seems to be more than one male character that is bad and tries to take the female character down. And then the knight in shining armor comes in to save the day. Predictable yes. But I still enjoy her books and will continue to read each and every one. They make me feel good when I am finished. 

This is Heaven

I could spend hours in a place like this. Browsing. Taking it all in. The smells, the sites, the sounds. The calm and relaxation this would bring. I can't explain it. I think all book lovers feel similar. How about you? How would being in a place like this make you feel?