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Archive for the ‘ARC/ARE’ Category

Title: Deliver Us From Evil
Author/website(s): David Baldacci
406 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication date: April ‘10
Genre: Suspense/thriller
Review book or pleasure reading: Pleasure reading
New-to-me author: Oh no, Mr. Baldacci has been on my favorite authors/auto-buy list since his very 1st novel Absolute Power
Would I recommend this book: You betcha
Would I read more from this author: Absolutely
Journal notes: Pleasure reading – no review.

Evan Waller is a monster. He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything . . . and anyone. In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture: one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe.

On Waller’s trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from The Whole Truth, who must prevent Waller from closing his latest deal. Shaw’s one chance to bring him down will come in the most unlikely of places: a serene, bucolic village in Provence.

But Waller’s depravity and ruthlessness go deeper than Shaw knows. And now, there is someone else pursuing Waller in Provence-Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate-and she has an agenda of her own.

Hunting the same man and unaware of each other’s mission, Shaw and Reggie will be caught in a deadly duel of nerve and wits.

Deliver Us From Evil was provided to me by Miriam at Hachette Book Group. I was not paid and this book is being passed along to the another book blogger through Read It Forward

Title: Am I Not A Man? The Dred Scott Story
Author/website(s): The Dread Scott Story
430 pages
Publisher: Valor Publishing Group
Publication date: November ‘09
Genre: Historical fiction
Review book or pleasure reading: Review book
New-to-me author: Yes
Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I read more from this author: Most likely though it would depend on the subject matter
Journal notes: Am I Not A Man? is very readable and enjoyable mix of Dred Scott’s story and national history. Its the story of a man determined to right a wrong and a young country at a crossroads that threatens the very values it was built on. Mr. Shurtleff weaves together Dred’s story with a wonderful narrative of the political tensions of the time. He starts with some of our country’s founding fathers who were tortured men regarding the issue of slavery. These men were slave owners who knew that the system was inherently wrong but found themselves unable to reach resolution to such a intensively sensitive topic. He continues to provide insightful background material that helps the reader understand the significance of Dred’s struggle for freedom up to the ratification of the 14th amendment. I found Am I Not A Man? a very interesting book leaving me wondering why I put off reading it for so long.

An illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, “Ain’t I a man?” Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a black man was so inferior that he had “no rights a white man was bound to respect.”

Dred died not knowing that his undying courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation.

Dred Scott’s inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parallels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men.

Am I Not A Man? The Dred Scott Story was provided to me by Tristi at Valor Publishing Group. I was not paid and this book is being passed along to the another book blogger through Read It Forward )

Title: Winter Garden
Author/website(s): Kristin Hannah
391 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication date: February ‘10
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Review book or pleasure reading: Review book
New-to-me author: No; favorite/auto-buy author
Would I recommend this book: Undecided
Would I read more from this author: Yes
Journal notes: As much as I enjoyed Firefly Lane and True Colors I was disappointed by her newest Winter Garden. Just as Meredith and Nina found their mother cold and remote that how’s the storytelling felt to me. I thought it was missing the usual heart and soul Ms. Hannah puts into her stories. Reading this particular KH novel took a lot of patience for me. I almost DNF’d it.

Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time—and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother’s life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

Winter Garden was provided to me by Nicole at Authors on the Web. I was not paid and this book is being passed along to the another book blogger through Read It Forward )

Title: The Cold Room
Author/website(s): J.T. Ellison
401 pages
Publisher: Mira
Publication date: March ‘10
Genre: Police procedural
Review book or pleasure reading: Review book
New-to-me author: No
Would I recommend this book: Definitely
Would I read more from this author: Eagerly anticipating book #5 and book #4 isn’t even available until March of this year.
Journal notes: I’m pretty sure it isn’t fair to classify The Cold Room as a review book because J.T. Ellison’s Taylor Jackson series has quickly become a favorite of mine and hits the auto-buy authors list. Now that isn’t to say the relationship has been this way from the start (All The Pretty Girls) because I was a bit unsure at first. While I enjoyed All The Pretty Girls I wasn’t raving about it. When the opportunity came along to get The Cold Room as a review copy I thought ‘why not?’. I’d enjoyed All The Pretty Girls enough to give Ms. Ellison’s work another try. But first I needed to read 14 and The Judas Kiss as I have this little hangup about reading series in order. I did read 14 and The Judas Kiss and with each book my love of Ms. Ellison’s Taylor Jackson series was quickly growing into a long-term relationship. Taylor Jackson is a strong female lead character. Taylor reminds me a lot of Eva Dallas in J.D. Robb’s In Death series. There are several similarities in both Taylor’s and Eva’s professional and personal lives. Because I’ve been of the fan of the In Death series from the first book I wasn’t surprised by Taylor getting her hooks into me (reading wise that is). There is never a dull moment in this series. If you’re a fan of police procedurals check out The Cold Room. It kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning.

He Can Only Truly Love Her Once Her Heart Stops

Homicide Detective Taylor Jackson thinks she’s seen it all in Nashville—from the Southern Strangler to the Snow White Killer. But she’s never seen anything as perverse as the Conductor. Once his victim is captured, he contains her in a glass coffin, slowly starving her to death. Only then does he give in to his attraction.

When he’s finished, he creatively disposes of the body by reenacting scenes from famous paintings. And it seems similar macabre works are being displayed in Europe. Taylor teams up with her fiancé, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, and a New Scotland Yard detective named James “Memphis” Highsmythe, a haunted man who only has eyes for Taylor, to put an end to the Conductor’s art collection.

Has the killer gone international with his craft? Or are there dueling artists, competing to create the ultimate masterpiece?

(The Cold Room was provided to me by TJ at Planned Television Arts. I was not paid. This book doesn’t have a home yet so the first reader to tell me they want it can have it )

Title: The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
Author/website(s): C.W. Gortner (redesigned site which I like)
397 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication date: May ‘10
Genre: Historical fiction
Review book or pleasure reading: Review book
New-to-me author: No
Would I recommend this book: Yes; another great book from this author
Would I read more from this author: Yes
Journal notes: Another book about Catherine de Medici. Was I courting trouble requesting a review copy of The Confessions of Catherine de Medici? I hadn’t finished reading other books about this queen I’d picked up and put down leading me to ponder: a queen I wasn’t interested in or storytelling styles that couldn’t capture my attention? After turning the last page of Confessions I’d say subject matter wasn’t the issue. In the talented storytelling style of Mr. Gortner I found her to be a very compelling individual. Mr. Gortner brings to life Catherine’s struggles to save her family and her kingdom during times of great religious strife. Of all the queens I’ve read about her story is by far the most fascinating. If you enjoyed The Last Queen, as I did, you won’t be disappointed with The Confessions of Catherine de Medici. I’m already looking forward to reading Mr. Gortner’s 2011 release of Princess Isabella, about the rise of the famous Spanish queen and the early years of her reign.

At the age of fourteen, Catherine de Medici, last legitimate descendant of the Medici blood, finds herself betrothed to the King Francois I’s son, Henri. Sent from her native Florence to France, humiliated and overshadowed by her husband’s life-long devotion to his mistress, when tragedy strikes her family Catherine rises from obscurity to become one of 16th century Europe’s most powerful women.

Patroness of Nostradamus and a seer in her own right, accused of witchcraft and murder by her foes, Catherine fights to save France and her children from savage religious conflict, unaware that her own fate looms before her — a fate that will demand the sacrifice of her ideals, her reputation, and passion of her own embattled heart.

From the splendors of the Loire palaces to the blood-soaked battles of the Wars of Religion and haunted halls of the Louvre, this is the story of Catherine’s dramatic life, told by the queen herself.

(The Confessions of Catherine de Medici was provided to me by Quinne at Ballantine Books, a division of Random House. I was not paid and this book is being passed along to the another book blogger through Read It Forward )

Title: Small Kingdoms
Author/website(s): Anastaisa Hobbet
344 pages
Publisher: Permanent Press
Publication date: January ‘10
Genre: Fiction
Would I recommend this book: DNF @ pg. 128
Would I read more from this author: Most likely no
Journal notes: Unfortunately for Small Kingdoms I started reading it right after finishing a book I truly enjoyed. It might have suffered some for that reason but that isn’t entirely why I put it down without reading further than page 128. I initially requested Small Kingdoms for the cultural aspects of the story line. I continue to find myself fascinated with the customs and beliefs of this part of the world. But I found myself growing less interested when going back to the story after having put the book down to attend to other parts of the my life. I didn’t find myself making a mental connection with any of the main characters. I know once the reviews start coming in for Small Kingdoms that I will definitely be in the minority.

Hobbet’s compelling novel is set in Kuwait between the Gulf Wars, with the country poised for the next wave of unexpected terror while coming to grips with the last: He’d expected to see some scars of the war. But there was nothing that spoke of the violence, not even a tank posed as a public memorial. Hobbet’s disparate protagonists come from different classes, countries and faiths: devoutly Muslim, wealthy Mufeeda; her young Indian cook, Emmanuella; California doctor Theo; Theo’s Arabic teacher, Hanaan (a Palestinian); and timid American housewife Kit (also Mufeeda’s neighbor). Each character is, to varying degrees, a misfit in a society beset by violence and ancient practices. When news of murdered maids begins circulating, several characters undertake a precarious plan to save a maid in danger, a dangerous mission with the potential to change all their lives permanently. Hobbet’s extensive knowledge of Kuwait’s people, customs and political landscape combine to make an immersive, authentic novel about Middle East life.

(Small Kingdoms was provided to me by the Librarything Early Reviewers program. I was not paid and this book is being passed along to the another book blogger through Read It Forward )

October was an average reading month. I read 11 books, DNFd 3 totaling 4,059 pages. Review books are listed first followed by personal selections. Clicking on a book cover will take you to Amazon US.

Review books for October ‘09. My thoughts about these books can be found at Pondering the pages

I did manage to sneak in three personal reading selections this month.

Title: Lift
Author/website: Rebecca K. O’Connor
208 pages
Publisher: Red Hen Press
Publication date: November ‘09
Genre: Memoir
Would I recommend it: Yes
Journal notes: Lift is a love story. A love story between a human and a falcon. Rebecca loves Anakin. From the first page to last you’re surrounded by her total devotion this wild, winged, predatory creature. The opening prologue is both spellbinding and haunting. Rebecca and Anakin are hunting, killing game. There is nothing pretty about what they’re doing. There will be death and yet in death there is life. Anakin hunts because it is what he does, Rebecca flushes game for Anakin because she is his provider. From the moment Anakin comes into Rebecca’s life they are bound by mutual need. Theirs is relationship based on trust. Anakin trusts that Rebecca will look out for his best interests, Rebecca trusts that Anakin will faithfully return to her. Both Rebecca and Anakin display exceptional fortitude showing the other how to survive and move forward.

Anakin

The culmination of a ten-year career in falconry, Lift is a memoir that illustrates the journey and life lessons of a woman navigating a man’s ancient sport. Captivated by a chance meeting with a falconer’s peregrine as a child, the indelible memory eventually brings the author’s life full circle to flying a peregrine of her own. Exploring themes of predator and prey, finding tribe, forgiveness and femininity, the memoir asks universal questions through a unique backdrop. Lift illustrates the beauty and meaning the sport of falconry can add to a falconer’s life, echoing the challenges and triumphs of being human.

(Lift was provided to me by the author, Rebecca. I was not paid and I have deleted the pdf file from my Kindle )

Journal notes: Gravewriter and Loot the Moon are the first two books in the Billy Povich mystery series. I received Loot the Moon from the publicist. As I don’t like to read series out of order I requested Gravewriter from the library (no Kindle edition available). Both are good, solid mysteries though I enjoyed Loot the Moon more than Gravewriter.

Gravewriter is definitely written as the introduction book to this series as the author spends more time acquainting us with his characters, their history and flaws then pursuing any action packed mystery case. Billy is a member of murder trial jury yet he stealthy goes about uncovering the true perpetrator of said crime. Unfortunately he takes his sweet time which made Gravewriter a bit slow for me.

Now Loot the Moon is the opposite of Gravewriter except for the main characters. It starts with action and death – guns, murder, a car-jacking and an out-of-control vehicle accident. And who really was doing the driving and shooting is at the very core of this mystery. Solving this murder through investigative action seems to be theme of Loot the Moon. Billy is working for Martin as his case investigator, in addition to writing obits for the local paper, and very actively involved trailing this killer. I won’t say that it was a pure adrenaline ride but it most certainly kept my interest.

It’s not like I really need another series to capture my attention but Billy Jr, Billy Sr & Bo have most certainly gone and done that. Actually Billy Jr reminds me a bit of one of my other favorite male lead characters, Harry Bosch, from author Michael Connelly.  Billy and Harry are loners with work and personal issues of their own making. And now that AE is buried with the little boy downstairs who, or what, will become Bo’s next ’security blanket?’

Title: Gravewriter (Billy Povich Mysteries, book 1)
Author/website: Mark Arsenault
272 pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Minotaur
Publication date: November ‘06
Genre: Mystery
Would I recommend it: Yes

Set in Providence, R.I., this first in a series introduces down-on-his-luck obituary writer Billy Povich. Deeply in debt to loan sharks and still reeling from the death of his ex-wife, Billy finds distraction as a juror in the murder trial of a street punk who shot a career criminal in a daring prison break. What looks like a slam-dunk case of murder begins to unravel as Billy looks closer, and more bodies appear in his path.

Title: Loot the Moon (Billy Povich Mysteries, book 2)
Author/website: Mark Arsenault
276 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication date: October ‘09
Genre: Mystery
Would I recommend it: Yes

In this next electifying thriller from up-and-coming author Mark Arsenault, former journalist and beaten-down gambler Billy Povich returns to aid Martin Smothers, the Patron Lawyer of Hopeless Causes.

Martin’s old law partner, the well-respected superior court judge Gilbert Harmony, has been shot by a thief who dies in a car crash. The cops close the case, but Martin doesn’t believe a two-bit shoplifter would suddenly kill a judge—somebody must have paid him to do it.

The suspects range from a vengeful mobster to a jealous brother to the judge’s widow, and—oops—his mistress and her son. And as Billy comes closer to the truth, it isn’t long before the killer takes aim at him.

(Gravewriter is a library book which I’ve returned. Loot the Moon was provided to me by Anne of Minotaur Books. I was not paid and the book is being shipped to another reader. )

Title: Nibble & Kuhn
Author/website: David Schmahmann
288 pages
Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers
Publication date: November ‘09
Genre: Fiction – legal
Would I recommend it: Undecided
Journal notes: If you like your legal stories high-octane than Nibble and Kuhn is not the book for you. I prefer my legal thrillers along the lines of a Jerry Burckhemier movie or TV series. Something that gets my pulse pounding and heart racing. Something to entice me to turn pages faster than I can read them. A story that puts me on the edge of my seat wondering just exactly how the lead character is going to get themselves out of their latest predicament. Those types of situations aren’t anywhere to be found in this story. Nibble and Kuhn is more like watching a smooth flowing summer river. The story meanders along through Derek’s personal and work life barely moving a hair out of place. This is one of those stories that was decent but doesn’t make an impression. By this time next week it will be a distant memory.

The novel is a satire of the law (the point of the story that I missed), and follows two newcomers—and paramours—at a proper corporate law firm in Boston as it comically tries to rebrand itself for the Google era; exposing the deep disaffection people feel about the practice of law and the seemingly irrational way in which the law is often applied.

An unraveling law firm. An unwinnable case. An unworkable love.

Derek Dover has it all.

Derek’s up for partner at Nibble & Kuhn just as that most proper of Boston law firms comically tries to `rebrand’ itself for the Google era. Pompous and arbitrary, the ruling junta of partners saddles him with a high visibility lawsuit just weeks before trial. The diligent young attorney arranges things so that Maria Parma, a new associate in the firm for whom he’s fallen hard, also gets named to the case. Maria, in turn, can’t keep her hands off Derek, but it’s complicated because she’s engaged to someone else.

As Derek prepares his case on behalf of seven young victims of an industrial polluter, his anxieties about his career and his torments over Maria’s mixed messages only increase. Have his eccentric WASP superiors handed him a `toxic’ case to ruin his chances of becoming a partner? How can he get his opponents to settle – an outcome the presiding judge all but demands – unless his unorthodox `expert witnesses’ perform with enough gravitas to match that of the other side with its Harvard Medical School scientist? Will Nibble & Kuhn survive the partners’ spectacularly bad business judgments? Does it even matter to Derek, given that his looming fiasco of a trial and his indiscretions with Maria seem set to sink any chance he ever had at partnership?

Ultimately, Derek sets into motion a line of inquiry that spins events entirely out of the control of the judge, jury, and any and all attorneys.

(Nibble & Kuhn pdf file was provided to me by Jacob of Academy Chicago Publishers. I was not paid and the pdf file has been removed from my Kindle. )