1 to 18 of 18
Review Date: 12/25/2009
Helpful Score: 3
Although I've really enjoyed previous Jane Jeffry "mysteries," this was a disappointment. The mystery element was almost completely absent while the book focused on extraneous matters, Jane's book, wedding, and family relationships. While these are part and parcel of her life, as a mystery series, I expect more mystery and in this book, it seemed like an afterthought and certainly wasn't compelling.
Review Date: 4/11/2010
Helpful Score: 9
I had difficulty generating empathy/sympathy or feeling towards any of the characters in this original novel. From the premise, I anticipated something perhaps reminiscent of Tim Dorsey, but the characters of Denny, Remy, and Trish are so far from my frame of reference (somewhat thankfully!) that it was somewhat of a struggle to read to the end, although that could well be as it apparently leans towards a younger demographic. Nonetheless, some of the prose and phrasing is quite interesting, and carried me along while the story line didn't.
Review Date: 5/25/2010
I was initially unsure about this book, written through a series of letters, journal entries and other memorabilia between two lifelong friends. Commencing in grade school, it ended up being a great read, richly interspersing the history of the times (50's through early 2000s) into the lives of two very close and very different women who shared an enduring friendship throughout their lives.
Review Date: 10/19/2009
Brock "the Rock" Callahan, the former L.A. Rams guard turned private eye, is hired by a statuesque beauty. She wants to find out if her jockey husband is playing the field. But Callahan doesn't get far. The jockey's career is cut short when he ends up on the business end of a twelve-inch carving knife. Was it the wife? The wife's millionaire daddy? Or the jockey's mob-connected girlfriend? The only thing certain is that whoeer snuffed the little guy left a pint-sized stiff and a sordid collection of suspects - all odds-on favorites.
Review Date: 5/18/2011
This is my least favorite Mrs. Malory book. Although I enjoyed getting more information about her and her son, Michael, and the introspection is interesting - the story line was improbable. Based on a very slight peripheral relationship, she (alone) decides the death is a murder, and through more mental "what ifs" than investigation, plods to a solution. The series improves.
Review Date: 5/27/2011
Admittedly biased as this book somewhat details my own experience, and I'm familiar with the areas referenced, I enjoyed the humor in this "moving to Florida" memoir. As well as providing some laugh out loud moments, the book also captures some of the goals and obstacles to achieving a dream, applicable to other dreams as well. A quick read and an enjoyable book.
Review Date: 10/31/2009
A Dan Fortune novel.
"A single word, written nine times on a memo pad â Freak, FREAK, freak â underlined, boxed, shadowed, filled in, was the only clue left in the house Ian Campbell had given to his son Alan and his new wife. The young couple had vanished, apparently without cause, a month previous to Campbell's hiring a detective to find them. Alan was Ian's youngest son and the only one of his children working for his computer firm.
Dan Fortune, the one-armed, pragmatic but philosophical New York City private eye, has to fight for his life before he uncovers the motives for Alan Campbell's disappearance and the trail of three murders.
A contemporary mystery novel which takes place in New York City, New Jersey, and Arizona, written with clear character descriptions, constant action, and lots of dialogue, is indeed believable. Who is Sarah, the beautiful model from Flagstaff? Why are motor oil, J.J.'s expensive flashy clothes, and a red Lincoln limo significant pieces of the puzzle?
Dennis Lynds, A.K.A. Michael Collins, writes skillfully in the Dashiell Hammett tradition. Suspense kept me turning pages and a sophisticated but incongruous touch â description of the Mahler symphonies being played in an Arizona mining camp â sent me to my stereo. I like Dan Fortune; his nonfrenzied approach to his work seems a welcome relief after a recent diet of Robert Ludlum and William Diehl tales of world-hopping spy and counter-spy adventures, wherein I frequently lost track of who were the good spies and who were the bad spies and who was on whose side.
"A single word, written nine times on a memo pad â Freak, FREAK, freak â underlined, boxed, shadowed, filled in, was the only clue left in the house Ian Campbell had given to his son Alan and his new wife. The young couple had vanished, apparently without cause, a month previous to Campbell's hiring a detective to find them. Alan was Ian's youngest son and the only one of his children working for his computer firm.
Dan Fortune, the one-armed, pragmatic but philosophical New York City private eye, has to fight for his life before he uncovers the motives for Alan Campbell's disappearance and the trail of three murders.
A contemporary mystery novel which takes place in New York City, New Jersey, and Arizona, written with clear character descriptions, constant action, and lots of dialogue, is indeed believable. Who is Sarah, the beautiful model from Flagstaff? Why are motor oil, J.J.'s expensive flashy clothes, and a red Lincoln limo significant pieces of the puzzle?
Dennis Lynds, A.K.A. Michael Collins, writes skillfully in the Dashiell Hammett tradition. Suspense kept me turning pages and a sophisticated but incongruous touch â description of the Mahler symphonies being played in an Arizona mining camp â sent me to my stereo. I like Dan Fortune; his nonfrenzied approach to his work seems a welcome relief after a recent diet of Robert Ludlum and William Diehl tales of world-hopping spy and counter-spy adventures, wherein I frequently lost track of who were the good spies and who were the bad spies and who was on whose side.
Review Date: 5/2/2011
Having never seen the tv show, I read this in an afternoon and enjoyed it. Having nothing to compare it to might have been a plus - the mystery was a bit of a challenge, and I enjoyed the driven but also introspective Nikki Heat, as well as the interplay between the characters and the humor. It was a fun read.
An Irish Country Doctor (aka The Apprenticeship of Doctor Laverty) (Irish Country, Bk 1)
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
121
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
121
Review Date: 2/26/2010
Helpful Score: 7
This was a quick (too quick) read and a charming tale. Reminiscent of James Herriot's works, but instead of a Yorkshire vet, featuring a young doctor, James Laverty, M.B., in the Northern Island village of Ballybucklebo. Very enjoyable as he adjusts from the city to the country, and adapts to the wisdom and foibles of his mentor/boss, Fingal O'Reilly. I'll be reading more.
Review Date: 3/23/2010
Helpful Score: 6
I loved this book! Although a light read and very funny, the characters were strongly drawn, and I could practically visualize them. There are some witty "home truths," a thoroughly southern viewpoint, and engaging characters. I'm so pleased that Miss Julia is not a one book wonder, but appears again and again! I'm looking forward to them all.
Review Date: 5/18/2011
Helpful Score: 2
I had difficulty locating the first two books in this series, so read several later books first. I'm glad I did, as I likely wouldn't have continued the series had I read this one first. All the British cozy elements are here, small community, middle aged widow sleuth, a bit of humor, but it was too simplistic, and too much of the resolution relied on unsupported mental meanderings of Mrs. Malory. The series improves, and this should be read for the back story, but not as a deal maker.
Review Date: 2/16/2013
As a long time Stephanie Plum fan, I enjoyed this book much more than the last few. It wasn't so "over the top," but still had funny moments - and a nice mixture of Lula, Grandma, Morelli and Ranger, with a return of Randy Briggs. Stephanie was Stephanie, naturally there were exploding vehicles and mishaps,but the storyline was more cohesive, and it was a good, quick read.
Review Date: 5/10/2013
I enjoy the character of "Nash," she's spunky, and a bit more thoughtful and erudite than some of the main characters in other cozies, and doesn't rush headlong and heedlessly into dangerous situations. The mystery kept me guessing, and although I'm sure some of the Jewish references went zipping over my head, they didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Review Date: 10/19/2009
Note: A Spiritual Guide to Coping. Most of us know what stress is...that tired, anxious feeling you get when you have to face an unpleasant task, or when there isn't enough time to do all that you must. Now you can learn to take inventory of the specific pressure points in your life. The first step is recognizing what's making you tense - whether it's worry over a relationship, career, or finances...or the need for too much self-control. From the perspective of an executive, a father, a husband, and a Christian, Don Osgood helps you open your heart to Christ in times of stress. Once you know that He is there with you, you can face the tension.
Review Date: 10/19/2009
Helpful Score: 1
Based on the Twelve Steps and on Smith's program that has helped hundreds of couples, this book identifies and helps the reader resolve those relationship issues which surface in the later stages of recovery when addiction is under control. Smith outlines reasons for relationship failures and provides advice for resolving conflicts. A valuable new guid to saving and strengthening a relationship affected by addiction.
Relationship problems in early sobriety are no surprise to anyone. But after two, five, or even ten years of recovery, many people expect an intimate and satisfying relationship with their partner. The truth is, once the addiction is under control larger issues often emerge, and it takes specific relationship skills to deal with the changes - positive and negative - than ensue.
Relationship problems in early sobriety are no surprise to anyone. But after two, five, or even ten years of recovery, many people expect an intimate and satisfying relationship with their partner. The truth is, once the addiction is under control larger issues often emerge, and it takes specific relationship skills to deal with the changes - positive and negative - than ensue.
Review Date: 10/20/2014
This book was a letdown. I though Michael Brandmann did a pretty good job carrying on the series, but Reed Coleman certainly tried to put his own stamp on it, and he stamped it into the ground. He's got Jesse back to an alcoholic, and randomly tosses characters we know and like into the book, but without their names, we'd hardly recognize them. It's hard to believe he read any of the previous books, it's more like he had a list of dramatis persona and went from there. And verbose...oh my - this would have made two of any Parker book, and yet the words didn't matter. I didn't care about anyone in this book, and if Coleman is to carry on, I'd rather this be the last for me than watch (read) Jesse die a slow (or quick) death.
Review Date: 5/26/2011
Helpful Score: 2
Very unique book - a mystery (a tad too easy to figure out), a paranormal romance with some hot sex, ghosts (who are not at all "Casperish" as the cover might lead you to believe!), and great characters including a protagonist who helps ghosts move on, who has a best friend you'd want to have. I'm hoping there will be more books to come, as this was a fun and fast read.
Review Date: 12/1/2010
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite Christmas stories. It's funny, heartwarming, sad, happy - everything a meaningful Christmas story should be. I read my copy yearly - Florence and Myrna should visit your home at the holidays!
1 to 18 of 18
