All Fall Down

It is National Punch Day!  They have something for every single day!  Now a punch can be the drink, a hit with a fist, or the crafting tool (there are also leather punches, etc.).  Since I like crafting, I am sticking with craft punches!  I have dozens of them (I am serious).

All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner is a book about a wife, mother, and blogger that gets addicted to pain killers.  Allison Weiss (almost 40) is a wife to Dave, a reporter for the Philadelphia Examiner.  They have a daughter Eloise (they call her Ellie) who is extremely sensitive (doctor’s diagnosis).  Everything is too loud, too rough, or harsh for the little girl.  Ellie also has attitude issues.  She acts out in public, yells when talking, and definitely likes to get her way (or temper tantrum time).  Allison was originally a stay-at-home mom, but then she was hired to be a writer for the blog Ladiesroom.com.  Allison writes stories about marriage and motherhood.  Dave is at work most of the time or training for a marathon (instead of spending time with the family he is “training” on the weekends).  Allison’s father has Alzheimer’s and her mother is having difficulty coping.  Her father always took care of her mother (took care of finances, they had a housekeeper, and she does not even drive).  Now Allison is having to help her mother in addition to her responsibilities.

Allison hurt her back working out at the gym and her doctor gave her some painkillers.  That was the beginning of her addiction.  They meds helped her get through the day and also helped her writing (she became bolder with her writing).   It starts out with one or two pills a day (she has them in little Altoid’s tins), then two pills at a time, and then five or six a day (Oxy, Vicodin, and Percocet).  Allison was doctor shopping (going to various doctors to get multiple pain prescriptions).  Then Allison discovers a web site where she can get the meds without needing a prescription (how handy).  Allison was up to over 600 milligrams a day of Oxycodone when her functioning became impaired (with the help of a glass of wine).  She goes to pick up Ellie at school and is stopped by a teacher (a teacher monitors the pickup line at Ellie’s school), Allison knows she needs to do something.  She contacts a doctor who gives her Suboxone (it takes care of pain without the opiates).  Allison ends up in the hospital.  Will she get the help she needs or will she lose everything?

All Fall Down tells of how she got addicted and what happens after her addiction is discovered.  I found it to be an interesting story and well written (the author has a good writing style).  One thing that is odd is Allison’s lack of emotions.  She is more matter of fact.  You do not feel her love for her husband or daughter.  I expected more emotion especially during the second half of the book.  We do not get much detail on the husband.  His character is also very different in the last half of the book.  Davie is made out to be distant and uninvolved (especially with daughter), then he completely changes (it was odd).   However, the book had me hooked, and I stayed up late to find out what happened to Allison.  I give All Fall Down 3.75 out of 5 stars.  I did not like the ending.  It was abrupt and leaves the reader with questions.  I wish the author had included an epilogue.  One thing I do wish to comment on is the mention of Suboxone in the book.  This book makes the drug out to be for junkies (it helps them get off heroine), but it does have other (better) uses.  It can be used to treat pain (real, legitimate pain).  It takes care of the pain without the use of opiates that make a person high.  It is such a wonderful drug and helpful for people who are allergic to other narcotics (like Oxy, Percocet, Vicodin, and Fentanyl).  I will get off my soapbox now!

I won a copy of All Fall Down from Goodreads First Reads Program.  

I am currently reading The Paradise of Glass by Petra Durst-Benning. What are you reading?  I am always looking for new books.  Have a lovely Sunday afternoon and Happy Reading!


Kris
The Avid Reader

Tea, Tiramisu and Tough Guys

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!  We have some unusual holidays! My idea of a pirate is Captain Hook on Once Upon a Time!  He is such a handsome devil!  Did everyone have a good Saturday?  I did not overdue today.  My energy level was on the low end.  

Tea, Tiramisu and Tough Guys by Harper Lin is a fun cozy mystery to read.  It is the second book in the Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries.  Francesca “Fran” Amaro owns Antonia’s Italian Café.  She serves all types of coffees and some sweet treats.  Thanks to a British customer, Fran is exploring adding tea drinks to the menu.  Fran and Matt Cardosi have been spending more time together since Fran solved the murder of Matt’s father.  Matt and Fran grew up together and are now neighbors.  They are also exploring have a closer relationship (as a couple).  Things are going along smoothly when the local gossip tells them that Joe Davis has been stabbed to death in the parking lot of Todd’s Gym.  Joe is a few years younger than Fran, but her second in command, Sammy grew up with Joe.  Turns out that the owner of Todd’s Gym was the guy Fran had a crush on in high school.  His name is Todd Caruthers (typical sports jock).  Fran decides to investigate the murder (she cannot help herself) despite warnings from Mike, the local police detective. 

Todd turns out to be the main suspect, but Fran is sure he is innocent (based on two conversations).  Matt tries to show Fran that Todd could be guilty based on the facts.  This case puts Matt and Fran at odds with each other (I think Matt is jealous of Todd).  Who really killed Joe Davis?  Can Fran solve the case?  What will happen to the budding relationship between Matt and Fran?  You will have to read Tea, Tiramisu and Tough Guys to find out!  I found this to be an enjoyable novel to read.  It provided many laughs for me.  I give Tea, Tiramisu and Tough Guys 4.25 out of 5 stars.  My one problem is the person who committed the crime was not introduced until late in the book (and then it is obvious he committed the crime). My favorite part of a cozy mystery is solving the murder, and I did not get the opportunity with this book.  This book can easily be read without reading the first book in the series (I did).  The first book in the series is Cappuccinos, Cupcakes and a Corpse.

I received a complimentary copy of Tea, Tiramisu and Tough Guys from the author in exchange for an honest review.  The review and opinions expressed are my own.

I am off to watch Cedar Cove.  The book I am currently reading is Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg.  Have a good evening and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Poet and the Prophecy

My wasp problem is getting smaller!  I am glad that I bought two different sprays.  The first one (with the non-conducting electricity) got rid of 80% of the wasps.  I have waited two days and now I have sprayed again (with the second spray).  The second spray is supposed to work over several days to get the stragglers.  Keep your fingers crossed that they go away permanently!

The Poet and the Prophecy by Cecilia Tan is the fourth book in the Magical University series.  This book is an erotic novel with a magical theme (the cover makes it look like a young adult or children’s book).  Kyle Wadsworth is entering his senior year at Veritas (next to Harvard).  It is a college for magical students.  Kyle has been asked to move back into Gladius House (like a dorm), and that Timothy Frost will be moving back in as well (Kyle is in love with him).  Kyle cannot forget Frost, but Frost wants Kyle to keep his distance.  Frost is a man during the day and a girl at night (Frost thinks it is a curse and dislikes his female form).  Kyle broke the enchantment that kept Frost a man full-time and no one has been able to fix it.  Kyle wants to try fixing the problem for Frost (and hoping it will mend their relationship). 

There are some big problems in the magical world.  People are losing their abilities (the Sight) and people are saying that the Burning Days (the end of magic) are coming.  Kyle and his friends work to find a solution.  Can they fix the problem in time?  Will Timothy Frost ever let Kyle get close to him?

I find Timothy Frost to be a very weak character.  I got very tired of him pushing Kyle away and the whining.  He was dealt his lot (and he has suffered a lot in his short life), but he has to find a way to live with being two genders.  The Poet and the Prophecy got much better in the second half of the book.  It is not as good as the first book in the series, but much better than The Tower and the Tears (Book Two) and The Incubus and the Angel (Book Three).  The book does have a good ending and a nice epilogue.  I give The Poet and the Prophecy 3.75 out of 5 stars.  I think the author made the magic a little too complicated (I started skimming through the technical talk after a while).  I also do not think this series lived up to its potential.  The first book was very good and interesting, but the rest of the series just to live up to that first novel, The Siren and the Sword.  Please be aware that the novel does contain foul language and explicit sex scenes.  You do have to read the other book in the series in order to understand what is going on in The Poet and the Prophecy (otherwise you will be lost). 

I received a complimentary copy of The Poet and the Prophecy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tonight is the beginning of season three for Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.  It is a wonderful show.  It is set in 1920's Australia with a great female detective.  If you are interested, check your local PBS stations. I hope everyone has a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Her Final Breath

Happy Read an Ebook Day!  I love ebooks.  I think the Kindle is one of the best inventions.  The print is so small in paperback books and difficult for me to read (I have had bad eyesight since I was seven years old).  I can make the print any size I need it with a Kindle.  I can also make notes and highlight sections in a book as I read it (which is helpful for reviews). When we used to go away, I would pack so many books (I did not want to be without a book to read).  Now I just need my Kindle (I have hundreds of books at my fingertips). I saw a picture of the Kindle today.  It is bigger and thinner.  I like the idea of having a bigger screen. This one is ten inches!  I know what I want for Christmas!

Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni is the second book in the Tracy Crosswhite series.  In the first book they mentioned the case of Nicole Hansen, a young woman that was killed in a motel.  The person had hog tied her so that if she relaxed, she strangled from the rope around her neck.  The A-Team of the Violent Crimes section was unable to solve the case (Tracy was working on her sister’s murder case at the time) and after a month their boss, Captain Johnny Nolasco moved the case to the Cold Case Unit.  Now Tracy Crosswhite and her team have another victim.  The killer is escalating. 

Tracy is also having trouble with her boss, Johnny Nolasco.  He is determined to get rid of Tracy while making himself look good (he has carried this vendetta for twenty years)!  He is setting Tracy up for failure with The Cowboy Killer case (as this guy has been dubbed).  Tracy is enjoying her relationship with Dan O’Leary.  He is still living in Cedar Grove, but he frequently drives to Seattle to spend time with Tracy.  Dan also gets involved in the Cowboy Killer case.  They have a case that was closed nine years earlier that could be related (Beth Stinson).  It was closed by Captain Johnny Nolasco and his partner who were known for cutting corners (and working the evidence to frame who they believed was the guilty party).  Tracy cannot work the case at work because of Captain Nolasco (he will not like it).  Dan starts questioning the witnesses and Wayne Gerhardt (who was convicted of the crime).  Can they find the killer in time?  How many more victims will there be before they catch the Cowboy Killer?

Her Final Breath was a good book.  It has a lot of twists and turns on the road to finding the killer.  However, the killer was very obvious.  I knew who it was from the moment the character was introduced (I avoided descriptive pronouns so there would not be a spoiler).  The writer did provide some great clues and wrote a good mystery.  I felt that Her Final Breath was a little long (it is longer than the first book and twice the length of a cozy mystery).  I think there could have been some editing to make it a better novel (a lot of descriptive paragraphs).  I give Her Final Breath 4.5 out of 5 stars (since I was able to solve the mystery).  Robert Dugoni is a very skilled writer and I look forward to his next book.  Her Final Breath is available on Kindle Unlimited.

I received a complimentary copy of Her Final Breath from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for reading my book reviews.  I hope everyone is having a great Friday!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

My Sister's Grave

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!  Today is my birthday! I am getting my favorite dinner:  spaghetti and meatballs!  My gift is a pair of tennis shoes I love (see below)!  They are so cute!  They will look good with my skinny jeans this winter (or capri jeans).  

My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni is a great mystery novel and the first book in the Tracy Crosswhite series.  Tracy Crosswhite has been haunted by the disappearance of her sister, Sarah (disappeared in 1993) for the last twenty years.  Tracy lost her husband (he could not take her obsession with the case), her father committed suicide, and she changed jobs (from teacher to detective).  Edmund House was convicted of the crime of kidnapping and killing her sister, but Sarah’s (Tracy’s sister) body has never been found.  There was also something wrong with the evidence and testimony at the trial.  After twenty years the body has been discovered.  It was previously covered over with water from a dam which was why it was not found previously.  Tracy reconnects with her childhood friend, Dan O’Leary.  Dan is an attorney and Tracy asks him to look over her file.  Dan agrees that something was going on at the trial and with some of the evidence.

Dan takes on Edmund House’s case.  All the evidence will be brought out again and witnesses will be questioned.  There are some people, though, that do not want this to happen.  Some things are better left alone.  Tracy cannot let the case rest.  She has unanswered questions.  Tracy wants everything out in the open, so she can finally put it behind her.  Will Tracy get the answers she desires?  Who really killed Sarah Crosswhite and why? 

I enjoyed reading My Sister’s Grave.  The novel grabbed me in the first chapter.  I think some sections could have been eliminated, but it was overall a well-written book.  I figured out the mystery, but I loved following the clues.  I give My Sister’s Grave 4 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading Her Final Breath (the next book in the series).  My Sister's Grave is available on Kindle Unlimited!

I received a complimentary copy of My Sister’s Grave from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading The Poet and the Prophecy by Cecilia Tan (fourth book in series).  I am really hoping it is better than books two and three (I want to see how the series ends).  I hope all of you have a great day and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Detective's Secret

I stopped at the hardware store and picked up some wasp spray. One states it has "non-conducting electricity"!  I hope it gets rid of the wasps! I also got some paint samples for the house and kitchen! I just love the colors we have picked.  I will have to photograph them and put them online so you can see them.

The Detective’s Secret by Lesley Thomson is a very long drawn out novel.  Stella and Jack have other jobs, but they have also had success in solving mysteries.  William Frost wants to hire them to find out what really happened to his brother, Rick.  Jack actually saw Rick run and jump in front of a train.  Was it suicide or did someone make him do it?  There is also the mystery of what happened to a man who was locked in a water tower back in the late 1980’s.  The two mysteries are linked.  Stella and Jack work to solve them.

I did not enjoy The Detective’s Secret.  It is a very long and protracted novel with an extremely confusing beginning.  I did not think it would ever end (and I was sorry I ever agreed to read it).  I managed to finish the novel, but my heart was not in it.  The main characters are not likable.  Jack is creepy and likes to say these strange rhymes.  Stella is a worry wart, and I did not like her attitude towards Stanley, the dog (cute little dog).  The only interesting thing in this book was the two mysteries (that were tied together).  I give The Detective’s Secret 2 out of 5 stars (for the mysteries and how they were linked together).  There are a lot of descriptive paragraphs that could have been eliminated (they were completely unnecessary). 

I received a complimentary copy of The Detective’s Secret from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni.  I hope you have a wonderful, Wednesday evening.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

Little Woman in Blue

Today is my grocery shopping day.  Thankfully my list is short today.  The biggest items are for the cats and dogs!  I also need something strong to get rid of wasps.  We had wasps build a nest into this little gap where the porch was enclosed (added to the living room).  I thought by filling in the gap, the wasps would go away.  Wrong!  I have gone through six cans of different wasp/bee spray.  They are still alive and strong!  I have even tried several natural solutions with no results.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I am a desperate person (as I am very allergic to them).

I just finished reading Little Woman in Blue by Jeannine Atkins.  It tells the story of May Alcott, Louisa May Alcott’s sister (who wrote Little Women and many other wonderful books).  May is the youngest sister and loves to create art.  Her family is more into books and May does not believe they recognize or acknowledge her work.  May works to finance her art classes and dreams of going to Europe (to study art).  The book goes on to describe May’s life in Massachusetts, her travels in Europe, her marriage, and artistic successes.

I had an extremely difficult time getting into this book.  I was looking forward to reading it since I love the works of Louisa May Alcott. I have read just about everything Louisa May Alcott has written (I have a collection of her works) as well as novels on her life.  Little Woman in Blue is very slow paced (snails move faster) and jumps around from scene to scene.  The novel lacks continuity.  I give Little Woman in Blue 2.75 out of 5 stars.  I found it to be very dry reading (like a biography or textbook) instead of a novel.  It does contain interesting information about May Alcott (the book skims through her life), her love of art, and her feelings toward her sister, Louisa.  I just wish the author had written it in a more conversational style that was easy to read. The book will be out on September 22, 2015 (it was released yesterday, but now it is on pre-order again).

I received a complimentary copy of Little Woman in Blue from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The review and opinions expressed are my own.

I am currently reading Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni.  I hope you have a wonderful afternoon and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Scam

It is book release Tuesday!  Some new books that came out today are The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby, The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldbert (review below), A Wedding at Orange Blossom Inn by Shelley Shepard Gray, Twice Blessed by Barbara Cameron, and The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen by Katherine Howe.

The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg is the fourth book in the Fox and O’Hare series.  Kate O’Hare is an FBI Agent who has an unusual partner.  Nicolas Fox is a world class con artist and thief.  Kate caught him and the FBI is now using him to catch other criminals.  Their latest assignment is taking them into the world of gambling and money laundering in Macao (China).  They are going to take down Evan Trace who owns Cote d’Argent (a hotel in Las Vegas as well).  He lets unscrupulous people launder their money through his casinos (for a fee).  Kate and Nick will have to come up with a good plan to take down Evan Trace.  They will have the help of Kate’s father, Jack O’Hare (retired army who loves weapons, spending time in jungles, and blowing up things).  This team will have to work quickly and be able to adapt in order to catch their prey.

The Scam is a fast-paced novel that is so much fun to read.  There is a lot of action in the book as well as some steamy romance.  I give The Scam 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The one thing I did not like was the cliffhanger ending (spoiler).  You can enjoy The Scam without having read the previous books in the series (I did).  If you are looking for a thriller/suspense book with a lot of action (and some fun), this is the book for you!

I received a complimentary copy of The Scam from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni. I am sincerely hoping it is better than the last two novels I have read. Have a lovely Tuesday and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Loft

My father cringes when I come into the room!  I keep pushing food at him (and medication, special drinks).  I want him to get better! He keeps telling me that nothing tastes good.  I told him too bad, he has to eat!  I am not being mean, just practical.  The doctor gave me orders, and I am carrying them out!  Do you have a stubborn parents (or child)?  I have discovered that he will eat home cooked meals (as opposed to the TV dinners which he normally loves and enjoys).  I will do whatever it takes to make him better.  My father will be 80 years old next month and I want him to be around for many more years to come.

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is the second book in the Memory House series.  Annie Cross is marrying Oliver Doyle.  It has been a year since Annie stumbled across The Memory House Bed and Breakfast and Ophelia Browne in Burnsville.  Ophelia and Annie are a family.  Annie is leaving on her honeymoon when she has a feeling that something is wrong with Ophelia.  They turn around and find out that Ophelia decided to drive herself to church (after not driving for a year) and suffered a heart attack.  Ophelia needed surgery and then has to have six to eight weeks of rehabilitation.  The doctor states that Ophelia will need to make some life changes and that includes no stairs (the stairs in her home lead to her beloved loft). Oliver and Annie decide to build a duplicate to Ophelia’s precious loft on the ground level.  They enlist the services of Max Martinelli.  Max is an architect with a special soul.  She can feel the wonderful memories in the house.  Annie and Max hit it off right away.

Ophelia, though, while in rehab makes some new friends and discovers a new life.  A life of living with friends and fun (instead of living with her memories of her deceased husband).  Ophelia meets Lillian Markowitz.  Lillian is loud and brassy but extremely friendly.  Lillian and her friends show Ophelia that there is fun to be had with new friends and, maybe a new home!  Can Ophelia move on without hurting Annie’s feelings?  Annie has a new husband and the beginnings of a new life.  Is Annie ready to embrace this new life or will she cling to the Ophelia?  Oliver just wants Annie to be happy, but he also wants her to love him as much as she does Ophelia.  Just when things are going good for Annie, something tragic happens.  Annie had so much happiness that the scale was tipped too far in one direction.  Annie will have to have faith and love to get the scale back in balance.

The Loft was such a lovely novel.  It is a Christian themed novel, but it is not in any way preachy.  It is well written and enjoyable to read.  The book just moves along nicely (no chopping endings or rough transitions).  You will smile, laugh, sigh, and cry while reading The Loft.  I give The Loft 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The ending is the one thing that bothered me.  We are left with a question.  We will have to wait until the next book to find out the answer. The first book in the series is Memory House.  The Loft came out today!

I received a complimentary copy of The Loft from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Thank you for checking out my latest review.  Have a great afternoon and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster

I took the dogs outside at about 3 a.m. and I was amazed that it was actually a little bit cool outside!  It was so nice.  We normally do not get cool nights until October or November.  I wish it would stay cool like that all day (I can dream).  Maybe we will actually get a nice fall this year (since we had no spring).  

I just finished a delightful book called The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster by Scott Wilbanks.  Annie Aster lives in the home she grew up in in San Francisco, California.  It is May of 1995.  Annie is a unique individual (she loves wearing vintage clothing).  She just had a new red door installed in the kitchen (that looks outside).  T has unusual carvings around it (like runes).  The next morning Annie has a wheat field and a log cabin in her backyard.  When she tries to go visit, she ends up back in her own yard.  There is also a little mailbox sitting between the two properties.  Annie is delighted especially when she finds a letter in the mailbox from the lady in the cabin. 

Elsbeth Grundy is sixty-five years old and living in Sage, Kansas in May of 1895.  She is a loner, a widow, and not happy to find the colorful (aubergine and gold) Victorian in her wheat field.  Elsbeth tries to get to the door of the Victorian house, but finds herself right back where she started.  Elsbeth decides to write a letter to the home owner telling her how she feels.  This is the beginning of correspondence between Elsbeth and Annie (entertaining letters).  This gets Annie started on looking into the origins of the door.  She purchased it an antique store that was originally in Kansas City, Kansas (what a coincidence).  The door was owned by magician and illusionist, David Abbott.  How does the door work though?  Are Annie and Elsbeth connected in some way?  A definite mystery that Annie cannot resist.  Annie, Elsbeth, and some other wonderful characters are in for an adventure with the red door.

I found The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster to be an enjoyable book to read.  I give The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster 5 out of 5 stars.  It is an engaging and well written novel that will have you hooked from the first page.  I loved the characters.  They were fun, quirky, and relatable (I definitely relate to quirky).  I loved how the author tied everything together in the end.  This is a unique novel that is just a delight to read.  It has magic (paranormal) and a mystery (I love both things).  I was sorry to see the book end.  I am sorry that I did not read this book sooner, and I look forward to reading the next book by Scott Wilbanks.

I received a complimentary copy of The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The review and opinions expressed are my own.

I am currently reading The Detective's Secret by Leslie Thomson.  I finished The Scam by Janet Evanovich early this morning (about 3 a.m.). It was a good book (fast paced and easy to read).  I hope everyone has a great day and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader