Lie Down With Lions by Ken Follett

 My Rating: 4.7

Two men on opposite sides of the Cold War with a woman torn between them. This starts in France and then goes to Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is a typical Follett with intrigue, passion and betrayal.

If you are like me, you will have to skip over the gratuitous sex scene - UGH! I don't consider myself a prude but those pages and pages of descriptive sex  were not only completely unnecessary to the plot line but detracted from the book. I had to let the book marinate a few days after I finished it to realize that as horrible as that sex scene was, the rest of the book was worth recommending.

Fear The Darkness #2 by Becky Masterman

 My Rating: 4.3

Ex-FBI agent Brigid Quinn wants to settle down with her hubby in Tucson and enjoy life. When her sister-in-law dies, she takes in her 17 year old niece Gemma Kate. Gemma Kate is not your ordinary teenager and soon, disturbing things start to happen. Brigid is also helping a couple investigate the death of their son. It seems that her serene life is not to be in the near future.

This wasn't as good for me as her first book in this series but, I do love Brigid and that this takes place in Tucson. I will definitely be reading the next books in this series as I love a good strong female lead character and the setting and writing style are so enjoyable.

Bookmarks Magazine Sept/Oct 2021

One of my absolute favorite ways to spend an afternoon is curled up with a Bookmarks Magazine. So much anticipation and this one didn't disappoint! I have loaded up my book queue with the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me know any books that I missed or any that you have read that you think I should add to my queue.

The Shadows by Alex North

 My Rating: 5.0

Charlie Crabtree is the sinister edgy ringleader of the four boy pack. Charlie has them going further and further until it divides the group and ends in a murder so shocking that it goes down in infamy. There are internet groups that recount the horrors as well as copycat killers. It was so jarring that Paul Adams moved away and hasn't been back, until now. It is 25 years later and his mother is old and senile so he returns to his childhood town only to be reliving so much of what transpired.

       

If you aren't grounded in a strong positive place, this may not be the book for you right now. It WILL disturb your peace. Yikies is it well told and so creepy. I can't wait for Mr. North to write more!

Who Is Maud Dixon by Alexandra Andrews

 My Rating: 4.8

Florence is a low level employee at a publishing house. Florend stumbles into a job the assistant to the brilliant, enigmatic novelist who writes under the pseudonym Maud Dixon (real name Helen). Although Helen isn't an easy employer, it appears that the universe is finally providing Florence’s big chance.

Do NOT read the description of this book as it will spoil it. The first half of the book is building to what is in the book description so it is a definite spoiler. All of the critical reviews say that it shouldn't have taken 50% of the book to get to that part and it should have been edited down....but if you don't know what "it" is, it is written perfectly giving you the background and build up to the event. A twisted fun thriller with a creative plot line.

Rage Against The Dying #1 by Becky Masterman

 My Rating: 4.8

Brigid Quinn's experiences in hunting sexual predators for the FBI have left her with memories she wishes she didn't have and lethal skills she hopes never to need again. Having been pushed into early retirement by events she thinks she's put firmly behind her, Brigid keeps telling herself she is settling down nicely in Tucson with a wonderful new husband, Carlo, and their dogs.

I love a strong female character and combine that with her living in my State (ok, Tucson, Arizona but close enough!) and this is fabulous. Such a delightful blend of light and comedic and gruesome. It makes it flow like a light read but has some serious thriller and grittiness to it. Can't wait to read more in this series.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

 My Rating: 2.7

1934 Texas. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. It is not an ideal time for Elsa to find herself pregnant.

Again, I am in the minority on my thoughts on this book. I enjoyed the first half although it did drag and was so depressing (ok, I know it was the Great Depression lol!) It did a great job of capturing the drought and the dust. Despite the characters being simplistic and stereotypical, I did really enjoy the relationship between Elsa and her Martinelli in-laws. The second half of the book completely lost me. Loreda's epiphany of their life and suddenly 'happening' into a New Deal meeting, Elsa connecting with the group leader, blah blah blah. It took everything I could to finish this and wasn't worth it.

Raft of Stars by Andrew J. Graff

 My Rating: 2.5

Ten-year-old Fischer “Fish” Branson and Dale “Bread” Breadwin are shaped by the two fathers they don’t talk about. Fish is tired of seeing Bread's father abuse him. A shot rings out and the boys, believing they are murders go on the run.

This book captures living off the land, fishing, hunting and the boys relationship. I felt it had potential but it ended up being very 'cutesy' and just didn't pull of the storyline.