Thursday, March 20, 2008

It Takes a Thief by Kay Hooper

It Takes A Thief (Loveswept #312) - Jennifer Chantry was retrieving a bracelet from the plantation home her father had lost gambling. Ducking into a room she ran into another intruder, Dane Prescott. Later, Garrett Kelly, the current owner of Belle Retour, accuses Jennifer and her mother of robbing his safe. This leads Jennifer back to Dane who concocts a plan to get Belle Retour back for Jennifer and continue with his owns intentions for Kelly.

This story is part of another series. I don’t know where it belongs though. From what I can gather its part of the Hagan series, but I haven’t found a list of the order or what books are in the series. I do know that Raven on the Wing comes some time before.

It Takes a Thief by Kay Hooper

It Takes A Thief (Loveswept #312) - Jennifer Chantry was retrieving a bracelet from the plantation home her father had lost gambling. Ducking into a room she ran into another intruder, Dane Prescott. Later, Garrett Kelly, the current owner of Belle Retour, accuses Jennifer and her mother of robbing his safe. This leads Jennifer back to Dane who concocts a plan to get Belle Retour back for Jennifer and continue with his owns intentions for Kelly.

This story is part of another series. I don’t know where it belongs though. From what I can gather its part of the Hagan series, but I haven’t found a list of the order or what books are in the series. I do know that Raven on the Wing comes some time before.

A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry

A Christmas Beginning: A Novel - Superintendent Runcorn of Scotland Yard has taken his holiday on the island of Anglesey. While he is there he meets Melisande Ewart’s brother, John Barclay. Melisande had been a witness for Runcorn in London and he has not forgotten her. He attends the Sunday morning services of the nearby church hoping to see Melisande. He meets the pastor, his wife, and his sister, Olivia. A couple of days later, Olivia is murdered. Melisande asks Runcorn to help and the local constable reluctantly agrees that he needs it.

This book is part of Perry’s Christmas Novels series. Runcorn is a character from the Monk series. I think that this series does not necessarily need to be read in order. However, I do think knowledge of her Monk and Pitt series do help with the background of the main characters.

A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry

A Christmas Beginning: A Novel - Superintendent Runcorn of Scotland Yard has taken his holiday on the island of Anglesey. While he is there he meets Melisande Ewart’s brother, John Barclay. Melisande had been a witness for Runcorn in London and he has not forgotten her. He attends the Sunday morning services of the nearby church hoping to see Melisande. He meets the pastor, his wife, and his sister, Olivia. A couple of days later, Olivia is murdered. Melisande asks Runcorn to help and the local constable reluctantly agrees that he needs it.

This book is part of Perry’s Christmas Novels series. Runcorn is a character from the Monk series. I think that this series does not necessarily need to be read in order. However, I do think knowledge of her Monk and Pitt series do help with the background of the main characters.

Monday, March 17, 2008

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The Pillars of the Earth, [Hardcover] by Ken FollettIt is 12th century England. King Henry the First’s daughter Maud and her cousin Stephen are fighting over the throne. The whole country is in civil war. Our story centers on the town of Kingsbridge, the building of its cathedral, and of course, the people involved.
Tom the Builder and his children Alfred and Martha; Ellen, the town “witch” and her son Jack; Brother Phillip; the Earl Bartholomew’s children Richard and Aliena; arch deacon Waleran Bigod; and William Hamleigh.
This tome takes a long time to read. However, I did enjoy it very much.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The Pillars of the Earth, [Hardcover] by Ken FollettIt is 12th century England. King Henry the First’s daughter Maud and her cousin Stephen are fighting over the throne. The whole country is in civil war. Our story centers on the town of Kingsbridge, the building of its cathedral, and of course, the people involved.
Tom the Builder and his children Alfred and Martha; Ellen, the town “witch” and her son Jack; Brother Phillip; the Earl Bartholomew’s children Richard and Aliena; arch deacon Waleran Bigod; and William Hamleigh.
This tome takes a long time to read. However, I did enjoy it very much.

World Withour End by Ken Follet

World Without EndMerthin and Ralph, sons of Sir Gerald, descendents of the Earl Thomas who was the son of Jack Builder and Lady Aliena, meet Gwenda, Philemon and Caris when they move to Kingsbridge. Caris’ ancestor is Tom Builder; Brother Godwyn of the Priory is her uncle. Halloween 1327 they witness Thomas Langley kill two of the queens’ men-at-arms. As the years pass and the plague comes, Merthin, makes his way as a builder, Ralph strives to be a knight, Gwenda fights to be free of the bully Ralph, Philemon wheedles his way in the Priory with Godwyn, and Caris works to improves the towns’ health and hospitals.

Although this tome is as long as The Pillars of the Earth, I enjoyed this book more and finished it quickly. I feel I know the characters better and felt their ups ands downs more.

World Withour End by Ken Follet

World Without EndMerthin and Ralph, sons of Sir Gerald, descendents of the Earl Thomas who was the son of Jack Builder and Lady Aliena, meet Gwenda, Philemon and Caris when they move to Kingsbridge. Caris’ ancestor is Tom Builder; Brother Godwyn of the Priory is her uncle. Halloween 1327 they witness Thomas Langley kill two of the queens’ men-at-arms. As the years pass and the plague comes, Merthin, makes his way as a builder, Ralph strives to be a knight, Gwenda fights to be free of the bully Ralph, Philemon wheedles his way in the Priory with Godwyn, and Caris works to improves the towns’ health and hospitals.

Although this tome is as long as The Pillars of the Earth, I enjoyed this book more and finished it quickly. I feel I know the characters better and felt their ups ands downs more.

7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club) - The Women’s Murder Club is trying to have a weekend away, but Lindsay is called back to work when a big break comes in the disappearance of Michael Campion. Campion is the teenage son of an ex-governor and lives with an incurable heart disease. DA Yuki Castellano ends up prosecuting a circumstantial case against his suspected killer. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Rich Conklin are chasing arsonists who target well-to-do parents of college students.

7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club) - The Women’s Murder Club is trying to have a weekend away, but Lindsay is called back to work when a big break comes in the disappearance of Michael Campion. Campion is the teenage son of an ex-governor and lives with an incurable heart disease. DA Yuki Castellano ends up prosecuting a circumstantial case against his suspected killer. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Rich Conklin are chasing arsonists who target well-to-do parents of college students.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Strangers in Death By J.D. Robb

Strangers in Death (In Death) - Thomas Anders is found murdered in a very comprising manner. His wife, Ava, is on vacation with her friends and has a solid alibi. Eve knows that Ava is responsible but the evidence doesn’t add up.

Although interesting, this book doesn’t reach the level of the other Eve Dallas books. This story seems to be more about the frustration of detective work than mystery.

Strangers in Death By J.D. Robb

Strangers in Death (In Death) - Thomas Anders is found murdered in a very comprising manner. His wife, Ava, is on vacation with her friends and has a solid alibi. Eve knows that Ava is responsible but the evidence doesn’t add up.

Although interesting, this book doesn’t reach the level of the other Eve Dallas books. This story seems to be more about the frustration of detective work than mystery.

Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen

Pandora's Daughter - Megan Blair has heard voices in her head all her life. Her mother told her she would outgrow it. As an adult she learns that it’s the echoes of past lives and her mother had control over it. Now, Neal Grady has been controlling her voices and needs her help. There's the requisite bad guy, Molino, who wants to kill her. I picked up this book and just couldn’t put it down.

Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen

Pandora's Daughter - Megan Blair has heard voices in her head all her life. Her mother told her she would outgrow it. As an adult she learns that it’s the echoes of past lives and her mother had control over it. Now, Neal Grady has been controlling her voices and needs her help. There's the requisite bad guy, Molino, who wants to kill her. I picked up this book and just couldn’t put it down.

Monday, March 3, 2008

The Race by Richard North Patterson

The Race - Corey Grace had grown up knowing he was special in middle town America and he hated it. As soon as he could he joined the Air Force Academy, where again he excelled, and then joined the Gulf War in Saudi Arabia. There he was captured, held prisoner, and tortured. When he returned home, a hero, his home state elected him senator, and he started his rise to the Oval Office. Which is what the focus of the story is, the presidential campaign, rather, the wheeling and dealing behind the close doors of the campaigns. It also illustrates how the campaigns are organized, who does what etc.. and the affect it has on the candidates and to a smaller extent on the candidates families.

The Race by Richard North Patterson

The Race - Corey Grace had grown up knowing he was special in middle town America and he hated it. As soon as he could he joined the Air Force Academy, where again he excelled, and then joined the Gulf War in Saudi Arabia. There he was captured, held prisoner, and tortured. When he returned home, a hero, his home state elected him senator, and he started his rise to the Oval Office. Which is what the focus of the story is, the presidential campaign, rather, the wheeling and dealing behind the close doors of the campaigns. It also illustrates how the campaigns are organized, who does what etc.. and the affect it has on the candidates and to a smaller extent on the candidates families.