Arrowood was an excellent read. She is a mystery writer with a future. Loved the surprise ending. This was her sophomore effort and worth the read.
First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Trust me, you will stay up all night to read this funny, sexy, sweet book. Another in the great Chicago Star series. Susan Elizabeth Phillips remains at the top of her game with her writing. Her books, particularly the Chicago Star series are laugh out loud funny, hot and sexy, warm and sweet all at the same time. You will definitely remember them and remember specific scenes. They can be read as stand alone or start from the beginning. Each book does feature former characters but you really can start anywhere and read in any order you want. But read them, you won’t be sorry. I loved this book and all her books! Chicago Star Series in Order: It Had To Be You; Heaven, Texas; Nobody’s Baby But Mine (a personal favorite); Dream A Little Dream; This Heart of Mine; Match Me If You Can (another personal favorite); Natural Born Charmer (and another personal favorite).
Rise The Dark by Michael Koryta
Rise The Dark is an excellent continuation of the Markus Novak storyline that began with Last Words. It is a must-read thriller that pulls you in from the first page until the last. The setting is the beautiful but intimidating vast landscape of Red Lodge, Montana as Novak moves closer to his target and gets drawn into the one place he’s avoided for so long. You simply can’t put this book down. It can be read as a stand alone, but you will want to read Last Words.
End of Watch by Stephen King
A truly satisfying end to the Mr. Mercedes trilogy. This is Stephen King at his best. It's compelling, suspenseful, and completely wonderful. You have to read them in order to fully appreciate the characters you come to care about. Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch. Get them today and enjoy a fast paced, suspenseful packet of summer fun reading!
The 14th Colony by Steve Berry
Steve Berry's The 14th Colony starts you on the Cotton Malone adventure an hooks you on the first page. Fans of Cotton Malone won't be disappointed in this new provocative thriller as he races against the clock from Russia to the White House. I highly recommend.
Redemption Road by John Hart
Redemption Road is the book you have been waiting for since the release of Iron House a few years ago. John is a master storyteller, there are so many characters you ache for and so many flawed, even evil characters you want to see get what is coming for them. You simply can't put this thriller down as he takes you along on this suspenseful, tension packed ride. You will not be disappointed. If you haven't read his earlier books, get them now, you won't be sorry.
Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany
Somewhere Out There is a quick but gripping read that I couldn’t put down. The story follows a young mother and how a momentary bad decision affects her two daughters and herself over the course of their lives. It sounds like a typical “Oprah” long lost reunion, but it isn’t quite that way. The ending is very satisfying and teaches a lesson about letting of of that one bad decision and forgiving yourself and forgiving others. I went immediately out to buy more of her books.
Off the Grid (A Joe Pickett Novel) by C. J. Box
CJ Box remains at the top of his game. Off The Grid was very, very good as Nate, Joe and Sheridan are on a collision course and have no idea what they are walking into or that the other is there. Love how Box uses important issues of the day in the beautiful setting of Wyoming. This will bring chills about open borders, Terrorism, and just how very vulnerable we are! Love his Joe Pickett series and highly recommend them to everyone, love the Yellowstone. Bighorn Mountains, Grand Tetons settings. Pick up any book and start, but real fun to read in order.
She's Not There by Joy Fielding
A fast read, I finished it in a day. A good story, tightly written, although the oldest daughter in the book was over the top obnoxious and you wanted to smack her, it was a good story about the trauma the whole family suffers and the trajectory their life story takes when a child goes missing. She wrapped it up a little too neatly in the end. Her early books are so good. See Jane Run will remain one of my all time favorites. This was a good read, but falls just a little short of OMG good.
The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin
Wow, just wow. This is a book you won't soon forget. It will tease your senses about reincarnation wrapped around love and tenderness. The author skillfully weaves her story around excerpts from a nonfiction book about children's memories of a previous life. This would be an excellent book club discussion book.
The Widow by Fiona Barton
You will race to the end to determine what she knew, did she know, how couldn't she not know, what really happens in the heart of a marriage, when a child goes missing and her husband is accused of a crime. Is she keeping a secret? You won't be able to put it down! A compelling psychological drama by a promising new author.
Find Her by Lisa Gardner
This is one of her most intense thrillers. Maybe because it involves a woman being kidnapped for hundreds of days and survives - sort of - and a pine box, isn’t that every woman’s worst nightmare, how she continues her life, relives it in a way you can’t imagine.... One of my favorite lines in the books is something like “think of the worst thing he can do to you and he’ll do worse than that” Shudder!! Not particularly graphic, scarier because it isn’t I think! Couldn’t put it down, read it with the lights on! Love her books.
Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta
“Those Who Wish Me Dead” starts out with a woman who needs a help with a teenager who is in the witness protection program and she gets into an accident on the Beartooth Pass in Montana as she is on her way to seek help from a survival trainer. The action starts on the first page and you can’t put it down. The book builds on suspense and thrills.
Highly recommend
Last Words by Michael Koryta
Excellent thriller, you can’t turn the pages fast enough. There are no loose threads in this book, everything ties together as an investigator with nothing to lose tries to solve his wife’s death. You are kept guessing until the end. Great stand alone book if you’ve read his previous works featuring Lincoln Perry. I’m going back to read all his previous books!
The Forgotten Room: A Novel by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig
It jumps around a lot between the stories of 3 women of 3 generations, connected to The Forgotten Room. It's worth sticking with the story as it all starts to come together and you realize the connection. I'm a huge fan of Karen White and Beatriz Williams.
The Good Goodbye: A Novel by Carla Buckley
The Good Goodbye - Another wonderful psychological suspense from Carla, with a huge surprise near the end. She just keeps getting better. If you haven’t read her, buy her books! I’ve been a fan since her book The Things That Keep Us Here. Pick up the The Good Goodbye today, you won’t be sorry.
The Ice Queen: A Novel by Nele Neuhaus
The Ice Queen was a great crime thriller. I waited for this book to be released in paperback. After racing to the surprise ending, I ordered her earlier books in the series to read. I didn't feel I missed much reading this out of order in the series and she has been bumped up to my hardback list. Excellent read.
The Bitter Season by Tami Hoag
The Bitter Season was a great read in the Kovac/Liska series. Tami is on my favorite author list, see other books reviewed!
Nostalgia from: A City Set Upon a Hill: Memories of Boarding School; Seven years ... seven damn good years by Garfield "Garry" Whyte
I thoroughly enjoyed this small sentimental memoir that transports you into a sweet, wistful memory of his time spent and lessons well learned at an influential all boys boarding high school in Jamacia. I loved the quotes he used to set up each chapter.
Ashley Bell: A Novel by Dean Koontz
Oh my gosh, it's Dean Koontz at his best. I've loved his books since I picked up Watchers in 1987, no matter where he takes you, it's worth the ride. This book reminds me of vintage Koontz.
Well that wraps up 2015. I'll just close the last page on Ashley Bell! I'll post as I read in 2016.
