50 Books On My To Read List for 2016

50 Books I Want to Read 2016

  1. Crazy Rich Asians – Kevin Kwan
  2. A Hundred Summers – Beatriz Williams
  3. A Year of Marvellous Ways – Sarah Winman
  4. The Liar – Nora Roberts
  5. Christmas on Primrose Hill – Karen Swan
  6. Dead Wake – Erik Larson
  7. The Garden of Letters – Alyson Richman
  8. What We Find – Robyn Carr
  9. The Lake House – Kate Morton
  10. Most Wanted – Lisa Scottoline
  11. Darkness – Karen Robards
  12. Nobody But You – Jill Shalvis
  13. The Summer Before The War – Helen Simonson
  14. A Desperate Fortune – Susanna Kearsley
  15. The Forgetting Time – Sharon Guskin
  16. The Last Mile – David Baldacci
  17. The Fortune Hunter – Daisy Goodwin
  18. Secrets of a Charmed Life – Susan Meissner
  19. The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah
  20. Troublemaker – Linda Howard
  21. Lost & Found – Brooke Davis
  22. Private Rio – James Patterson & Mark Sullivan
  23. The Bookseller – Cynthia Swanson (READ) 9/10
  24. The Weekenders – Mary Kay Andrews
  25. The Pursuit – Janet Evanovich
  26. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – J K Rowling
  27. Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
  28. Pretty Girls – Karin Slaughter
  29. Best of My Love – Susan Mallery
  30. The Little Paris Bookshop – Nina George
  31. Here’s to Us – Elin Hilderbrand
  32. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry – Gabrielle Zevin
  33. Best Kept Secret – Amy Hatvany
  34. Trauma – Michael Palmer & Daniel Palmer
  35. The Apartment – Danielle Steel
  36. First Comes Love – Emily Giffin
  37. A Great Reckoning – Louise Penny
  38. Honolulu – Alan Brennert
  39. The Golem & Jinni – Helene Wecker
  40. Winter Bloom – Tara Heavey
  41. Flawless – Heather Graham
  42. The Obsession – Nora Roberts
  43. Poisonous – Allison Brennan
  44. The Winter Sea – Di Morrissey
  45. Truly, Madly, Guilty – Liane Moriarty
  46. Ordinary Grace – William Kent Kruger
  47. Fool Me Once – Harlan Coben
  48. About Grace – Anthony Doerr
  49. Landline – Rainbow Rowell
  50. The Time In Between – David Bergen

#BookReview Private Paris by James Patterson & Mark Sullivan

#BookReview Private Paris by James Patterson & Mark Sullivan Title: Private Paris

Author: James Patterson, Mark T. Sullivan

Series: Private #10

Published by: Little Brown and Company on Mar. 14, 2016

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 411

Format: Hardcover

Source: Borrowed

Book Rating: 8/10

Paris is burning–and only Private’s Jack Morgan can put out the fire.

When Jack Morgan stops by Private’s Paris office, he envisions a quick hello during an otherwise relaxing trip filled with fine food and sightseeing. But Jack is quickly pressed into duty after a call from his client Sherman Wilkerson, asking Jack to track down his young granddaughter who is on the run from a brutal drug dealer.

Before Jack can locate her, several members of France’s cultural elite are found dead–murdered in stunning, symbolic fashion. The only link between the crimes is a mysterious graffiti tag. As religious and ethnic tensions simmer in the City of Lights, only Jack and his Private team can connect the dots before the smoldering powder keg explodes.


Review:

I liked this book and generally enjoy the “Private” series.

It had a good plot and interesting characters.

It was quick-paced, had short chapters, and was easy to read.

I would recommend it and look forward to the next book in the series.

 

#BookReview Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

#BookReview Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith Title: Child 44

Author: Tom Rob Smith

Series: Leo Demidov #1

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Mar. 31, 2015

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 480

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Book Rating: 9/10

In a country ruled by fear, no one is innocent.

Stalin’s Soviet Union is an official paradise, where citizens live free from crime and fear only one thing: the all-powerful state. Defending this system is idealistic security officer Leo Demidov, a war hero who believes in the iron fist of the law, but when a murderer starts to kill at will and Leo dares to investigate, the State’s obedient servant finds himself demoted and exiled. Now, with only his wife at his side, Leo must fight to uncover shocking truths about a killer–and a country where “crime” doesn’t exist.


Review:

I really liked this book.

It was dark. It was gritty. At times it was downright disturbing. But this book is a great mystery.

Smith uses this novel to take us deep into the historical and political nightmare of Stalin’s Russia to catch a killer. And with incredible imagery delves into the hardships and cruelty endured by the people of that time.

It is an intriguing, interesting, well written story with lots of twists and turns. Don’t miss it. It’s hard to put down.

#BookReview The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich

#BookReview The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich Title: The Total Package

Author: Stephanie Evanovich

Published by: William Morrow on Mar. 15, 2016

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 256

Format: Hardcover

Source: Borrowed

Book Rating: 7.5/10

The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about the game of love, in which a hot quarterback must figure out how to score big with a beautiful and talented media analyst after a heartbreaking fumble.

Star quarterback, first-round draft-pick, and heartthrob Tyson Palmer has made a name for himself with his spectacular moves. When the head coach of the Austin Mavericks refuses to let him waste his million-dollar arm, Tyson makes a Hail Mary pass at redemption and succeeds with everyone . . . except Dani, whose negative comments about his performance draw high ratings and spectacular notices of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget the sizzling history the two of them shared in college, a passionate love Tyson casually threw away. And even more infuriating, he doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute girl whose heart he once broke.

But can a woman trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other? And what will happen when Tyson—riding high now that he’s revived his career—realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he make some spectacular moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good?


Review:

After having read Stephanie Evanovich’s other two books and enjoyed them, I was really looking forward to reading this one and it didn’t disappoint.

This story is a second-chance, comeback story, complete with humour and romance with a football backdrop.

The plot moves nicely, the characters are likeable, and the story is heartwarming, fun, and interesting.

I liked it and would definitely recommend it. I think it would be a great beach read.

 

Struggling with The Marriage of Opposites

So I really liked Alice Hoffman’s “The Dovekeepers” and “The Museum of Extraordinary Things” but for some reason I just can’t get into “The Marriage of Opposites”.

I’ve picked it up and started it twice and have once again put it down.

I’m going to move on to some other books for now, but I will definitely come back to it and give it another try.

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#BookReview 14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

#BookReview 14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro Title: 14th Deadly Sin

Author: James Patterson, Maxine Paetro

Series: Women's Murder Club #14

Published by: Little Brown and Company on May 4, 2015

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 384

Format: Hardcover

Source: Borrowed

Book Rating: 7.5/10

Detective Lindsay Boxer and her three best friends are back and recovering from the events that pushed them all to the edge.

After her near-death experience, Yuki is seeing her life from a new perspective and is considering a change in her law career. San Francisco Chronicle reporter Cindy has healed from her gunshot wound and has published a book on the infamous serial killers she helped to bring down. Lindsay is just happy that the gang are all still in one piece.

But a new terror is sweeping the streets of San Francisco. A gang dressed as cops are ransacking the city, and leaving a string of dead bodies in their wake. Lindsay is on the case to track them down and needs to discover whether these killers could actually be police officers. Maybe even cops she already knows…


Review:

I liked this book.

It was an easy read, flowed nicely and was entertaining.

Is the plot somewhat weaker than some of the other WMC books? Maybe. After all it is book #14 in the series.

Saying that, however, I still think it’s worth the read.

 

#BookReview Wildfire in His Arms by Johanna Lindsey

#BookReview Wildfire in His Arms by Johanna Lindsey Title: Wildfire In His Arms

Author: Johanna Lindsey

Series: Callahan-Warren #2

Published by: Pocket Books on Feb. 23, 2016

Genres: Historical Romance

Pages: 464

Format: Paperback

Source: Borrowed

Book Rating: 7.5/10

#1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey’s passionate new tale about a gunfighter running from his past who finds his future when he escorts a beautiful outlaw to her hanging. Featuring one of Lindsey’s most intriguing heroes: the dangerous and mysterious Degan Grant from One Heart to Win.

With his work in Montana completed now that the Callahan-Warren feud has ended in marriage rather than bloodshed, Degan Grant sets out for California because it is far away from the home he wants to forget—until the US Marshal who saved his life calls in a favor. All Degan has to do is apprehend three outlaws on the marshal’s list and turn them over to the law. Easy enough, he figures, for a man no one wants to tangle with.

But then a bold young woman crosses his path. Maxine grew up so pretty and attracted so much unwanted attention in her Texas hometown that events spiraled out of control. She will try anything to escape the handsome, enigmatic gunfighter who intends to turn her over to a corrupt sheriff who will hang her instead of putting her on trial.

Saddled with a sassy, spirited young woman who insists she is innocent, Degan must hunt down a vicious killer and keep an old enemy at bay. But forced into intimate proximity with his beguiling prisoner, he finds his desire sparking into a wildfire of passion, and he can no longer deny that it is time for them to risk confronting their pasts so he can have a chance at a future with her in his arms forever.


Review:

This is a fun, easy read.

If you like the wild west, gunslingers, bounty hunters, horses and romance, this book is for you.

Well written and entertaining.

 

Book Challenge Update #1

So I started 2016 hoping to read and review 200 books this year.

I felt I had been doing a good job, but it wasn’t until I took a quick peek at my read list today that I realized I am already at 69 books for the year. (Although, I haven’t had a chance to blog about all those yet).

Wow! That’s 69 books in 74 days. That’s almost a book a day.

I’m not sure I can keep up with that number but with this start, I may just blow that 200 total right out of the water. Wouldn’t that be awesome!

I better keep that quiet though or my husband may start to wonder what I do all day  😉

#BookReview Memory Man by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci

#BookReview Memory Man by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci Title: Memory Man

Author: David Baldacci

Series: Amos Decker #1

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Apr. 21, 2015

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 416

Format: Hardcover

Source: Borrowed

Book Rating: 9/10

Amos Decker’s life changed forever–twice.

The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect–he can never forget anything.

The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare–his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.

His family destroyed, their killer’s identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can.

But over a year later, a man turns himself into the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time, a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.


Review:

I really enjoyed this book.

I am probably a little biased as David Baldacci is one of my favourite authors, and this book didn’t disappoint.

In Memory Man, we are introduced to some new characters, Decker, Jamison, and Bogart and an entirely new series.

This novel is well written, intriguing, suspenseful, thought-provoking, intelligent and interesting,

From the beginning you are hooked and even though this is a stand-alone novel, the ending only leaves you wanting more.

What more can I say. If you like mystery/suspense novels you will like this book.

Now I just have to patiently wait for the next book in the series, The Last Mile, to get my next Amos Decker fix.

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from the following Amazon links.

Amazon UKAmazon USAmazon Canada

 

For more information on David Baldacci, visit his website at: davidbaldacci.com

or follow him on Twitter at: @davidbaldacci