REVIEW: Live to Tell

Title: Live to Tell
Author: Lisa Gardner
Finished: March 10, 2011
Pages: 390
Published: 2010
Format: Early Reviewer

I’ve read one other Gardner book in the past, but this book kept me on the edge of my seat and I could barely put it down long enough to work or do anything else productive. I absolutely loved it.

Three different women, three different lives, and three different stories that all come together in the most unexpected ways to create the most thrilling and compelling story I have read in awhile.

A mother worried about her disturbed son, a cop sexually frustrated and searching for answers, and a caretaker of young children looking to erase the past hoping for a better future.

All three women are struggling with the truths in their lives, running from their pasts and they come together to solve the biggest mysteries of all … the truth behind their suffering and find a killer who holds to key to everything.

Amazing book. I can’t wait to read more from Gardner.

*challenges: off the shelf challenge, mystery & suspense challenge, 100+ challenge, a-z challenge, tbr challenge, 11 in 11 challenge

Other Reviews: Under the Boardwalk

REVIEW: Cougar Club

Title: Cougar Club
Author: Susan McBride
Finished: March 6, 2011
Pages: 309
Published: 2010
Format: Early Reviewer

I figured it was about time I get to some of my old Early Reviewer books and I’m wishing I hadn’t waited so long because two out of the three were really great reads.

Cougar Club tells the story of three friends, each in a different stage in their life, going through midlife experiences and slowly finding their way to true happiness under stressful circumstances. One finds herself out of a job, one feels like her perfect marriage is in trouble, and the third fears she is being replaced by a younger model.

I wasn’t sure where the book was going to go but I enjoyed the journey of the lives of these three women and how they come back together after so long apart and help each other through their struggles. It’s the kind of relationship every girl wishes they had with their friends.

A very quick and fun read. Great for all ages but also a new perspective on life under every circumstance.

*challenges: off the shelf challenge, new authors challenge, 100+ challenge, countdown challenge, tbr challenge, 11 in 11 reading challenge

REVIEW: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Understanding Men

Title: The Girlfriend’s (Gay Friends) Guide to Understanding Men
Author: Bo Sebastian
Finished: August 24, 2010
Pages: 148
Published: 2010
Format: first edition, e-book

I’ve had this earlier review e-book for quite some time and finally pushed my way through it. It was fun read here and there, lots of good tidbits, but I have a feeling it’s not exactly the same book that was being released to the rest of the world.

This book is almost a Sex and the City guide book for women and how to avoid dating the wrong men, bad situations, and even friendship advice. It’s very similar to other books I’ve read about dating, but written by a gay guy there was a definitely different spin to the whole thing which was quite fun.

Overall, quick and fun read.

*challenges: 1010 category challenge, new author challenge, ryob challenge, 100+ challenge, august 12×12 challenge

REVIEW: Rich Again

Title: Rich Again
Author: Anna Maxted
Finished: May 31, 2010
Pages: 462
Published: 2010
Format: first edition

For awhile I couldn’t remember what it was about this book that intrigued me when I requested it as an Early Reviewer. It took me a long time to finally get into the story and often it got set aside for other books until I just forced myself to read it on a vacation.

Rich Again tells the story of a wealthy family, focusing mainly on the lives of the two daughters. Once I got further in, it became very interesting seeing the twisted lives of this wealthy family.

Every topic you could imagine seems to be covered in this sordid tale of love, hatred, betrayal, and eventual happiness. The secrets this family keeps from each other from day cause consequences they could have never predicted. One daughter is nearly caught in an incestuous relationship only to find the truth out just in time. They are so focused on survival of the fittest that they don’t even realize all their downfall is brought on by an unlikely suspect who only reveals itself to them in the final moments.

Maxted’s writing is creative, in depth, intense and relational. After the first cliffhanger, it was nearly impossible to set the book aside until I started getting answers and solving the mystery myself.

Turns out, I shouldn’t have waited so long to find out what Rich Again was all about.

*challenges: countdown challenge, monthly mixer mele, 1010 category challenge, new author challenge, awesome author challenge, ryob challenge, twentyten challenge, 100+ challenge, pub challenge, spring reading thing, may 12×12 challenge

REVIEW: The Killing Circle

Title: The Killing Circle
Author: Andrew Pyper
Finished: January 28, 2010
Pages: 321
Published: 2008
Format:  Early Reviewer paperback

This was an early reviewer when I received it but has since been released. It’s a very interesting book.

It tells the story of an aspiring writer who works for a newspaper. He decides to join a writing circle in the hopes of gaining some inspiration. While he has been spending his time with the group, a killer is targeting people in random patterns, chopping them into pieces and leaving them in the open. As a single father, he fears for his son’s safety against this killer.

Years later, a similar pattern begins to show and Patrick Rush becomes confused as to what is reality, fiction, and a very sick game.

It was definitely an interesting book, I felt it was difficult to start reading and the jump back and forth through time became a little confusing so early to start off. It was definitely worth reading until the end to find out what was fully going on.

*challenges: countdown challenge, 1010 category challenge, new author challenge, a-z challenge, ryob challenge, twentyten challenge, thriller/suspense challenge, 100+ challenge, genre challenge