Julie's Review: The 8th Confession

Summary: As San Francisco's most glamorous millionaires mingle at the party of the year, someone is watching--waiting for a chance to take vengeance on Isa and Ethan Bailey, the city's most celebrated couple. Finally, the killer pinpoints the ideal moment, and it's the perfect murder. Not a trace of evidence is left behind in their glamorous home. As Detective Lindsay Boxer investigates the high-profile murder, someone else is found brutally executed--a preacher with a message of hope for the homeless. His death nearly falls through the cracks, but when reporter Cindy Thomas hears about it, she knows the story could be huge. Probing deeper into the victim's history, she discovers he may not have been quite as saintly as everyone thought. As the hunt for two criminals tests the limits of the Women's Murder Club, Lindsay sees sparks fly between Cindy and her partner, Detective Rich Conklin. The Women's Murder Club now faces its toughest challenge: will love destroy all that four friends have built? The exhilarating new chapter in the Women's Murder Club series, The 8th Confession serves up a double dose of speed-charged twists and shocking revelations as only James Patterson can. And remember, this is the only Murder Club episode of the year. ~amazon.com

Review: I never miss an episode of Women's Murder Club books and I didn't miss an episode of the tv show either. Let me just go on a mini rant and say that I REALLY miss that show. I thought it was solid. Oh well, it's just like I miss ALIAS a heck of a lot too and that's not coming back. At least I can get my fill with the books of Women's Murder Club. The 8th Confession is definitely better than 7th Heaven. I've complained in the past about having 2 separate cases in the book that aren't related but what I've finally realized is that in order to make use of all the women in the club they have to write it like that. This time, it works well. I especially liked the social murders. I thought it was interesting and definitely had some twists to the storyline. The other story of the murdered homeless person was interesting and took some good twists of its own and really brought Cindy into her own. It also proves that you should do more research before you print an article.

I really think that they need to focus on Yuki again. She was involved in this storyline but hasn't been the focus since the one where her mom died. Lindsey continues to be my favorite character. I think she's torn, honest and an excellent detective. The ending of this book will give long time readers a very good reason to smile.

These books aren't complex or earth shattering but they are good reads. I am disappointed that it's the only WMC of the year but I will look forward to the 9th installment in 2010!

Final Take: 4/5

Julie's Review: Shoot Him If He Runs

Summary: Stone Barrington and Holly Barker team up once again in Woods' newest offering, this time to hunt ex-CIA-agent-turned-assassin Teddy Fay at the behest of the director of the CIA, Kate Rule Lee, who also happens to be the wife of President William Lee. Stone and Holly, along with Dino Bacchetti, are dispatched to luxurious St. Marks island, where they spend as much time frolicking in the ocean as they do tracking Teddy. Stone and Holly manage to strike up an acquaintance with Irene Foster, a former CIA employee who was reputed to have had a relationship with Teddy, and her current lover, Harry Pitts. But Stone and Holly soon find themselves caught up in the corrupt local politics, which stand in stark contrast to the balmy paradise the island appears to be. After the chief of police on the island is gunned down, Stone and Holly realize Teddy might be back in business, and the hunt to find him becomes even more urgent. Perennial favorite Woods certainly knows how to keep the pages turning. ~amazon.com

Review: Well, I was in the mood for more Stone Barrington, so I moved onto Shoot Him If He Runs where he teams back up with Holly Barker. Sometimes I'm not sure of crossing 2 different series main characters but Stuart Woods does it well. Not only are we joined by Holly Barker but he also incorporates another character, President Will Lee. Now I haven't read any of the books with Will Lee as the main character but I might have to start reading them.
I'm sure that's the point of bringing in Will Lee but heck my dad buys the books so it's not like it's money out of my pocket.

This isn't anything different than the other Stone Barrington novels, except this time instead of Woodman & Weld, he's working for the CIA as he's done in some of the novels in the past. This also makes for a bit more excitement since it's an exotic locale. They are to go to St. Marks to see if Teddy Fay, an ex-CIA employee, is still alive and to keep it quiet if he is. You see Teddy Fay killed a Senator and a Supreme Court Justice and everyone thinks he's dead but the President has reason to believe he's not. Of course we are met with all kinds of interesting characters who make the book a bit more enjoyable.

There are a couple twists and turns during the book but nothing that I was completely shocked by or was unexpected.

As far as Stone Barrington novels go, this was fine but not as good as others. I have 2 more books to go and I'll be caught up with Stone's adventures. Be on the look out for reviews on Hot Mahogany and Loitering with Intent. There is also a new Holly Barker novel being released on 9/22/09, which I will probably read at some point Hothouse Orchid (Holly Barker).

Final Take: 3.5/5

Giveaway: Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

To celebrate the debut today of the The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, we have 1 copy to giveaway!! This book is gorgeous! The cover is exquisite and it's even got an "old" feel to the pages. I loved this book and am pleased to be doing this! Please leave a comment here by midnight EST time June 16th, 2009 to be entered. See my review of it here.

The winner will be announced on June 17th, 2009.

Good Luck!

Thanks to Allison at Voice for giving us the hardcover to giveaway!

Julie's Review: Fresh Disasters

Summary: Smooth-talking New York lawyer Stone Barrington, along with his sidekick, NYPD detective Dino Bacchetti, get dragged into an impossible case in Stone's entertaining 13th outing (after Dark Harbor). Stone's bosses at the high-class law firm of Woodman and Weld want him to sue major league Mafia don Carmine Dattila for beating up a character from earlier Stone adventures, the hapless Herbie Fisher. It's all pretty much good fun—the snappy repartee, hot sex, dinner at Elaine's, comedic Mafia hoodlums with names like Sammy Tools, Johnny Pop and Dattila the Hun—until the tale turns darker with the introduction of a psychotic sculptor, Devlin Daltry, who's the ex-boyfriend of Stone's current flame, Celia Cox, a tall, fabulously beautiful masseuse. Woods delivers few surprises, but there are plenty of laughs as the pages speed by. Series regulars and newcomers alike will be perfectly satisfied. ~amazon.com

Review: I really can't believe it's been 2 years since I've visited Stone Barrington. I mean I've bought all the books but somehow they just get put to the bottom of the pile. Shame on me. I always find these books quick, easy and entertaining reads. Fresh Disasters is no different. I'm always amazed at how many women Stone "has". Seriously, if he were a woman, he'd be labled all kinds of derogatory names but he's not so we get to join in his adventures. We are joined by all the usual characters: Dino, Elaine, Joan and Bob Cantor. This time Bob's nephew, Herbie Fisher joins us for the adventure. Actually, he is the adventure. He's into Mob Boss Carmine Dattila for $24K in gambling debts and gets roughed up at Elaine's while Dino and Stone are there, along with Bill Eggers. Needless to say Bill sees $$ in suing Carmine "Dattila the Hun" and weasels his way into having Stone represent Herbie in the civil lawsuits.

Not only do we have that storyline, but we also have one of the beautiful masseuse, Celia, which isn't only giving massages to Stone, but she's also being stalked and harassed by her ex-boyfriend, Devlin Dalty. So Stone gets wrapped up in that as well. There are quite a few things going on in this book, but like a Stone Barrington novels, I didn't feel it was overwhelming. I felt that all three cases were similar in nature that they fit well together. I found parts of the book funny, as Dino has his typical one-liners and there were some unexpected twists.

Overall a solid entry in the Stone Barrington series. Mr. Woods never lets me down.

Final Take: 3.5/5

Julie's Review: The Late, Lamented Molly Marx

Summary: Molly Divine Marx is dead. No one is quite sure how—murder, suicide, tragic accident?—and even Molly's own recollection doesn't explain much. Narrating this charming novel from an afterlife limbo known as the Duration, Molly follows the investigation of her death while keeping tabs on the living she left behind. Nearly everyone is a suspect: Barry, Molly's philandering plastic surgeon husband; Kitty, her controlling mother-in-law; Luke, Molly's lover; and the cabal of wifely hopefuls who line up for a shot at Barry before Molly's casket is safely in the ground. Longtime magazine editor Koslow (Little Pink Slips) knows her way around expertly tuned phrasing, and Molly is a delightful gem of a heroine. Equal parts self-deprecating, wry and sassy, Molly is honest about her faults and easily forgiving of the others' as she reviews her life with a hearty dose of honesty and humor. Though the anticipated delicious revelation doesn't quite live up to expectations, the narrative's heavy dose of hilarity and heartbreak will win readers over. -amazon.com

Review: I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers but it is something I probably would have picked up off the bookshelf and bought. The book was good not great but still entertaining. I liked Molly. In fact most of the characters in the book are likeable, even her smuck of a husband Barry. The problem with Molly is that she's dead and no one knows how or perhaps why. The Late, Lamented Molly Marx: A Novel is a chick lit book tied into a mystery and it works well. It actually comes off better than Jennifer Weiner's Goodnight Nobody: A Novel. We see Molly's loved ones and not so loved ones after her death as does Molly because she's in the Duration and can flit about in their lives and even hear their thoughts.

I think I identified with Molly for a few reasons 1) We are about the same age 2) Our daughters are the same age and 3) she hails from Chicago! I loved that part of the book and it's probably why it got bummed up in my rating. She's in a suburb that I used to work in and mentions a place that is so locally famous that I was shocked it was in the book. I wonder if Ms. Koslow is from this area?

There is no real resolution to what happened to Molly and I was disappointed in that part of the book. I felt that I took all this time to get to know her and was left with nothing but more questions. As for Molly, she seemed ok with this ending to her saga and maybe the point is that some things in life and in death are just not worth fretting about. The ending of the book did choke me up but didn't cause me to cry many tears.

Other than Molly, I adored Brie and I'm glad she really was a true-blue friend to Molly. You never know where authors are going to take you in books like these, like if she was a "wolf in sheeps clothing" or really a true friend. I also liked Detective Hicks. He seemed like a good person and a solid cop.

All in all, it's a good summer read. Something you can enjoy and then put away.

Final Take: 3.75/5

June Book Club Pick

June is here and the Girls Just Reading Book Club plans on having China Lake finished by the end of the month. If you'd like to read it with us, there's still plenty of time!

Read more about the book here: China Lake by Meg Gardiner