Book Reviews
Catching up on all the books I've read over the holidays. This is mostly for my benefit, so I can keep track of where I am in the series and don't take out the same book... again.
The Chocolate Bear Burglary by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #2) -- I caught the crucial clue, I just didn't figure out what it meant or who it pointed to.
The Chocolate Frog Frame Up by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #3) -- A man is dead, boating accident on the river. But it's starting to look like Lee's boyfriend may have killed him deliberately. But Lee met the victim the day AFTER he was supposed to have been killed. But no one believes her because they all think she's trying to cover for her boyfriend.
The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #4) -- A con-man and scammer comes into town. The reader is led to believe this is either going to be the killer or the victim. Surprize! He has nothing to do with it. Now if only Lee can convince her aunt he';s not boyfriend material. BTW, he has a chocolate lab dog named Monty, short for Montezuma.
The Chocolate Mouse Trap by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #5) -- The chocolate company gets an order for a research lab having a banquet. They want chocolate mice, half rodent variety, half computer variety. Naturally, someone winds up dead. And it's Lee who discovers the body.
The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #2) -- A treaty with the Chinese government hinges on the return of a historical Chinese artifact. Problem is, it was stolen and replaced with a forgery. Can Fox and O'Hare get the real one back in time for the conference?
The Job by by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #3) -- A drug king-pin gets plastic surgery and a new identity. How do Fox and O'Hare find him? It seems he hasn't given up his obsession for the world's finest chocolates.
The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #4) -- A casino operator is a money launderer for the mob. Fox and O'Hare have to take him down. In the Epilogue, Fox is kidnapped!
The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #5) -- O'Hare has to figure out who kidnapped Fox and rescue him, this time she's on her own!
Inherit the Stars, The Gentle Giants of Ganymede, Giant's Star, Entoverse by James Hogan (Giants #1-4) I feel the first three books formed an excellent trilogy. Books two and three followed smoothly from the previous book with their own unique problem to be solved. Book four was force fit in.
Die Like An Eagle by Donna Andrews (Meg the Blacksmith mystery) -- A jackass is causing trouble in town. His brother is killed in a dark place. Was the killer trying for the brother or him?
The Transparent Society by David Brin (non-fiction) A science fiction writer looks at how the Internet and ubiquitous cameras are transforming society.
Mrs Houdini by Victoria Kelly (fiction) -- I thought this would be a fictionalize biography of the magician's wife. It's the story of how his ghost contacts her from beyond the grave. Not worth reading.
Gentleman Joli and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga) -- It's been three years since Miles' father died. Miles' mother is ready to start dating again. Admiral Joli was the closest friend of her husband. Fans criticized the book mainly because it's not centered around Miles and there are no space battles. If you like LMB's writing, it's worth it. My wife and I have started reading the entire series again, in internal chronological order. So far, I've finished Shards of Honor and Barrayar.
The Chocolate Bear Burglary by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #2) -- I caught the crucial clue, I just didn't figure out what it meant or who it pointed to.
The Chocolate Frog Frame Up by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #3) -- A man is dead, boating accident on the river. But it's starting to look like Lee's boyfriend may have killed him deliberately. But Lee met the victim the day AFTER he was supposed to have been killed. But no one believes her because they all think she's trying to cover for her boyfriend.
The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #4) -- A con-man and scammer comes into town. The reader is led to believe this is either going to be the killer or the victim. Surprize! He has nothing to do with it. Now if only Lee can convince her aunt he';s not boyfriend material. BTW, he has a chocolate lab dog named Monty, short for Montezuma.
The Chocolate Mouse Trap by JoAnna Carl (Chocoholic Mystery #5) -- The chocolate company gets an order for a research lab having a banquet. They want chocolate mice, half rodent variety, half computer variety. Naturally, someone winds up dead. And it's Lee who discovers the body.
The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #2) -- A treaty with the Chinese government hinges on the return of a historical Chinese artifact. Problem is, it was stolen and replaced with a forgery. Can Fox and O'Hare get the real one back in time for the conference?
The Job by by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #3) -- A drug king-pin gets plastic surgery and a new identity. How do Fox and O'Hare find him? It seems he hasn't given up his obsession for the world's finest chocolates.
The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #4) -- A casino operator is a money launderer for the mob. Fox and O'Hare have to take him down. In the Epilogue, Fox is kidnapped!
The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg (Fox and O'Hare #5) -- O'Hare has to figure out who kidnapped Fox and rescue him, this time she's on her own!
Inherit the Stars, The Gentle Giants of Ganymede, Giant's Star, Entoverse by James Hogan (Giants #1-4) I feel the first three books formed an excellent trilogy. Books two and three followed smoothly from the previous book with their own unique problem to be solved. Book four was force fit in.
Die Like An Eagle by Donna Andrews (Meg the Blacksmith mystery) -- A jackass is causing trouble in town. His brother is killed in a dark place. Was the killer trying for the brother or him?
The Transparent Society by David Brin (non-fiction) A science fiction writer looks at how the Internet and ubiquitous cameras are transforming society.
Mrs Houdini by Victoria Kelly (fiction) -- I thought this would be a fictionalize biography of the magician's wife. It's the story of how his ghost contacts her from beyond the grave. Not worth reading.
Gentleman Joli and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga) -- It's been three years since Miles' father died. Miles' mother is ready to start dating again. Admiral Joli was the closest friend of her husband. Fans criticized the book mainly because it's not centered around Miles and there are no space battles. If you like LMB's writing, it's worth it. My wife and I have started reading the entire series again, in internal chronological order. So far, I've finished Shards of Honor and Barrayar.