The Marriage Merger by Jennifer Probst

                                                              
I have read at least one other in the series and I liked it. I saw this and thought it sounded like it could be read without having read the rest of the series. It can, but I am going to have to go back and read the rest now.

I like the fact that Julietta is a strong, independent business woman. She was a nice change to some of the helpless heroines in other stories. I loved how important family was to her, although I think entering into an arranged marriage is pushing it a bit far.

Sawyer is such a complex man, he carries such guilt and fear within, that it just hurts my heart. Through all the crap in his history he still manages to maintain his heart, even if he doesn't recognize it.

The way that they both fight the connection that is there between them on different levels; Julietta, on the physical and Sawyer on the emotional; adds so many layers to the story.

This was a fun read that was a nice way to spend a few hours on my weekend.

The Cure by Douglas E. Richards

The Cure by Douglas E. Richards

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was good, but it confused the heck out of me. It started out feeling like a medical/psychological thriller, and ended up as a double cross/contingency plan/ aliens are  planning to take over the earth story. There was a lot of switching sides, or at least pretending to...  I think I would need all twelve tentacles to keep things straight. That being said, I did really like it, in fact due to the confusing nature of the story I found myself reading much longer than I planned, and staying up ridiculously late on several occasions.

I thought that the consequences and ethical dilemmas that Erin sorted through were realistic and well done. So much of life depends on the interpretation we impose on our experiences.

So all in all, it was good. I liked it, but I don't know that I am going to run right out and buy all of his other books right away.



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The Judas Virus by Don Donaldson

The Judas Virus by Don Donaldson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book had me on the edge of my seat I think the whole time I was reading it. From the family angst, and emotionally charged interactions between father and daughter in the beginning, I was not prepared for where Mr. Donaldson took me.  The descriptions of the medical aspects were very detailed and all seemed very plausible. It did seem like things moved awfully fast in the approvals process for the organ transplant though, but that was offset by reasonably explanations as to why it was done so quickly.

I really enjoy a book that leaves me guessing as to who the bad guy really is. I had no idea, and that was really fun for me. Again, kudos on the descriptive aspects! When you understand what drove Ash to do what he does, it almost makes you feel bad for him.. almost.

The drug bust seemed to stretch the boundaries of my belief a bit, but not so far as to burst my bubble completely.

It was a fantastic read, and since I couldn't put it down it didn't take long at all. 



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The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van Allen

The Wishing Thread by Lisa Van  Allen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am a knitter, I taught myself about a year and a half ago. So the idea of a book that dealt with knitting as a major plot device was intriguing.

I really loved the story. The book was paced well and didn't really fall flat in any areas. It did make me really mad though to see Aubrey make such a huge sacrifice for the town. I am happy with the way it turned out, although I did have to reread the ending to make sure that she kept Vic in the end. I wasn't sure with the revival of the Stichery that she would feel it right to keep him. I laughed at the use of the phone tree, it brought back shades of "Practical Magic" to my mind.  :) I really liked Nessa's character as well. Even though she is young, she has plenty of spunk, I mean who wouldn't want to lock her mom and aunts in the attic until they can behave themselves? 

There were a few places where I wished there was more information, or perhaps the promise of another book to flesh out a few secondary story lines, mainly about the sisters. I know you can't have everything in one book but the relationships between Meggie and Tori, and Bitty and her family are important enough that I wanted more than just the taste that you get when they are not the main focus of the book.

I would definitely recommend this book. It was a good read that kept you coming back for more, but that did so in a very polite way instead of gripping your guts.



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True Love by Jude Devereaux

I started reading Ms. Devereaux's books years ago.  I was excited to hear that she had a new series out with one of my favorite families: the Montgomery's.  I have always found that I like reading books that involve the whole family.

I don't want to give anything away, but the ghost aspect of the story was intriguing as well as the reincarnation of different people, in different relationships.  I liked the emotional conflict that came with both characters. The fact that there were so many secrets in Alix's family was not something I expected. The connection between Alix and Jared was sparkling and vibrant. I was really rooting for them to finally give in to what they were feeling.

I found the story to be very well done. I could clearly see the threads of both previous and forthcoming stories that will be intertwined with this one. But, I am happy to say that although there were hints, there wasn't any prolonged setup for the next book. I am excited for the rest of the series to be released!

Rating: 5 out of 5