The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman

Read: November 24 - December 22
Format: Hardback 352 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER
Subject: spousal abuse, mistaken identity, marriage for profit
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Something New - books acquired in 2011
Genre: Fiction
Stars: ★★½

Laura Lippman is one of my favorite authors so when I was given this book to review, I thought "great" I'll have a good book to read and a easy review to write. Nope. For me, this book fell short of Ms. Lippman's usual great stories.

I had a very difficult time getting into it even though I was born and raised in Baltimore (where the story is set) and I was comfortable with the location/setting. The story lagged. A full hundred pages into it and I was still wondering what was going on. The characters seem 1 dimensional as if you could take them all and put them together to make one decent character. The story was choppy - bouncing from one time frame to another and never really getting any rhythm.

I'm really sorry to say that I didn't like it, but I will not abandon an author of MS. Lippman's talents just because of one book.

The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

Read: December 16 - December 20
Format: Hardback 339 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: spies, dowerless women,
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers & The good old days - Historical Fiction
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★★

This installment in the Pink Carnation is different than all the others in that the modern day characters are absent. The entire story takes place in the early 19th century with amusing characters that have flitted in and out of the previous books.

Turnip Fitzhugh and Arabella Dempsey are perfectly suited for each other because of how their personalities interact but what I enjoyed most was Turnip's realizations that the whole world didn't work the same for others as it did for him.

This was a fun read as well as an entertaining love story. My favorite so far in the series.

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir

Read: November 30 - December 20
Format: Audiobook 16 CDs equivalent 679 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Tudor Dynasty, Reformation in England, succession
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL, AUDIO
Genre: Historical Fiction
Stars: ★★★½

The Tudor Dynasty is a part of history is frequently used as the background for historical fiction. The characters are full-bodied, stubborn, zealous in their belief of their own destiny.

This book which is a fictionalized biography of Lady Jane Grey shows her to be no different than other Tudors except for the fact that she did not believe that she should be queen.

Lady Jane Grey was the oldest daughter of the daughter of Henry VIII's younger sister, Mary Tudor. Early in her life, Jane's parents endeavored to arrange a marriage between Jane and Prince Edward, but that was never completed. Her parents instead married her off to the third son of the Duke Northumberland who was the head of Privy Council for King Edward during his minority.

Jane was a zealous Protestant and King Edward on his deathbed named Jane as his successor. He did not want his sister Mary because she was a fanatical Catholic and he could not exclude Mary without excluding Elizabeth, thereby put Jane in line for the throne.

The aftermath which has Jane condemned for treason, shows the ruthless of the period and Mary's obsession with Spain.

The book was an interesting depiction of what may actually occurred at that time. Whether it is true, we will never know, but it was entertaining and well-written.

Defending Angels by Mary Stanton

Read: December 5 - December 9

Format: Paperback 293 pages

Source: purchased through B&N

Subject: murder, hauntings, angels, personal independence

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Stars: ★★★★

Brianna Winston-Beaufort (Bree) is an attorney who having inherited her Uncle Franklin's law practice, moves from North Carolina to Savannah to escape from her family's law practice and strike out on her own. Needing temporary offices due to the fire that killed her uncle, Bree rents the first floor in an old Southern home in the historical district until repairs are complete at the regular offices.

However, the location that she has found, is a bit quirky… smack in the middle of an all-murderers cemetery. A great number of other strange occurrences continue as she is setting up shop - her landlady won't take a lease - just Bree's word is good enough, before she's walked out of the building, letterhead stationery arrives, and her first client calls after he's been declared dead.

This book was definitely a fun read with unusual characters and super writing. It does turn out to be, what I consider, a paranormal cozy mystery, but it was such fun, I'm going to have to keep it up.

The Plantation by Chris Kuzneski

Read: November 10 - November 30

Format: e-book 416 pages

Source:purchased through B&N for Nook

Subject: slavery, revenge, sadism

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: Something New - books acquired in 2011

Genre: Thriller

Stars: ★★★★

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is filled with action but also with many thought provoking concepts, most notably, slavery of whites by blacks as a revenge for their past history.

How would you react if you were expecting your handsome boyfriend at the door and instead when you answer you are drugged and kidnapped and when you awake you know not where, you are a slave to a sadistic black man who says that a remote branch of your family enslaved his before the Civil War and now it's payback time?

Does anyone know where you are? Ariane, the kidnapped damsel, is fortunate because her boyfriend before leaving the US service, was a member of an elite taskforce which could handle just about anything. Jonathan and his buddy DJ track down the kidnappers on THE PLANTATION and work to rescue Ariane and 21 others in the same situation.

This is the first installment of the Payne & Jones series. I received book 3 as an ER and knew after reading that one that I wanted to read the beginning books in the series. The book was exciting and kept your attention but at times was a bit graphic in the violence of the situation. Definitely not bedtime material, but definitely a great read.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Read: November 17 - November 27

Format: Audiobook 16 CDs equivalent 784 pages

Source: Public Library

Subject: masons, new sciences

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL, AUDIO

Category: Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers

Genre: mystery

Stars: ★★★

This book has been reviewed by hundreds so I won't even begin to describe the plot and story. I will just express my overall opinion. Let me say that I really enjoyed the first two books with Robert Langdon as the brilliant symbolist but this book fell far short of the excellence of the previous two. Maybe I was expecting more especially since it was set in my hometown, but the story was too predictable and a bit far-fetched (who gets their hand cut off and in less then 48 hours in whirling around the city giving a tour?) It was an entertaining read and I can feel sure that when the book is made into a movie that it will be as entertaining as the others, its just not the greatest literature.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Read: November 18 - November 23

Format: e-book 627 pages

Source: Barnes & Noble

Subject: spousal abuse, mistaken identity, marriage for profit

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: The good old days

Genre: Historical Fiction

Stars: ★★½

This book is touted as one of the first detective stories ever written and if they all had followed this book in style and tedium I never would have read another. Maybe because of all the books that I have read that are better written and more of my time frame, I found this book to be too predictable and the characters 1 dimensional.

Not something that I would recommend.

The Necklace by Cheryl Jarvis

Read: November 17 - November 19

Format: Paperback 210 pages

Source: my shelves

Subject: friendship, sharing, materialism

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: Something Old - read those TBRs

Genre: Non-Fiction

Stars: ★★★★½

Jonell McLain was walking past a jewelry store and saw a beautiful diamond necklace and immediately wondered what it would be like to wear. She went inside, tried it on, and then found out that the price was $37,000. It was great fun for a lark but she knew she would never be able to buy it. Frequently, when she was walking by she'd still see the Necklace in the window, and even noticed it had been reduced to $24,000. Still too rich for her blood. Still thinking about, she wondered how many other women would like to wear something like it on a special occasion and so she came up with the idea of sharing. When she read an ad that the jewelry store was having an auction, Jonell knew it was time to put her plan into action. With 12 other women, including the jewelry store owner's wife, Jonell bought the NECKLACE and started a special group that touched many lives in Ventura CA.

First, they gave it a name - Jewelia. Then they decided how it would be shared - each women would have Jewelia for 4 weeks including their birthday. Then the women would meet and pass Jewelia on. Soon they were sharing not just among themselves but with others for charity - an evening with Jewelia could raise thousands of dollars as women came and got a chance to wear the necklace for an hour, or 5 minutes but they got the chance. The story of this Necklace and the amazing 13 women who were its guardian was awe-inspiring as we see how an "exclusive" piece of jewelry got to be "inclusive" at the initiative of its owners.

What startles me about this book, is that first, it's not the type of book that I normally would read but I was at the bookstore and they had a Buy 3 get 1 Free table - of course I could find 3 books I wanted but when it got to the 4th book nothing grabbed me. Then I saw this book and being a Jewelry fiend I picked it up and headed to checkout knowing nothing about it. The book fairy was on my shoulder that afternoon - it's one of my favorite reads of the year!

Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton

Read: November 14 - November 16

Format: Paperback 239 pages

Source: Public Library

Subject: knitting, alpacas, betrayal

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL

Category: Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Stars: ★★★

Kelly Flynn is still in Fort Connor, CO telecommuting to her business office in Washington while she finishes sorting out the estate of her late aunt and her subsequent inheritance. Having made friends with the ladies at the knitting shop across street, these relationships with the different ladies gets her involved in the investigation of the murder of Vickie Claymore, an alpaca rancher in the canyon.

This is a light and fun cozy mystery with just the right amount of knitting and yarn inserted to handle all the tangled clues and characters. Definitely a fun read - going on to the next one!

The Brazen Bride by Stephanie Laurens

Read: November 9 - November 14

Format: Hardback 405 pages

Source: my shelves

Subject: Love, Marriage, espionage

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment

Genre: Romance

Stars: ★★★½

The third installment of the Black Cobra Quartet was a bit different than the previous two. In those we see the troubles and dangers that the two couriers encounter and what forces them to spend their time and efforts with a young lady with whom they fall in love, so naturally, I expected the same type of story for courier #3.

Nope, here Logan Montieth is discovered at the beginning on board a ship in the English Channel, fighting with the Black Cobra legions during a storm. He and his attackers are swept overboard before the ship capsizes. Logan is the only survivor but without his memory. He is discovered and nursed by a lady and her staff on a remote section of the Island of Guernsey. Linnett helps him to recover his memories while their love affair proceeds, and when he recalls his mission, she gets him to his assigned destination.

From there the story is very similar to the previous installments with a few twists and turns. Of the three books, that I've read so far, this is my favorite because of the strong, dynamic and unusual female character who stands up for what she wants and what she wants to do. Looking forward to the last of the series.

Murder in Miniature by Margaret Grace

Read: November 3 - November 10

Format: Paperback 244 pages

Source: my shelves

Subject: miniatures, dollhouses, illegal adoptions, family

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors

Genre: Fiction Stars: ★★★

If you're looking for a fast-paced nail baiter to keep you awake at night, don't pick up this book, but if you are looking for a warm and cozy mystery, this might be just up your alley. If, as a child, you loved to play with your dollhouse and even imagined specialized furniture, you could pick up a few tips on how to make your own while following the "investigation" into murder and robberies. Geraldine Porter is a miniaturist - in other words she plays with doll houses. Gerry is this year's chairwoman of the local Dollhouse and Miniatures Fair and at the same time is visited by her granddaughter who is extremely inquisitive. So when her friend disappears unexpectedly during the Fair, Gerry has to take on added responsibilities. Having a nephew on the local police force, Gerry and her granddaughter try to assist the investigation with personal observations.

This book is not exactly like most cozy mysteries in that Gerry doesn't so much investigate on her own as just gather information. The characters are very true to life and make you want to get to know them better. I'll definitely be reading more in this series.

Friends in High Places by Donna Leon

Read: November 3 - November 8

Format: Audiobook 7 CDs equivalent 272 pages

Source: Public Library

Subject: bureaucracy, drugs, loan sharks

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL, AUDIO

Category: Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers

Genre: mystery Stars: ★★★

The 9th installment of the Commissario Brunetti series begins with Guido being confronted by a member of the Officio Castrato, the Registration Office, that controls permits and titles to all property in Venice. According to Signor Rossi, the proper papers for Brunetti's apartment are not on file, and so city records say that his apartment does not exist. Consequences could be a huge fine and possible demolition of his residence.

Brunetti immediately begins to concentrate on who can be of assistance to him in clearing up this matter. Hearing nothing for several months, he is surprised to hear from Rossi who appears to be nervous about something that he wishes to discuss with the Commissario. Before they can meet, Rossi's body is found, apparently having fallen from a scaffolding. Brunetti is suspicious since on their short acquaintance, Rossi had shown definite signs of acrophobia.

Investigating the incident, leads Brunetti into a world of real estate corruption, drug abuse and loan-sharking. The apparent murder of two drug users links high officials to the drug world and shows what having Friends in High Places can do for you in Venice.

This installment seemed to me to be more a test of Guido's ethical and moral honor than a full-blown mystery thriller. Still amazingly entertaining.

The Sorceress by Michael Scott

Read: November 2 - November 7

Format: Paperback 500 pages

Source: loan from a young friend

Subject: alchemy, mythology, twins

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI

Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series

Genre: Fantasy

Stars: ★★★½

Nicholas Flamel is certain that he has found the twins of legend but he must protect them from the Dark Elders so that they can be trained in the maigic of the elemnts and so protect humanity from the threats of monsters and demons of ancient times. After arriving in Paris, Sophie having already been awakened and taught the element of Wind, she is taught the attributes of Fire. Meanwhile, Josh still awaits awakening and must stand by as Sophie and her teachers battle the dark forces. Just before their escape to London, Josh is Awakened by none other than the God Mars and Josh becomes a warrior/strategist.

Meanwhile, Perenelle Flamel is trapped on the island of Alcatraz. Befriended by a ghost of an old sea Captain, Perenelle is able to outwit several ancient creatures (sphinx, Crow Goddess, Nered) and escape leaving her attackers stranded on the island.

The story is filled with monsters and demons as well as characters from history that have been designated as immortals who come to the assistance of Josh, Sophie, and Nicholas. Perenelle's character is strong and determined and unrelenting in her goal to free herself and reach Nicholas.

The whole story was great fun!

April 1865: The Month That Saved America by Jay Winik

Read: October 28 - November 2

Format: Hardback 606 pages

Source: my shelves

Subject: Civil War, assassination, reconstruction

Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Stars: ★★½

At the end of the Civil War, it is startling that so much occurred in the "final" month. The Confederate Army, led by Robert E. Lee, made one last ditch effort to elude the Union forces of Ulysses Grant but on April 9, 1865 surrendered at Appomattox Court House. Less than a week later, Abraham Lincoln lies dead, assassinated by John Wilkes Booth and Andrew Johnson is the new President. Confederate General Johnston disobeyed Jefferson Davis' orders to fight on and surrendered to Sherman.

The end of hostilities came in 1865 and possibly, Lincoln would have agreed with Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate General, when he said "You have been good soldiers, you can be good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the government to which you have surrendered can afford to be and will be magnanimous."

This book relates the details of these events as well as the background that brought about these results. However, IMHO, it is not well written. If this book is to be constituted as a book of historical fact, then it needs to be severely edited. There are far too many personal observations and conclusions interspersed throughout as well as a jumpy writing style. The author frequently leaves one thought process hanging moving on to another and then jumps back to where he left off. I have no doubt that Professor Winik has researched his topic diligently, however, I believe that this book of 606 pages with another 101 of footnotes could have been more concise if the author's opinions had been eliminated and the conclusions left to be evaluated by the reader with just the facts stated.

Wild Rose: The True Story of a Civil War Spy by Ann Blackman

Read: October 24 - 28

Format: Hardback 307 pages

Source: Public Library

Subject: Espionage, Civil War

Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL

Stars: ★★★

Rose O'Neale Greenhow, have you ever heard of her? To be honest, I hadn't but after reading this book, I'm surprised by that fact. When I think of a spy in wartime in the 19th century, a woman is not necessarily what I imagine, but Rose Greenhow played that part more than adequately. A strong independent woman, Rose, living in the Nation's capital, was a Washington hostess, presidential confidante and spy.

Living in Washington, Rose had a virtual list of Who's Who that befriended her over thirty years - John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Stephen Douglas (her son-in-law), Dolley Madison, Chief Justice Roger Taney, Mary Chestnut, Presidents Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, James Polk, and James Buchanan and she kept a correspondence throughout the war with Jefferson Davis and General Pierre Beauregard.

At the start of the Civil War, Rose Greenhow contacted the Confederate government and offered her services as a spy in Washington. She was given a special cipher and frequently during the early months of the war gathered important information regarding the troop numbers, placement, and planned movements. Never keeping her Confederate sympathies a secret, it is surprising the information she was able to gather and forward to the Confederacy. The success of the South at the first major battle at Bull Run can be linked to messages that she sent directly to General Beauregard.

In 1862 she was imprisoned (first in her own home and then in the Old Capital Orison) for nearly a year and then she was exiled to the south. President Jefferson Davis commissioned her to go to Europe to attempt to persuade England and France to recognize the Confederacy and aid them. During her time there, Rose met with Prime Ministers, Kings and Queens. On her trip home, while running the blockade outside of Wilmington, NC, her ship ran aground and rather than wait for the tide, she insisted on a lifeboat to make land. Swells ravaged the tiny boat and Rose was drowned. Rose Greenhow's strong independent spirit was her downfall because the ship safely made port the next morning.

This book was an amazing tale of a feisty woman of the South, who embraced the southern cause and risked her liberty and gave her life for what she believed in. It is well-written and very informative of issues that were previously unknown to this reader at least.

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

Read: October 3 - October 26

Format: Audio 16 CDs equivalent 550 pages

Source: Public Library

Subject: small town pastor

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL, Audio

Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors

Genre: Fiction

Stars: ★★★½

Mitford, North Carolina is the home of Father Tim, an Episcopalian rector who appears to be facing multiple issues leading to a spiritual mid-life crisis. He doesn't think that his ministry to the townspeople is very effective, he's developed diabetes, adopted a monster dog by accident, and assumed responsibility for an 11 year-old boy when his grandfather becomes ill. All this and a new love interest has moved in next door.

The characters are what make this story come alive. Some make you laugh - Cynthia the new neighbor, others make you want to cry or give them a big hug - Sadie Baxter. Others remind me of neighbors I had when growing up - down to earth and no nonsense. However, Father Tim is the center that draws them together. If my priest were half as good as Father Tim I might still be going to church. He speaks from his heart which obviously embraces the Lord wholeheartedly but he's not preachy.

I had a hard time with the start of this book, it seemed to drag but others had told me that I would enjoy it if I liked the Lumby series so I stuck with it and it was worth the effort. Lumby, definitely not, but Mitford is still a place I might like to visit again.

Skeleton Letters by Laura Childs

Read: October 21 - October 24

Format: Paperback 312 pages

Source: Author for review

Subject: religious icons, recipes

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Stars: ★★★

Carmela Bertrand and her friend Ava Gruiex are back at it as detectives when they witness the murder of their friend Byrle in St. Tristan's Church. Carmela can't seem to follow the warnings of her police detective boyfriend and gets involved in the investigation and together they get into a few very tight spots.

This is the 9th book in the Scrapbooking Mysteries series. The interaction of the characters has improved and I will look forward to the next in the series.

Secret Lives of the Supreme Court by Robert Schakenberg

Read: October 10 - 19

Format: Paperback 277 pages

Source: My shelves, giveaway winner

Subject: Supreme Court, judges bios

Category: Something New - books acquired in 2011

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Stars: ★★

This book is mainly a collection of short biographical material and unusual anecdotes concerning the lives of past and present Justices of the Supreme Court. Due the political leanings expressed by the author, I would think that some are a litte far-fetched. Though slightly entertaining, not recommended.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

Read: October 17 - October 19

Format: Audio 9 CDs equivalent 400 pages

Source: Public Library

Subject: cold cases, disfunctional families

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL, Audio

Category: Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers

Genre: Mystery

Stars: ★★★★

Three families are impacted by tragedies in a different way - a 3 year old disappears, one young woman killed, and a husband murdered. 10 years later private detective Jackson Brodie starts investigations of all three cold cases. Jackson is just what a reader wants in their central character - skeptical, suspicious, resentful - which means that when someone tries to stop him, he just digs in deeper.

The characters involved in all three of the cases are unique and diverse. The Land sisters found Blue Mouse after 10 years are still wondering if little Olivia is alive. Theo Wyre lost his daughter and wonders why she was cut down in the prime of her life and he was left behind. Michelle places her daughter in her sister's care who then proceeds to lose her. The cases are solved, not always skillfully, but in the end, we see how lives intertwine and events resonate like ripples in a lake. The reader can see from the clues that connections are there but how they twist and connect is what makes this book so riveting.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next Jackson Brodie mystery.

A Confederate Girl's Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson

Read: October 8 - October 14

Format: Paperback 275 pages

Source: Nook

Subject: Civil War experiences

Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS

Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious

Genre: Historical Biographical, Memior

Stars: ★★★

I believe that any American, when reading about the American Civil War, tends to try to put their own standing as to whether Unionist or Confederate aside and look at the historical aspect of the volume. I had difficulty doing that with this book because of the apparent authenticity of the trials and tribulations of the author.

The introduction to this diary was compelling stating that "No Southerner at that time could possibly have had opinions so just or foresight so clear as those here attributed to a young girl." Sarah's adventures may have seemed a bit trivial in some cases for those of our century (collecting clothes, hiding silver), but at her time and place, she was a strong young woman who made every effort to keep her family together during the conflicts that surrounded them.