Hillary

Murder By the Book by Betsy Brannon Green

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Mar 102010
 

Hello my dear Wednesday readers!

Today, we learn about Betsy Brannon Green’s newest, “Murder by the book”. I have to do this review via my memory because I had to return the book to the library. Darn library.

Anyway- This book like most, maybe all (have to ponder that one) takes place in the South. Though not in Haggerty like her other books, it’s next to Haggerty, so there are some familiar faces in this book. You may remember Mark and Kate (from Hearts in Hiding plus the Haggarty series) and of course the reputable Miss Eugeniam who of course had to stick her nose in this one as well.

The premise is that the local self-created librarian, Kennedy Killingsworth, smells fowl play when a first time patron suddenly comes up dead. The police immediately suspect suicide, but Kennedy refuses to accept that as the answer when things just don’t add up.

I liked the way this was written with very likeable characters, in particular Kennedy, her family and her love interest, whom I shall leave blank to keep it surprise. Anyway, Kennedy, who I was so proud of myself when I realized she, her sisters Madison and Reagan were named after US presidents. Betsy tells you about half way through the book, so I was a bit bummed, ’cause I thought I was smart. That’s okay though. At any rate, Kennedy is adorable. She has the beauty that you want for your main character, but none of those annoying “everyone is in love with me” attitudes you see in some books these days. The irony is that she has four or so love interests, and they each adore her. Maybe it’s the self depricating, or something, but I didn’t feel like she was so beautiful that the world could not function without her. Very likeable. I love how she put up with and delt with her ex-husband, who was both entertaining and annoying.

The remaining characters were also well written. Betsy has a gift for making you feel like you know these people. Even if she hadn’t written about some of them already, you still feel abit attached. It would be important to note that there are a lot of characters is the book, but I never had to flip back in the book to remember who was who. Betsy keeps them active in the storyline and because of that, you don’t suspect the murderer until it is too late.

The story line was smart and fun and creative. I could totally see something like this happening in both a small town and a big city.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to read! Well done Betsy!

until next week!

ftc-fyi- library

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Feb 242010
 

Hello dear ones-
It’s your favorite Wednesday blogger here. Today, we’ll chat a bit about “Catching Fire” by Suzanne Collins, book two of “The Hunger Games” series.
After our last podcast (this past Friday), we had a bit of a discussion of “Catching Fire” and what we thought of it. I had just finished it, so we had some stuff to say about it:
Here’s what Shanda said:
“I think Peeta is hotter in the second book”
Sheila:
“Katniss’s hair is boring in the second”
Hillary:
“Literarily speaking I would say that Suzanne achieved the climax of the series (so far) in book one and book two takes an unreasonable amount of time for it to reach interest for the reader”
Okay. So it didn’t really go that way at all.
So what really happened was more like this:
Shanda:
“I liked book two even more than book one”
to which Sheila and I stared at her for a second and said, “really?”
Shanda, you’ll have to post here what it is you liked more about book two more than one, because quite frankly I didn’t go to bed until 4am, so I don’t have a clear recollection of that night.
Sheila and I both agreed that book two started out really slow, and seemed really predictable. Now, remember slow is not always bad, it’s just slow. Predictable is bad, which is why I actually did put it down for about two weeks until my husband finished it and said,
“Cinna has really cute costumes in this book, I think you’ll like it.”
Okay. That’s not what he said. He said, “I think you should finish it. It has a totally surprising ending.” I said ” well, okay.” He wanted me to add that there are little details that if you catch give you clues as what’s to come, but frankly sometimes I am a bit too impatient for little details.
And about two hours later, I had the book finished. I stopped at chapter 14, ironically about the time when it really picks up, and as my hubby was grumpily doing our taxes, I was done.
I actually am not going to say much more about “Catching Fire” because I think it would give too much away, I will just say this. If you really, really really liked book one, be patient and don’t give up on book two because there are some HUGE surprises and it REALLY makes book three look appealing and I can’t wait for it!

Crossfire by Traci Hunter Abramson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Feb 172010
 

Hey Kids!

Sorry I didn’t get this up last week. As Shanda said, it was a nutsy week for the three of us. So, today I am going to chat with you about “Crossfire”, Traci Hunter Abramson’s new book.

I found out a a year or two back when we read “Undercurrents.” After reading it I found that I really enjoyed Traci’s style of writing, quality and likeability of the characters, and plus I have a crazy fascination with the secret service. I think it’s cause it’s a secret. What made her writing even more intriguing was the fact that she worked for the secret service, and because it’s a secret. again:) It also didn’t hurt that she threw in a group of Navy SEALS, which in my head and in her writing, are quite good looking. (What is it about a guy in uniform?)

Speaking of our hubba hubba SEALS, this one happens to be about Seth. If you’ve read “Lockdown” or “Freefall” you will know the stories of a couple of the “Saint Squad.” Crossfire takes place in the Caribbean (I like to say it CaribBEan- how do you say it?) and it involves Vanessa Lauton, a CIA agent deep undercover with a powerful and dangerous crime family. She gets a bit of a surprise when her long ago love (Seth) resurfaces after a six year hiatus to help get her out of the country when things get a bit dangerous. Instead of a quick pull-out, they get pulled in deeper and as a result a whole lot of action and suspense ensues.

I love that the book is fast paces, action packed and has the romance. It has been a lot of fun reading the love stories of the “Saint Squad.” I love how though the places and the circumstances are unlikely, Traci is successful in making the stories believeable, and entertaining all at once. I love the close calls the characters get into, and the quick thinking and intelligence that they all possess. I especially love that none of the main female characters are weak. They have weaknesses, just like anyone else, but they themselves are not weak. They keep up with the men and refuse to be left to be behind waiting to see what happens. LOVE THAT!

My favorite part of the book is that Vanessa had learned how to fly planes, just not land them. Can’t help being reminded of one of my favorite action heroes, good ol’ Indiana Jones.(If you remember “The Last Crusade”- one of my favorite movies of all time) As they are riding off into the sunset…

“I like being Indiana” (he says to his father)

“We named the dog Indiana” (father says)

“I’ve got a lot of fond memories of that dog” (Indiana says)

okay- enough of a tangent. If I were to give this book a down side, it would be that in some situations, the realistic factor does tread close to “would that really happen”, but like I said, the way she writes it, even if I’m thinking that, I am quickly seeing the next turn. Overall, Traci hits another one out of the park with this book. I highly recommend it!

ftc-fyi- publisher produced copy

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Feb 032010
 

Hey kids!
Today I am blogging about “The Hunger Games.” by Suzanne Collins. A little back story, Shanda and Sheila both read this book last year, told me I needed to read it, so I put it on my list, and then forgot until about 3 weeks ago. So, I picked up the book from the library, and my daughter stole it from me. She didn’t give it back until about 4 days before it was due. I thought for sure I wouldn’t get it done until I actually started reading it. 6 hours later (3am) I got it done, and it made my top-ten of all time favorite books!
Suzanne Collins writes compelling, engaging and engrossing characters. She has written other books, a series called “The Underland Chronicles”, and she has the “Hunger Games” trilogy. I am currently reading book two called “Catching Fire.” The third book, “The Victors” is due out this spring.
The premise of the story takes place in post-apocolyptic America. (I usually hate post-apocolyptic stories. They’re too depressing. But this one is wonderful) There is a group of people that form the Capital, and then there are 13 districts. Early in the formation of the country, the districts try to break out on their own, and are squashed by the Capital. As a form of punishment/or as a way to remind people of their place, each year the Capital forces each district to have a girl and a boy between 12-18 years old compete in “The Hunger Games” which is a game to the death. Last one standing wins, and provides a better life for their district. The main character, Katniss Everdeen ends up representing her district at the hunger games, and with a lot of adventure, a bit of romance and a lot of intense moments, an amazing story is told!
I would HIGHLY recommend this book. Highly. Really good writing, really great depth of characters, really creative and unusual story line. Very well done.
FTC- FYI- library

Missing Pieces by Jeni Grossman

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Jan 272010
 

Hello my darling friends!
I SOOO apologize for my not getting my Tuesday Teaser on yesterday! It was my b-day and it got really busy!
Anyway- this week I read “Missing Pieces”- by Jeni Grossman
Though not Jeni’s first book, it is the first one of hers I have read. Jeni hails from Arizona, however she did live in Turkey for two years while her husband was conducting research for work. It is clear from her detail and descriptions that she is familiar with the areas and customs.
This is a modern day fiction, murder/mystery taking place in Iraq and Turkey. Jeni tells the story of Dulcey Moore, a CNN reporter who gets herself tangled in politics, terrorists and a family mystery of both her own and of her local guide (I hope that didn’t give too much away!).
The book was in no way predictable as it involves the inner workings of a country whose traditions and customs are way outside of my little realm here in Utah. I really enjoyed how Jeni tied in interesting cultural information and traditions I wasn’t familiar with. I especially liked how she brought in the treatment of women in modern day Muslim into the picture. Very interesting and in parts, sad. The underlying theme of the book centered around honor. Dulcey, as a modern woman, has a hard time understanding how and why the people treat each other the way they do. It is not until the end that she fully understands the context of honor, when she is placed in both dangerous and difficult situations. I felt that Dulcey was a good main character. It would have been nice to see more development of back story with her and her husbands’ relationship as that never really feels resolved in the story. Dulcey says it was resolved, it’s just hard for me to feel that. I recognize part of that was because she had a hard time being ABLE to contact her husband.
Other characters in the story were well developed and likeable. I especially liked “Frank” her lovable fill-in-dad. He seemed to keep her together. She also showed the dangers of the country for Americans through other characters which really makes me want to ask Jeni about her own personal experiences in that area.
Overall, I would say that the book was/is well, written, enjoyable and a great way to get an insiders look at the mid-east area.
FYI-FTC -from publisher

Shadows of Eden by Timothy Bone

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Hillary's Reviews
Jan 202010
 


Hello Friends- Your favorite Hillary here- (You know it’s true. There aren’t a whole lot of Hillary’s out there :)

Today I bring you- drum roll please- “Shadows of Eden” by Timothy Bone

The premise of this story is a Harvard scientist/researcher suddenly goes missing and a cop calls in a favor to Del Price P.I. Del is LDS (but not preachy), quick-witted (one of my favorite characteristics) and charming. Oh, and a good, honest P.I. He is hired to find this scientist and finds a sinister plot along the way.

This is Timothy Bone’s first novel published by Cedar Fort just this last year. He hails from both BYU and Boston University. I haven’t seen a new author write like this. Ever. Dorothy Keddington is close, but still not like this. To describe this book as eloquent would be an understatement. Usually I can finish a book within a few days. This one took me a full 7+ days to read. Not because it was boring, therefore hard, but because it was eloquent and I had to think/concentrate about what some of the words meant or else I got lost.

Now, when I say eloquent I mean a paragraph like this:

“Jared Timmerman was an anglophile and as with most such that meant Victoriana, in this case the scientific paraphernalia of that age mingled with small objets d’art and knickknacks. Shelves had been put up against two of the walls of his office to display the plethora of turned bronze apparatus, microscopes, and calipers for every occasion. On another wall in a gilt frame hung a small painting of bucolic sterility of the type that was attractive only in direct ration to the frame of the artist.” (pg 34)

WOWZA. I still don’t know what “bucolic” means.

I had to really slow down my reading to make sure I was following this guy. That being said, when I kept up, I laughed myself silly on lines like this:

“I find news from the BBC to be more trustworthy than it’s state-side counterparts because it’s delivered in a formal British accent.” He (Del Price, the main character) goes on to say to himself “…How does one implement this linguistic uplift? Exclusive schools in Maryland? An upbringing by eccentric aunts? Certainly we shared the conviction that contemporary language has degenerated into a tired mush of imprecision, flabbiness, and profanity, a communication mudslide.” (pg 35)

What I also found was that Del THOUGHT like this, but didn’t necessarily talk like that. He talked “normal” (mostly) and acted “normal” just thought linguisticly uplifting:) (I don’t think linguisticly is a word…)

Just to forewarn, there is some swearing in the book, not overly done, but it is there. There are no inappropriate actions, unless you count murder- but hey it’s a murder/mystery in fact, Timothy- we need to talk about how to write a good kissing scene. I will not deny that this is in no way a romance, but “It was a good kiss and long enough” (pg 165) just doesn’t cut it for the romantic in me :) Not that it needs to be drawn out, but c’mon!

Overall, I thought it was a great read, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/suspense and a thoughtful, intelligent, unrushed style of writing. Just be prepared to have to think a bit more than usual. It felt more realistic to me than some P.I. books I’ve read because of the laid back/non-stressed nature of Del, and I liked that about this book. Seemed like a realistic process for solving a crime!

For those that don’t know my husband- well that would be nearly everyone, he is actually reading this now too. He’s self- allergic to books.

Well done Timothy! I look forward to future work!

FTC FYI- Library

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