What Rose Forgot by Nevada Barr

What Rose Forgot by Nevada Barr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In New York Times bestselling author Nevada Barr's gripping standalone, a grandmother in her sixties emerges from a mental fog to find she's trapped in her worst nightmare
Rose Dennis wakes up in a hospital gown, her brain in a fog, only to discover that she's been committed to an Alzheimer's Unit in a nursing home. With no memory of how she ended up in this position, Rose is sure that something is very wrong. When she overhears one of the administrators saying about her that she's "not making it through the week," Rose is convinced that if she's to survive, she has to get out of the nursing home. She avoids taking her medication, putting on a show for the aides, then stages her escape.
The only problem is—how does she convince anyone that she's not actually demented? Her relatives were the ones to commit her, all the legal papers were drawn up, the authorities are on the side of the nursing home, and even she isn't sure she sounds completely sane. But any lingering doubt Rose herself might have had is erased when a would-be killer shows up in her house in the middle of the night. Now Rose knows that someone is determined to get rid of her.
With the help of her computer hacker/recluse sister Marion, thirteen-year old granddaughter Mel, and Mel's friend Royal, Rose begins to gather her strength and fight back—to find out who is after her and take back control of her own life. But someone out there is still determined to kill Rose, and they're holding all the cards.

 I was shocked as to how much I loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what next problem Rose Dennis (escaped dementia patient---or is she really afflicted with this disease?) was going to get into or create on her own.

As other's have mentioned, you really do need to suspend disbelief for this book...I know that many women of a certain age can do wonderful things but this is a woman who has been ill and drugged and...well I won't get into some of my issues or rather, Roses issues since they would be spoilers!!!

I did not figure out who was behind all of this and was quite surprised; unlike other reviewers. It was a joy to me to see someone of this age, and her grand-daughter working together to uncover what was going on.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys deep mysteries, action, and books that make you really think.

*ARC provided by the publisher



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A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose) by Charlaine Harris

A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with the second of the Gunnie Rose series, in which Lizbeth is hired onto a new crew, transporting a crate into Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States. What the crate contains is something so powerful, that forces from across three territories want to possess it.In this second thrilling installment of the Gunnie Rose series, Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew for a seemingly easy protection job, transporting a crate into Dixie, just about the last part of the former United States of America she wants to visit. But what seemed like a straight-forward job turns into a massacre as the crate is stolen. Up against a wall in Dixie, where social norms have stepped back into the last century, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate as what's inside can spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight, Texas trilogy) is at her best here, building the world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power.

After the first book in this trilogy, I didn't expect very much. I tend not to like westerns and the first book was a total oater! This book mixes things up a little by getting Lizbeth (Gunnie Rose) into a different country -Dixie -on a new job. And everything is going as expected (blood and gunfire everywhere) until the train she and her new crew are on, blows up. Gunnie and her (mostly) late crew were guarding a crate and that is all I'm going to say about the guts of this book except for this one thing -Eli shows up, naturally! You can't have a Charlaine Harris novel without a little romance!

I think I liked this book more because I knew now what to expect. How the New America was divided-and the historical facts.

[This book involves uncomfortable facts about Dixie and you need to think of the deep south in the earlier and middle part of last century. A lot of this plot includes uncomfortable truths. (At least for a person my age, they are uncomfortable) This book does have a unique way of dealing with prejudice against blacks and those that are a bit different. I do so love books with magic! Think of Gunnie in her jeans and guns...you'll see what I mean.  (hide spoiler)]
This book involves uncomfortable facts about Dixie and you need to think of the deep south in the earlier and middle part of last century.   A lot of this plot includes uncomfortable truths. (At least for a person my age, they are uncomfortable) This book does have a unique way of dealing with prejudice against blacks and those that are a bit different.   I do so love books with magic! Think of Gunnie in her jeans and guns...you'll see what I mean.

I do heartily recommend that you read the first book or you will be a little lost in this one although it does a good job of recapping (to the point that if you read the first book just before this one you are going to be able to do a lot of skimming).

The mystery is totally a cool one. I would never in a million years have ever guessed what was in the crate the crew was guarding! There is sex in this book, but not the ultra graphic sex some authors get into. Some people may become offended by some of the storylines -but you really have to remember the historical era of America this book was portraying.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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A Hero Comes Home by Sandra Hill

A Hero Comes Home by Sandra Hill
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I need to remember that when I'm reading a book such as this one I am reading fiction and romantic fiction at that. Ms. Hill likes to put humor into her books, and her earlier books reflect that. This book, for me, was far from humorous. It is an intense subject and one that may upset some readers. It is about a man who has been a POW for 3 years no matter what the government is trying to get everyone to believe. He has been tortured and mutilated. I know this happens, but when I'm reading a light romance, I don't expect to have my stomach roiling or to have to go off and cry.

Jacobs wife, Sally had been told that he was dead and has finally started to get on with her life and so have their three sons. Then one day out of the blue, she is told that he is still alive and within weeks he has come home.

Now I don't know this for a fact, but wouldn't you think that the family would have gotten some counseling to prepare themselves for his reluctant return? Perhaps learned how to deal with the rages someone suffering PTSD might have? Learn what to expect and learn how to treat the loved one so they wouldn't suffer unnecessarily? Not so in this book and while I can sort of understand that it would take time from the story if you are going to write about something like this at least try to do it realistically.

There was a lot of sex in this book and very descriptive, which is no different from Ms. Hills' earlier works.

I really had a love-hate relationship with this novel.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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Hunting for a Highlander (Highland Brides, #8) by Lynsay Sands

Hunting for a Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Breasts. Large breasts, globular breasts, peach-colored nipples, breasts bouncing and breasts that are spilling out all over the place. Yes, this book is heavy on the ample bosom of Dwyn our female protagonist. Think Dolly Parton in a kilt!

This book also follows the plot devices that all of Ms. Sands books use in this series. That makes this a very comfortable read if a little boring.

The mystery was a good one because I couldn't figure out who was doing it. I did not go with the most obvious, but I didn't figure out who was causing all Dwyn's difficulties and someone else's death and her eventual kidnapping.

One thing I did get from this book that I don't usually think about while reading, is the state of the moat, what exactly goes in there and how things must have smelled in this age. I have since sterilized my toilet and kissed my plumber--I would have kissed my plumbing too, but let's not get too crazy here!!!

An excellent read for total escapism.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

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Immortal Born (Argeneau #30) by Lynsay Sands

Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 I was excited while reading this book to see that it revisits Port Henry and the characters from my very favorite book The Accidental Vampire.

The book synopsis gives you all of the important information, but what if fails to let you know is just how exciting this book really was, how convoluted the bad guys became and how sexy this was going to be in thoughts and in the deed!

I also loved the fact that there was no cliff hanger the story was complete (view spoiler)[right to the issue of the bad guy, Abaddon (hide spoiler)].

The only thing I am unhappy with these newer books is that they lack the humor and lightness of many of Ms. Sands older books in this series.

I am also unhappy to realize that I am missing a lot of the boos in this series so I am going to have to do a lot of buying of backlisted books! Poor me, right?!

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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Golden In Death (In Death, #50) by J.D. Robb

Golden In Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As the 50th book in this series, I expected just a tad more than I got. Although it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, It was relatively slow going with much of the book taken up by the first murder and not enough time is given to the next poisoning.

The evil character's really shone in this book, and I would have liked to have seen Eve and Delia spend more time on them.

I felt that this novel was more of a character-driven read than an action-driven one, but that was okay as I was able to learn a little more about my favorite team.

Ms. Robb kept true to her formula as far as sex goes, but still, something was missing in this book...I just can't put my finger on it.

For a fiftieth book, I just expected more, a bigger bang for my buck than the word Gold in the title and a golden egg in the story.

ARC supplied by the publisher.


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The Confession Club: A Novel (Mason Book 3) Kindle Edition by Elizabeth Berg

The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really don't know what to say about this book -I loved it but in a small way I hated it too. Though I do have to admit the love part managed to win over the hate part.

I found this book (third in a trio) to be a little'sweeter' than the first two and the first two books were quite 'sweet' but in a perfect way. This book-the sweetness was a tad unbelievable and dangerous too.

The writing was still wonderful, the ladies in the Confession Club are perfect and I hope I can grow up to be just like them!

I certainly do hope that there will be a fourth in this group of books (I don't want to quite say series yet!) but I can see the different generations picking up for what the original character's stood for.



The Confession Club is inspiring, humorous and romantic.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.


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