Where Will You Run?

Title:   Where Will You Run

Author: M E Franco

Series: The Dion Series

Type of book: Supernatural mystery romance

Why did I read it? Heard about the book and first time published author through a friend.

How did I read it?:  Kindle eReader

Level of captivity: Hard to put down after second chapter

Scale of Fun

(1-5, 1=not so much,  5=so much fun I want more.)           4.2

Insomnia Scale

(1-5, 1=can stop reading and go to sleep at the proper bed time, 5=can’t sleep ‘til I am finished)                                                                             3.5

What I got from the book: This is a new author so I definitely had no expectations. I was delighted to find I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to the second installment of this series. The characters Mari and Raith were developed just enough in this first book to leave me looking forward to more of their back-stories, especially Raith’s. I will tell you I had become bored with vampires but was finally happy to have a different twist on the lore. This is no Twilight. It is better and a little more grown up.

The Trouble with Green

Title:   The Trouble with Green

Author: Liv James

Series: No

Type of book: Mystery, Suspense, Some romance

Why did I read it? Suggested through Facebook

How did I read it?:  Kindle eReader

Insomnia Scale

(1-5, 1=can stop reading and go to sleep at the proper bed time, 5=can’t sleep ‘til I am finished)                                                                             3.5

What I got from the book: An entertaining read with several unexpected twists and turns. The story might have been fleshed out a little more but overall I was happy with how things turned out. The unexpected hero is always the best and possibly the most romantic. You do get this from the novel. I may have to indulge in this author’s other novels in the near future.

Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave

Title:   Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave

Author: Sibel Hodge

Series: No

Type of book: Nonfiction

Why did I read it? I have read other books by this author

How did I read it?:  Kindle eBook

What I got from the book:

This is a situation where upon completion of this book I really need to review it immediately. I have not stopped crying yet. So you will need to have some tissues throughout the read. I do not normally read this type of genre but was given the book from the author. It is compelling reading and very telling as to how cruel criminals are. To be treated as an object and not seen as a human being has to be the most horrible feeling in the spectrum of feelings humans even have. This comes out in the telling of this young woman’s story clearly. It is a necessary story to tell since it sheds light on a very really industry that should not exist. It is one thing for a person to choose prostitution and to make a living at it. It is entirely another for a person to be forced into slavery to be given as sex slaves and hardly have proper food or medical care and to be punished if they are too sick to work. How could any customer want to exploit unwilling participants? It is sick. They are just a criminal for providing the incentive in the first place for the business.

I know this is not the usual way I write my reviews, but I had to editorialize a little after reading this. Check out the links provided and find out if there is a way we can all put an end to human trafficking of every kind.

Samntha Sweet by Connie Shelton

Title:   Sweet Masterpieces and Sweet's Sweets

Author: Connie Shelton

Series: Samantha Sweet Mysteries

Type of book: Murder Mystery, Slightly Paranormal

Why did I read it? I liked the other series I recently finished by this same author

How did I read it?:  Kindle eReader

Level of captivity: Extremely captivating

Scale of Fun

(1-5, 1=not so much,  5=so much fun I want more.)           4.9

Insomnia Scale

(1-5, 1=can stop reading and go to sleep at the proper bed time, 5=can’t sleep ‘til I am finished)                                                                             4.3

What I got from the book: My only issue with reading these books (there are two so far) is I find myself wanting sugary goodies to snack on. Sam Sweet is an entrepreneurial sort just trying to survive and build up her savings account so she can realize a dream of opening her own bakery. Along the way she finds herself embroiled in finding dead bodies, magical boxes, and dare it be true, a handsome sheriff deputy that sets his sights on wooing her. I do look forward to reading more of her future crime solving adventures and I will attempt to resist my desire to find a local bakery that can provide some of the treats described in these stories. Of course, this is not the first time reading novels have fired up my sweet tooth. I sometimes wistfully long for cake when reading Stephanie Plum adventures as well. If you enjoy those books, you will enjoy these too.

Charlie Parker Murder Mysteries

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Titles: Deadly Gamble, Vacations Can Be Murder, Partnerships Can Kill, Small Towns Can Be Murder, Memories Can Be Murder, Holidays Can Be Murder, Honeymoons Can Be Murder, Reunions Can Be Murder, Competition Can Be Murder, Balloons Can Be Murder, Obsessions Can Be Murder, Gossip Can Be Murder, Stardom Can Be Murder.

Author: Connie Shelton

Series: Charlie Parker Murder Mysteries

Type of book: Murder Mysteries

Why did I read it? Since I have relocated from the Southern culture of North Carolina to the Southwestern Culture of New Mexico, finding this series based on characters that live right here in nearby Albuquerque, NM was a pleasant way for me to learn a little about my new home.

How did I read it?:  On My Kindle eBook of course.

Level of captivity: Once I started this series, I kept plowing through them.

Scale of Fun

(1-5, 1=not so much, 5=so much fun I want more.)            4.9

Insomnia Scale

(1-5, 1=can stop reading and go to sleep at the proper bed time, 5=can’t sleep ‘til I am finished)                                                                             4.7

What I got from the book: Reading this series; featuring a female PI (amateur at that); was made interesting as much by her character as by her location. Almost every book gave a little history of New Mexico and featured a beloved custom for me to explore. I was kept guessing as to the outcome of each crime usually and love how this author does not necessarily wimp out on her endings. I also loved that marriage does not take away from the romance in the story’s main love relationship. Yea for Charlie and finding her dream guy and making it work. I especially love that the last two books in this series (so far) took a little different direction in the narrative giving more to the other characters thinking. My favorite form of reading happens to be first person, but keeping Charlie’s views in first person and then telling other character’s part of the story in the third person worked very well for me. I look forward to more from this author about these wonderful characters, and I plan to read another series she has started featuring another character in another NM community.

Stephanie Plum Fun

Title:   Stephanie Plum Series 1-16
Author: Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum
Type of book: Romantic mystery, comedy, mayhem
Why did I read it? In anticipation of number 17 coming out in June of 2011 I reread them all in order.
How did I read it?:  Kindle eReader
Level of captivity: Not able to stop until finished and completed them all in about a week.
Scale of Fun         (1-5, 1=not so much,  5=so much fun I want more.)           4.6
Insomnia Scale

(1-5, 1=can stop reading and go to sleep at the proper bed time, 5=can’t sleep ‘til I am finished)                                                                             4.9

What I got from the books: I love fun and I have given up television recently. These books are better than a TV series. I would not mind it if a made for TV series came of them. For some the books read very similarly but for me they were fun all the way through though many times I was frustrated at the endings. Fortunately, for me I only discovered these books this year and could jump right into the next one right away. Okay its true I have no life right now. Still if you need some light and fun reading you cannot go wrong with this series. I like reading a series in order but each one can be taken on its own. I do recommend that you start with One for the Dough if you haven’t read them yet. This does set the tone for Stephanie and wets the appetite for all the missed opportunities that happen throughout the books. I also recommend reading the first because it is about to be a movie coming out in January of 2012. No movie does a book full justice and I believe that having read the book will help fill in blanks that will undoubtedly be in the movie because of time constraints that are part of the media form.

Characters are richly developed and easily rooted for or hated in this series. Many of them arc through several books nicely. A few are present in all of them. There are also the in between stories as well that introduce a character that is starring in his own set of books beginning with Wicked Appetites by the same writer. Having completed 16 in the series it will be difficult to wait for 17 but I will be reading it on my Kindle as soon as it downloads.

Not One Clue

Title:   Not One Clue

Author: Lois Greiman

Series: Number 6

Type of book: Romantic Mystery and Suspense

Why did I read it? I have read all six of these and would read more if they existed.

How did I read it?:  Kindle eReader

Level of captivity: Had to read this one completely straight through

Scale of Fun

(1-5, 1 = not so much, 5 = so much fun I want more.)        4.8

Insomnia Scale

(1-5, 1=can stop reading and go to sleep at the proper bed time, 5=can’t sleep ‘til I am finished)                                                                             4.8

What I got from the book: Reading through this series featuring a Psychologist and a LAPD cop was like reading through five novels of foreplay before finally getting some satisfaction of a sort. Witty banter and SAT worthy vocabulary abound throughout all of the Christina McMullen series. None of them turns out the way you think they will, but they always make sense at the end. I do expect to have more of Christy and Jack in the future. If you like the fun and adventure of Evanovich’s novels you will want to give These a read while waiting for the next Plum adventure.
Not One Clue: A Mystery Unzipped Unplugged One Hot Mess Unmanned Unscrewed