The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck

Rating 3/5

John Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors, however, I didn't like this book as much as the others that I read. It apparently is his debut novel, but is so much different from his other books. The style of The Moon is Down mimicked that of Hemingway, I believe. It was vague and the dialogue repetitive. I also am not a fan of war books. The novel takes place in Europe during a war. A small town is taken over by soldiers and slowly they begin to rebel

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Rating 3/5

Everyone says that Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books is like an addiction. You want to stop, but you can't. I think it gets to the point where you can only write so much before all of the books start becoming the same. This is happening with the Plum series. However, that being said, this was one of the better books. It had more action and bounty hunter business and less about Stephanie's life. Although, it is her life that makes the books amusing.

In Twelve Sharp, Stephanie is looking for a man who is posing as Ranger and has kidnapped his daughter. I think what made this book better than some of the others is that it was personal to Stephanie. And, just when you think she has the Ranger/Morelli situation figured out, she still can't make a decision.

The Summons by John Grisham

Rating 3/5

So, John Grisham is supposed to be the master of suspense, but this book just did not do it for me. I haven't read any of his other books, but I do know that they make great movies. I'm sure his other books are good. The problem with this one was that nothing happened. He spent a big chunk of the first part describing the relationship between Judge Atlee and his sons, Ray and Forrest and how the judge died. The next part was Ray finding a huge sum of money in the judge's house and moving it around. He got attacked and followed to give it some action, but really, nothing happened.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Rating 3/5

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This book was just so so for me. It wasn't bad, but really didn't catch my attention very well. It was very slow moving and the characters were hard to get into. They weren't very deep. I think Jacobs needed to have less main characters and go deeper into them. I did like how it was about strong women who can survive without men on their own and that they an succeed at what they want. I also liked how knitting was the theme of the novel. I really need to get out my knitting and finish some projects. However, there was much in the book that was unrealistic and didn't sit right with me. I also felt that the ending was too contrived. Everything worked out perfectly except for Georgia, who Jacobs killed, almost as if she didn't know what else to do.


There was much that was unbelievable. First, Lucie having a baby on her own without telling the father that it was his. Second, Darwin's husband coming back to her just because she sends him a sweater after she cheated on him. Georgia takes James back after he deserted her and Dakota. Fourth, none of the women went to the doctor.

I'm not sure if I will give this author another chance. She showed potential in her debut novel, but we'll see.

A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George

Rating 4/5

Elizabeth George is one of the master's of suspense. I find that a lot of mystery/suspense novels are written very simply and a fast read such as Dan Brown and James Patterson. George is the opposite. Her writing styles is much more involved.

A Place of Hiding is part of the Detective Lynley series, but he is a minor player this time. The sleuths are Simon and Deborah St. James who usually just assist. It takes place on a small island where Guy Brouard is killed. Deborah's friend China River is arrested for the murder. Deborah and Simon team up to find the answer to the murder. China claims she's innocent only having arrived on the island from California and never meeting Brouard before. There are other people with motives for wanting him dead.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Rating 1/6

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I'm really surprised that I actually finished this book. It was pretty bad. It had the makings of a good mystery, but Fluke was very heavy-handed on the description. She described every minute detail about each character and their lives and explained things as if the reader was an idiot. She put so much access information into the book, that the reader forgot what the plot was. She tried to build up the suspense by eliminating all suspects, but that didn't work either. I may try another book by her, but not sure.

King and Goddess by Judith Tarr

Rating 3/5

This book was actually better than I expected. I've discovered that I like Egyptian stories. The story told of Hatshepsut (who I have never heard of) who was queen to Thutmose II. When he died, she became Queen Regeant to their son Thutmose III. She, however, was not satisfied with this and eventually made herself King and ruler over the two lands of Egypt.

The story itself was a good story. Sometimes historical fiction authors pick a random person from history and try to make a story out of nothing just to be unique. The writing was simple and to the point. I think she could have been a little bit more descriptive or flowery with her language. Overall, it was a good book, but it didn't make me want to go out and buy everything that Tarr has written.

Soapsuds by Finola Hughes and Digby Diehl

Rating 3/5
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This book had promise, but it never quite made it. It starred Kate McPhee, a budding soap opera actress and told the story of her soap character and her real life. Because Hughes alternated between the two stories, nothing really happened in either one. You kept waiting for the climax and it never came. Personally, I thought the story line of the soap was overdone. Kate played a gay detective who dealt with vampires. I've never seen that on daytime tv. Then Kate falls in love and he leaves without warning. She is immediately over it. Then she meets a guy who is married to one of her friends. She gets over that pretty easily, too.