THE HAPPINESS PROJECT

Author:  Gretchen Rubin

Genre:  Non-Fiction, The Happiness Project #1

Published:  2009

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Gretchen Rubin

Yearly Count:  13


From Goodreads:

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.

In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

I just happened to see this on the shelf at my library and, on a whim, decided to bring it home.  I can't believe it's been 10 years since it was published!  The speed of time is scary!

My biggest complaint is that she states throughout the book that she needed to just "Be Gretchen."  However, the entire book is about CHANGING Gretchen.  Whether it be about choice and/or for the good, it's still based on changing Gretchen and that bothered me throughout.  The book on a whole is incredibly overwhelming!!!  Every itty-bitty, minute component/detail of one's existence is in one way or another probed and prodded.  It is examined to the point of exhaustion.  The research behind her ideas were interesting, although I don't recall anything being new or revolutionary.  I enjoyed her as her own narrator.

Anyone know . . .  Is she happier today?

Thoughts of Joy

ONE KICK

Author:  Chelsea Cain

Genre:  Mystery, Kick Lannigan Series #1

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Heather Lind

Yearly Count:  5

Kick, a survivor of child abduction, is asked to help a mysterious man rescue other abducted children.

Well, I didn't buy into this story.  I didn't care for Kick all that much, and then the man from who-knows-where appears -- none of it jelled for me.  I did continue and was somewhat engaged, but at the moment, I don't think I'll continue with this series either.  We'll see.

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THE DRY

Author:  Jane Harper

Genre:  Mystery, Aaron Falk Series #1

Published:  2017

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  16

From NetGalley:

After getting a note demanding his presence, Federal Agent Aaron Falk arrives in his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. Falk and his father fled under a cloud of suspicion, saved from prosecution only because of Luke’s steadfast claim that the boys had been together at the time of the crime. But now more than one person knows they didn’t tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.

Amid the worst drought in a century, Falk and the local detective question what really happened to Luke. As Falk reluctantly investigates to see if there’s more to Luke’s death than there seems to be, long-buried mysteries resurface, as do the lies that have haunted them. And Falk will find that small towns have always hidden big secrets.

This is Harper's debut novel, and I think she did a great job! I enjoyed the characters, the mystery and the pace.  I was concerned when I realized there were going to be flashbacks, but they didn't bother me at all, which is very unusual.  I suppose a compelling story is enticing whether it's in real time or flashbacks.  Kudos to Harper!

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My thanks go to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for providing me with the eBook.

        

THE RIVER IS DARK

Author:  John Hart

Genre:  Thriller, Liam Dempsey Series #1 

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)  

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Erik G. Dove  

Yearly Count:  12

A little boy is the surviving victim in a brutal attack against his family and another.  He only can identify the assailant as a monster.

This book had great potential.  I was enjoying the storyline and the characters until the ending, which was a bit predictable and ridiculous.

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THE MIDWIFE OF HOPE RIVER

Author:  Patricia Harman

Genre:  Fiction, Hope River Series #1

Published:  2012

Personal Rating:  2.25/5 (not enjoyable +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Anne Wittman

Yearly Count:  8

Patience works as a midwife in West Virginia during the Depression Era.

If you want to read about this birth and that birth and the other birth, then this book is for you.  :)  In all fairness, the births are nothing but miracles and each event blessed; however, there wasn't much more.  There was a lot of "today times" sprinkled in, which didn't seem to fit, but I wasn't around then, so what do I know.  I know that I was bored most of the time.  :(

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MY SISTER'S GRAVE

Author:  Robert Dugoni

Genre:  Thriller, Tracy Crosswhite Series #1

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Emily Sutton-Smith

Yearly Count:  6

Tracy Crosswhite abruptly changed careers from teacher to detective to seek the answers to her sister's disappearance 20 years ago.  When her sister's remains are discovered, her determination kicks into high gear.  She gets more answers than she ever anticipated.

The flashbacks and repetition were annoying, but I think it was a good introduction to Dugoni's work, and I want to read more.  Hopefully Tracy grows on me, though, because I thought she was just okay.  

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YOU

Author:  Caroline Kepnes

Genre:  Suspense/You Series #1

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/
Santino Fontana

Yearly Count:  68

From NetGalley:

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

Phew! I need a brain wash!  This book is a barrage of bad language and bad actions.  I had a very difficult time listening to the constant s*x talk and the descriptive words and actions; hence, a very difficult time rating it!  Had I known that this was what the book was about, I would not have read or listened to it.  It's just not my thing.  

However . . . 

once I picked it up, I was pretty much glued with anticipation.  I couldn't wait to get back to it and find out what was going to happen next.  The narrator, Santino, was fantastic.  Hidden Bodies, Book 2, is waiting for me, and I'm excited to get back to see what Joe is up to now.  If it goes down the same path as You, I think this one will be easier on my poor brain, because despite the awesome narration, I won't be listening.

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My thanks go to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

BLOOD ON SNOW

Author:  Jo Nesbo

Genre:  Thriller, Blood on Snow Series #1

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Patti Smith

Yearly Count:  61

A fixer with heart (anti-hero) has a job to do.

I'm perplexed by the narrator.  It didn't sound like a female and if it were, I don't understand why a female was used instead of a male.  ???  And, she (?) totally took me by surprise.  Her tone was very flat and mundane.  However!  It worked and she grew on me.

As for the story itself, it was short and pretty interesting, but nothing great.  I don't understand how the series continues, so I will be checking that out.

Thought of Joy

  

BROKEN PROMISE

Author:  Linwood Barclay
Genre:  Thriller, Promise Falls Series #1
Published:  2015
Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Brian O'Neill &

Quincy Dunn-Baker

Yearly Count: 54

From NetGalley: 

After his wife’s death and the collapse of his newspaper, David Harwood has no choice but to uproot his nine-year-old son and move back into his childhood home in Promise Falls, New York. David believes his life is in free fall, and he can’t find a way to stop his descent.

Then he comes across a family secret of epic proportions. A year after a devastating miscarriage, David’s cousin Marla has continued to struggle. But when David’s mother asks him to check on her, he’s horrified to discover that she’s been secretly raising a child who is not her own—a baby she claims was a gift from an “angel” left on her porch.

When the baby’s real mother is found murdered, David can’t help wanting to piece together what happened—even if it means proving his own cousin’s guilt. But as he uncovers each piece of evidence, David realizes that Marla’s mysterious child is just the tip of the iceberg.

Other strange things are happening. Animals are found ritually slaughtered. An ominous abandoned Ferris wheel seems to stand as a warning that something dark has infected Promise Falls. And someone has decided that the entire town must pay for the sins of its past…in blood.

When I see a Linwood Barclay book come available, I jump, even though his family oriented thrillers have not received consistent ratings from me.  This one landed in the "just okay" range due to the abundance of storylines.  I realize he was setting it up as a series, but I didn't know what went together and what didn't.  However, just like always, I will be seeking out the next in the series with hopes of it being a bit more focused.

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My thanks go to Penguin Group and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY

Author:  Betty G. Birney

Genre:  Children's Fiction, Humphrey Series #1

Published:  2004

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  43

Humphrey is a hamster who lives in Room 26 of an elementary classroom.  He shares his observations and promotes goodness.

I read this for our upcoming school-wide book club.  It's cute, and I think the kids will really enjoy it.  There are lessons to be learned through Humphrey's escapades in a non-threatening way and every child, most likely, can identify with someone or some event in this book.

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EENY MEENY

Author:  M. J. Arlidge

Genre:  Police Procedural,
DI Helen Grace Series #1

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  31

From NetGalley:

Two people are abducted, imprisoned, and left with a gun. As hunger and thirst set in, only one walks away alive.

It’s a game more twisted than any Detective Inspector Helen Grace has ever seen. If she hadn’t spoken with the shattered survivors herself, she almost wouldn’t believe them.

Helen is familiar with the dark sides of human nature, including her own, but this case—with its seemingly random victims—has her baffled. But as more people go missing, nothing will be more terrifying than when it all starts making sense....

I think the premise of this book was incredibly intriguing.  It truly had great potential, but something was missing OR overdone.  Instead of so many victims, I wonder if Arlidge honed in on less victims' experiences, it would have had more substance.  Just a thought.  :)

Coming from the UK, the second in this series, Pop Goes the Weasel, will be available as an eBook on October 6.  The remaining 2 (currently there are 4 in the series) are sporadically being released.  My interest is still piqued for this author's work and look forward to the next in the series.

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My thanks go to Penguin Group and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

CITY OF THE SUN

Author:  David Levien

Genre:  Mystery, Frank Behr Series #1

Published:  2008

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Scott Brick

Yearly Count:  30

A 12-year-old boy doesn't return home from his morning paper route.  Since the police don't seem to be making any progress on the case, the parents hire PI Frank Behr to find their son.

This book was an okay listen . . . nothing memorable either way.

Thoughts of Joy

THE ICE PRINCESS

Author:  Camilla Lackberg

Genre:  Thriller/Patrik Hedstrom Series #1

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/David Thorn

Yearly Count:  11

Returning to her hometown to take care of the family home, Erica discovers her childhood best-friend dead by suicide.  Patrik, a childhood friend, is the detective on the case.

Since finishing this book, I have read many reviews.  I do agree, there were many things not so good about it; however, I really liked it anyway.  :)  It did keep my attention, and I was very intrigued.  The audio version caused me a little bit of a problem in distinguishing names.  :(  I don't get along with accents very well, so on occasion I was confused in the beginning.  I definitely will be listening to more, though.

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SERIAL (Podcast)

Author: Sarah Koenig 

Genre:  Non-Fiction Crime, Season One

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  4.25/5 (very good +)

Format/Narrator:  Podcast/Sarah Koenig

Yearly Count:  1

In Baltimore, 1999, a high school senior was murdered.  Her ex-boyfriend was convicted of her death, and as he sits in prison, he still maintains his innocence.  Koenig seeks the truth.

I really enjoyed walking through this story.  All my questions weren't answered to my liking, but most were addressed.  This was a great way to get realistic detective work without the gore that many books describe.  On the other hand, it is disappointing because it IS realistic and not all angles or events are clear cut.

There will be a Season Two with a new case later this year.  Can't wait.

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THE 5TH WAVE

Author:  Rick Yancey

Genre:  YA Post-Apocalyptic, The Wave Series #1

Published:  2013

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/

Brandon Espinoza & Phoebe Strole

Yearly Count:  47

Aliens are attacking the humans through a variety of waves, leaving those remaining perplexed and bewildered as to why.

This book had my attention from the beginning and held it throughout, but not so much that it kept me on the edge of my seat.  It was told from a few viewpoints, which I liked, and was mysterious in its origin.  Some ideas were revealed, but there is so much unknown. 

The Wave Series #2, The Infinite Sea, will be available in September.  I'll be reading it.  :)

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FRAGILE

Author:  Lisa Unger

Genre:  Thriller, Hallows Series #1

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Nancy Linari

Yearly Count:  41

The son's girlfriend of Maggie (psychologist) and Jones Cooper (detective) goes missing and a past disappearance in the small community is brought back to the forefront, as well.

I enjoyed the actual mystery, but there were way too many characters (along with their stories) and change of scenes to keep it cohesive.  There was just too much going on with all the members of the town that I felt disconnected and never rooted.  All the details of everything were given up by the end -- maybe a little too neat for my taste, but still a decent read.

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THE JURY MASTER

Author:  Robert Dugoni

Genre:  Legal Thriller?!?, David Sloane Series #1

Published:  2006

Personal Rating:  2.5/5 (eh)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Robertson Dean

Yearly Count:  19

From Goodreads:

"David Sloane is the best wrongful death attorney in San Francisco. But despite his professional success, he's plagued by a nightmare of a childhood he cannot consciously remember. When he receives a package from a White House confidant who then turns up dead, the contents reveal a history he could never have imagined."

I was tricked.  Or . . . at least I feel like I was tricked.  With a title like The Jury Master, what would you think the book was about?  Let's see, maybe something to do with a jury or legal proceedings?  Didn't happen . . . and I kept waiting for it.  Grrr.

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RUNNER

Author:  Patrick Lee

Genre:  Sci-Fi Thriller,
Sam Dryden Series #1

Published:  2014

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  91

From NetGalley:

Sam Dryden, retired special forces, lives a quiet life in a small town on the coast of Southern California. While out on a run in the middle of the night, a young girl runs into him on the seaside boardwalk. Barefoot and terrified, she’s running from a group of heavily armed men with one clear goal—to kill the fleeing child. After Dryden helps her evade her pursuers, he learns that the eleven year old, for as long as she can remember, has been kept in a secret prison by forces within the government. But she doesn’t know much beyond her own name, Rachel. She only remembers the past two months of her life—and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous to these men and the hidden men in charge.

Dryden, who lost his wife and young daughter in an accident five years ago, agrees to help her try to unravel her own past and make sense of it, to protect her from the people who are moving heaven and earth to find them both. Although Dryden is only one man, he’s a man with the extraordinary skills and experience—as a Ranger, a Delta, and five years doing off-the-book black ops with an elite team. But, as he slowly begins to discover, the highly trained paramilitary forces on their heels is the only part of the danger they must face. Will Rachel’s own unremembered past be the most deadly of them all?

 Had I known this was science fiction, I probably would not have requested it.  I'm surprised I ended up with a 3.5/5 rating, because I felt tricked (not knowing the sci-fi part) and that made me angry.  However, once I got over that, I was still interested and went with it.  There were certainly parts that were over-the-top, but in general, I really enjoyed the fast-paced ride.  I can understand why and how others may appreciate this more than me being that I'm not a sci-fi fan.  I definitely want to read more by Patrick Lee, providing it's not the same genre.  If it ends up being another Sam Dryden thriller, I hope we get to learn more about him.  This was light on character development.

My thanks go to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.  It is scheduled to be published on February 18, 2014.

UNTRACEABLE

Author:  S. R. Johannes

Genre:  YA Thriller, The Nature of Grace Series #1

Published:  2011

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)

Format:  eBook

Yearly Count:  78

From NetGalley:

Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he's dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she's enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it's going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

This was a surprising YA thriller.  By surprising I mean that the plot was filled with a lot of thriller moments, and they surprised me (not necessarily in a good way).  Overall, the book is a downer (depressing) regarding plot lines and characters.  I rated it a 3.25 (just okay +), because of the suspense.  I never knew what was around the corner.  While I liked Grace (spunky attitude), the general feel of the book definitely was YA, so those in that age range should really enjoy it.

My thanks go to All Night Reads and NetGalley for providing me with this eGalley.

THE PRISONER OF CELL 25

Author:  Richard Paul Evans

Genre:  YA Sci-Fi, Michael Vey Series #1

Published:  2012

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Fred Berman

Yearly Count:  75

Michael Vey, 14-years-old, has special electric powers.  He discovers he's not alone, which brings him comfort, but also the questions:  Why me?  Why us?  

I enjoyed this.  I really enjoyed the characters and thought the science-fiction part was done well.  It was a very "clean" book - no swearing, drugs or alcohol.  My interest level remained high throughout, even though it was definitely geared to a YA audience, and I was entertained.  The ending consisted of a close-to over-the-top climax, but it worked.  I look forward to the second in the series titled Rise of the Elgen.