#30

"Live Wire" is Harlan Coben's latest novel and one of his Myron Bolitar series. Myron is an ex-basketball star who lost his chance at the big leagues in the first game when he was injured. He went on to become a lawyer and to become an agent with his own agency. I've chuckled through these novels and thoroughly enjoyed them. I'm feeling that this series is ending and he will be starting up a teenage version with Myron's nephew as the star. Hope I'm wrong about this one ending but he's sold off his agency and his best friend and his partner are gone. Not feeling good about that.

Enjoying two days off and then a stint of nine days on before my next time off. At my age I hope I can survive working nine days in a row without a break. The next time I'm off will be a weekend and hopefully I will get to see my family during that time.

#29

The latest Clive Cussler novel didn't disappoint. "The Jungle" was a sequel to the Oregon Files which is the old tanker ship that sails the ocean looking like it's on it's last sea leg but really it is the cover for the Corporation. A group that not only works for the US government when it doesn't want it's name to be out there but also other private individuals and countries that have a job to be done. Nothing illegal but all undercover. This time it takes the reader all over the world in search of the first quantum computer and the US doesn't have it. It has taken over control of our country and it's government and it's being blackmailed to do it's bidding. Great read and page turner.

#28

James Patterson has put his name on some interesting books but this one is bizarre! Whoever really wrote it has gone way off the beaten path. Time frame is 60 years in the future and the Elite have taken over the earth and the humans are scum. The Elite are genetically altered and born in test tubes after two years of incubation. They are trying to destroy all the humans and of course there has to be a hero to save the world. Hays Baker has spent his life thinking he was Elite to find out during an operation that he's human and now hunted by the Elite who used to consider him a hero. I wasn't overly impressed with this book and am hoping it isn't a sequel but it has the makings of it. I did read it quickly since it has the short chapters that a Patterson book is famous for. Had the day off and spent it on the couch with my jammies on.

#27

Maeve Binchy is a wonderful author and she didn't disappoint me with her latest, "Minding Frankie." She took us back to an area of Dublin that we've become familiar with since she wrote "Tara Road." Some of the same characters have come back in many of her last 5 or 6 novels. This time we got to know some new ones and they tied in nicely. Stella is dying and she's pregnant. She wants the father of the baby to raise it but he doesn't know about the baby until just a few weeks before Stella is to give birth. They were both drunk on the night of conception and he doesn't remember. The baby is a girl and her name is to be Frankie. Noel is the father and to be a good one he has to change his life. No more drinking and he must better his life by getting a better education. To do all this he needs a good support system and that comes from his newly discovered American cousin who has come to Ireland to find her roots, his parents, and his neighbors. What a great story! Hoping for many more novels that take us back to Dublin.

Tomorrow is my granddaughter's 16th birthday. Oh my! Where did the time go. Driving and her trip to Germany this summer are foremost on her mind right now. Takes me back to that time in my life. What great memories!

#26

Found an old John Saul novel that I'd missed. "All Fall Down" was written in the early 80's so it was funny to read about a time before cell phones and current technology. This one was just getting into computers and data searches. A small town has an unusual number of deaths by SIDS and young boys missing and considered runaways. Is there a link? All the births took place at the local hospital and all the mothers were treated by the same doctor. The mothers didn't want to be mothers and they were given an IUD. They all got pregnant anyway and the results are now being discovered by one of the mothers who has a background in computers and has done a little hacking to find out what really killed her baby daughter and why a young boy who was a friend of her son's has gone missing. I would not say that this was one of John Saul's best. Was rather disappointed but it was written early in his career. Maybe I'm losing my taste for this type of read.

Can't believe my granddaughter is turning 16 next Monday. It's bad enough to see your children getting older but it's much worse to watch it happen to your grandchildren.

#25

Once again Jodi Picoult wrote a great novel. She always makes it thought provoking and this time she did it again. This time she covers homosexuality, the church, in-vitro fertilization, and frozen embryoes. The extra bonus is the CD that she's included in the book. The singer is Ellen Wilber but the lyrics are written by Jodi. Thanks for the great read!! Sad that I have to wait another year for the next one.

#24

Finished a cute little read by Belva Plain titled "Heartwood." Set in the 1980's it features a family of parents and grown children who have made some interesting choices for their lives in that time frame. The only daughter has become a Martha Stewart type who out of desperation to keep the family's finances afloat has had to make a living the only way she knows how. Cooking and creating. Her husband keeps getting side tracked from finishing his doctorate program and can't seem to stay on track with his chosen career. The changes have caused a rift between she and her husband and also with her mother. Probably not one of Belva's best novels. Okay, but not a five star read.

Looking forward to two days off! Will be awhile before that happens again so I hope to take advantage of it. Still have to finish my stained glass project.

#23

A really light enjoyable read by Anita Shreve. "Rescue" was a quick story about a Rescue worker named Webster who responded to a car accident only to have his life turned upside down by the experience. That's it!!

Spent my two days in my temporary job as bookkeeper and somehow survived. Ended up with very late lunches and some overtime but I made it. Some nerve racking moments. Sure hope I don't have to wait months to be back in there or I will forget everything I've learned just when I was starting to feel comfortable. A day off tomorrow and then I'm back to my original job. Sure will miss being able to read and hide away. Now I'll be right out there with the masses again.