Big party for hubby

Took a little longer to read my last novel. Kept getting interrupted at work with all the drama going on. Had to let a few people go which is never pleasant.

I enjoyed Philippa Gregory's "Fallen Skies." It was a change from her usual writing. She always took me back to kings and queens from long ago but this time she went back to post world war I and spun a nice little tale of a young woman who was destined to a life on the stage to escape her poor roots in England and was found by a wealthy young lawyer and swept into his tormented life. He had been forever changed by his time in the war and thought that this new young bride could make him forget the nightmares. She was suddenly left motherless and was pushed into marrying him to have somewhere to go. A strange twist at the end brought it to a different kind of conclusion.

It's party day, today! My hubby turns 80 on Monday and today is the big bash. His son is in from Hawaii and will be there to yell surprise. Wish we could get the other one out of his bedroom to join in the festivities. Anyway, I'm sure they all won't be there on time so as they stagger in it will be a surprise for hubby. A few friends will join the mix to make it a fun experience. If not, a few cases of beer and a bunch of bottles of wine will make it better.

Running out of books

I've proven that I could be a proof reader and read for more than 8 hours a day. I think I missed my life's calling. Of course, I would have to only read books that I like which I'm sure wouldn't be the case.

I finished Nicholas Evans' "The Brave." Once I got used to him jumping from young Tommy at 8 or 9 in one chapter to Tom in his mid 50's in another chapter, it was a very good read. I figured out the ending pretty quickly but enjoyed it anyway. Tommy is British and infatuated with American cowboy shows. It's the 1950's and that's all he can think about. His sister is an actress and gets a chance to make a movie in America. Tommy is told a secret that changes his life and off to the states he goes. There he gets his wish and is thrown into the Hollywood lifestyle. The older Tom is struggling with his past and his future that involves a tortured life with his estranged son. Two secrets are disclosed that bond the family back together.

Koontz again

I finished the Frankenstein series. Well, at least I'm caught up by finishing all the books. Dean Koontz's "Dead and Alive". Okay, they caught Frankenstein and that's the end of it till the fourth book when I already know that he comes back.

I thought I was caught up with all the Harlan Coben novels but I found one for the 1990's that I'd missed. This one kept me guessing till the end. Lots of basketball, murder, and mystery! Ready for more of Coben!

Day off

Okay! I had a list of things to do as long as my arm but NO! I had to spend the day reading my latest book. My hubby's birthday party is next week and instead of getting all those preparations done on my only day off before the big event I just buried my head in this book and read my day away. Sara Gruen's "Ape House" is a wonderful read. I enjoyed her "Water for Elephants" so I was hoping for a repeat. I was not disappointed. In this one Gruen took us to a Great Ape Language Lab where the bonobos were taught to sign and could communicate with there scientific protectors. After a bombing from a protest group the apes were sold and ended up on a television reality show. One of the original scientists that was injured in the bombing and a journalist joined forces to get the apes back. Well worth checking this one out.

Thank you Ms Mapson

I found this author a few years back and ended up buying and reading all her books. I've been waiting for quite a while for the latest to come out and it's finally here and it's read! Great book! Jo-Ann Mapson's "Solomon's Oak" is her best yet, I think. She introduced some new characters since she sometimes writes sequels. This was about Glory Solomon who is a new widow with lots of expenditures and little money. She runs a farm with several horses, goats and dogs. She rescues dogs from execution and trains them and finds them homes. Before her husband died they took in foster children (boys) and raised them. Now she's trying to pay the bills by making her farm a wedding destination. Her husband built a chapel before he died and she's putting it to good use. On the day of her first wedding event she was brought a foster child of 14 who needed help. Glory took on the challenge and the story that follows is one of hardship and love.

Another Patterson

I've been getting quite a few books delivered that have been stacking up pretty high and because I was reading some rather large novels I hadn't had a chance to get to the new ones. I finally got to James Patterson's "Don't Blink." I was a new character for him and a very good one. Wouldn't mind seeing this one again and knowing him and his long list of other co-authors, I would think that's a good possibility. In this one we were introduced to Nick Daniels, journalist. He travels the world for stories to write but in this one he ended up with more than he could handle in NYC. He was witness to a horrible murder in Lombardo's restaurant in NYC and from then on he went from witness to victim. Good and fast! Just like Patterson's other novels.