Bleed For Me by Michael Robotham MYS Rob

I just found out that the characters in this book have appeared in earlier books by Robotham. I will definitely be checking out some of these books to learn more about these characters - and besides, I want to read more by this author. This was a really, really good mystery! Joe O'Loughlin is a psychologist who could probably use a good therapist himself to deal with his life. He is separated from Julianne (whom he still loves), dealing with Parkinson's disease, and having a few issues with his teenaged daughter, Charlie. One night Charlie's best friend, Sienna, appears at Julianne's door - and she is covered in blood. Thus begins a murder mystery with lots of twists and turns - I mean really, who can you trust???? The Police think Sienna is guilty of killing her father. Joe tries to get her to talk about what really happened and eventually he peals back the layers of Sienna's life and all of the things she is hiding. If you are a mystery reader check this one out.

Best Friends, Occasional Enemies: The Lighter Side of Life as a Mother and Daughter by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella 818.54 Sco

I am afraid that the title and author is going to take up more room than my blog! I love Scottoline and am looking forward to reading her next novel which is just out. In the meantime I enjoyed another of her audiobooks. It is filled with laugh out loud vignettes of everyday life. I will give you a couple of quotes from the book just to give you a taste! These are from daughter, Francesca: "My mother is always right. Just ask her." "When I saw a mouse, the first person I called was Mom. She told me to call my super, but I felt bad bothering him. I hate to bother people but I love to bother my mom". This book should only be read by women - I don't think men would get it! And if they did they wouldn't see the humor in it.

Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo

We only have this book as an audiobook. It was an amusing book to listen to. Miss Scarlet comes from a family of engineers and it was natural that she become one also. But she lacks a passion for it. It was her Nana who introduced her to the world of sewing. On the verge of starting an engineering career she realizes that she just can't do it. Certainly her fiance can understand that - well, apparently he can't. Leaving him behind she goes along with her dream- but it isn't easy. To finance her chance to work with a famous designer in NYC she decides to teach a sewing class. There is a little romance, a bit of mystery and some fun characters. I especially liked the descriptions of Miss Scarlet herself. She is inspired by a designer from the 50's and she usually dresses that way herself. Her blog is filled with pep talks and suggestions for people to improve their lives. An enjoyable listen when you want something on the lighter side.

How We Did It by Nancy B. Kennedy 613025 Ken

If you are looking for a weight-loss program or maybe just a bit of inspiration, you might want to read all or part of this book. Kennedy has interviewed a lot of people to find out how they did it! For some people it was a matter of counting calories, for others it was joining a program like Weight Watchers and still others had their own way of fighting the bulge. Bottom line (pun intended) - they were all successful. It was also interesting to read what the turning point was for these people because like most of us they had lost and regained weight in the past. It won't take you long to read and you might just decide to put down the brownie. I know I'm going to........tomorrow.

The Confession by Charles Todd

Do you watch British mysteries on Masterpiece Theater? Then you will probably enjoy this book. Todd's books take place after WWI - no cell phones, DNA, databases - well you get the idea. It takes a long time to solve a crime! Inspector Rutledge is one of Scotland Yard's best but he still deals with a lot of trauma from the war. One day a man walks into the Yard to confess that he killed his cousin during the war. The man is obviously quite ill and says he wants to get it off of his conscious before he dies. Rutledge has little to go on and there is no body so the Yard really isn't interested. But Rutledge is so he begins to do some private sleuthing. Two weeks later the 'confessor'/killer shows up in the river, a victim of foul play. Around the guy's neck is a locket with a picture of a woman. And one other thing - the dead man had given Rutledge a false name when he confessed. So if you like slow mysteries with lots of character development I think you will enjoy it. (I listened to the audiobook with all those great accents!).

Alexander and the wonderful excellent terrific ninety days by Judith Viorst (Wilbor only)

I was browsing the WILBOR site for a light-hearted audio book when I came across this title. I recognized Viorst's name as a famous children's author (If I have heard of a children's author he/she must be famous!). This is not a new book but the story is timeless - especially in today's economy with so many boomerang children. In this case the return of a son to his parents' home was only temporary. Viorst describes this book as "An Almost Completely Honest Account of What Happened to Our Family When Our Youngest Son, His Wife, Their Baby, Their Toddler, and Their Five-Year-Old Came to Live with Us for Three Months." That really says it all. Viorst thought she could handle it because her children and their families came for a visit every year. But 90 days is more like a sentence than a visit.

That Used to be us;how America fell behind in the world it invented and how we can come back by Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum 973.932 Fri

I wish everyone would read this book - especially the ones involved in government and the ones that vote in elections. There are parts of this book that are so scary you won't go to sleep easily after reading them. That we are in trouble as a country is not a secret. How we got here is a long story. These authors do not blame one party or the other for this mess - because there is plenty of blame to go around. At this point in time blame doesn't matter as much as fixing things! It is a long book that covers many subjects such as education, politics, lobbyists, the environment and the economy to name a few. Let me just give you one example - global warming. The authors do not address the political debate we hear each night on whether or not it exists. Developing industries to fight global warming is an economic decision - they suggest it will be the next great global industry. The demand for cleaner, renewable energy will be high from all countries in the world. Do we want to lead or follow? A wonderful book to read if the phrase "That Used To Be Us" is upsetting to you.

A Bittersweet Season by Jane Gross (available as an audio book on WILBOR)

With a new puppy who needs long walks frequently, I am going through audio books at a fast pace. I came across this book (which is one that is always available) and decided to give it a try. I have been involved in "parent care" for several years now. That is the topic of this book and you can never be too prepared when it comes to this area! As the book went on I realized that this is also an excellent book for anyone who has adult children - at least for those who want to make life easier for those children! As Gross found out, every state has their own rules and mandates. 'Snowbirds' can be caught up in the confusion. You might need to have a living will and a durable power of attorney in each state. Gross has a great writing style that made this an easy book to listen to despite the subject matter. I've decided I need to find a responsible grown up who wants to be adopted by me - it sounds like 'Elderhood' is a pretty scary place to go without someone watching out for you.

Game Change by John Heilmann 324.973

When this book was published I had had enough of politics and really didn't want to relive it so soon! As I began to see promos for the HBO movie I decided I might be at the place that I could now enjoy it. That movie only covers a small part of the book - there is enough material for a mini-series or two! As most of you already know, this is the story of the 2008 Presidential campaign. As I read it there were many, many parts where I could actually still hear the people saying those words - which may or may not have added to the enjoyment of the book. I would love to talk to someone who is not of my political persuasion and compare my take on the book to his. I thought it was not flattering to any of the presidential (and V.P.) hopefuls. I seriously doubt that a truly nice, truly honest person can be elected to any office (other than local of course!) in this day and age. You must need a little of that killer instinct (and very thick skin) to run. At times I felt sorry for the candidates. At times I was disappointed in their conduct or in their language. I don't think that I am a prude, but really can't they think of at least a few different adjectives so that they don't have to use the same one over and over and over...... If you are at all interested in politics or politicians I think you will like this book!

Blizzard! The Storm that changed America by Jim Murphy

We do not own this book but it is available through WILBOR as an audio book. I have seen a documentary of this storm on the Weather Channel and the images were amazing. Murphy did such a good job of writing this book that I was also able to see his 'images ' also. It is 1888 and a 'perfect storm' has paralyzed many states, but this book focuses mostly on NYC and the area. Murphy tells stories of specific people and that is what makes this book so interesting. From school children to a former Senator the stories are (please don't boo) bone-chilling. As with most calamities, there are changes made for the good of the people because of what happened. So if you get really hot this summer you might want to download this book to your MP3 player.

A Theory of Relativity by Jacquelyn Mitchard

This is not a new book but it was a good one if you like family dramas - which of course I do! Georgia McKenna Dye is killed in a car accident when this book begins. She left behind a toddler named Kefer. Very sad for Kefer but a blessing for Georgia. Shortly after giving birth she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. She had been fighting a losing battle for months while she suffered every moment. And Kefer lost her father, Ray, in that same accident. Ray was a professional golfer and had to travel if he wanted to earn a living. Because of that and the fact that Georgia couldn't take care of herself, much less Kefer, they had been living with Georgia's parents, Lorraine and Mark. Georgia's brother, Gordon, had also moved back to teach in his hometown so that he could be there for his sister and niece. The McKenna's assume that Kefer will stay with them - but Ray's family has different ideas. This book is also a good lesson for anyone who has kids - get a will and choose a guardian!

The Diary by Eileen Goudge

Somehow I missed this book by Goudge which was published in 2009. It is the touching story of two daughters who come upon their mother's diary. To the daughters, Elizabeth and Bob's marriage had seemed full of passion and unending love. Now Bob has died and Elizabeth hasn't spoken or reacted since a bad stroke. Getting the house ready to sell the girls are surprised that Elizabeth wrote a diary. They are even more surprised when they begin to read it and to find out that Elizabeth's great love was not Bob, but instead someone called A.J. This was a quick, feel-good read!

The Accident by Linwood Barclay

This was an entertaining book filled with suspense. It begins with......the accident! Shelia Garber was supposed to be at a night class. Instead she was killed in a head-on crash which also took two other lives including that of a boy who attended her daughter's grade school. Shelia was going the wrong way on the interstate and her blood alcohol level was very high. Her husband, Glen, is stunned. He is sure that his wife would never drink and drive - but no one believes that. While taking care of his young daughter and trying to keep his floundering construction business going Glen takes it upon himself to find out what happened. Let me tell you that lots of people were hiding lots of secrets. The things that go on the suburbs - especially during a recession when people are struggling. Great read!

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson 943 Lar

I found this book fascinating but I think you need to be a history fan! This is the story of William Dodd. I had never heard about him. He was the first American Ambassador to serve in Germany when Hitler was in power. Dodd was a college professor in Chicago and he was happy. Then President Roosevelt called him to serve his country. (Roosevelt tried to get others to do it but no one wanted the job!). Reluctantly Dodd accepts and moves to Berlin with his wife and grown children, Bill Jr. and Martha. Dodd did not fit in well with the diplomatic climate in Berlin. He was a frugal man and sought to save his country money whenever he could - this was after all during the depression. As Dodd saw in which direction Hitler was going and was witness to the treatment of the Jews he relayed his impressions and fears to the U.S. government. But no one was really listening. Martha plays a major role in this story. Swept away by all of the glitter of the upper echelon in Berlin, she had many affairs. She could easily have an entire book herself! This book offers a rare perspective of Germany during this era.

Micro by Michael Crichton

As always Crichton takes us into a scary world. In Jurassic Park we were afraid of big things. In this book things are, well, micro! Think Honey I Shrunk the Kids without anything to make you laugh. It begins with three men who die of teeny tiny cuts all over their bodies. The police find one of the culprits - it's a teeny tiny robot with a blade!
Meanwhile, back in Massachusetts a microbiology company called Nanigen is intent on drafting new promising grad students into their labs. One of the grad students, Peter, is excited to go visit the facilities because a trip to Hawaii doesn't sound too bad and his brother works for the company. Or at least he did before his boat ran into problems and he is presumed dead. Right before the accident he texts Peter the ominous words "don't come". Of course he does-along with six of his fellow students. It is an exciting story with some twists and turns.
One of the twists is that Crichton dies several years ago! Author Richard Preston 'completed' the book. I don't know if he just wrote the second half or if he took an outline and turned it into the book. Which ever it was he did a good job of keeping with Crichton's style. It's an entertaining book and might make you wish you had paid a little more attention during biology class!

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

Luke Warren and his 17-yr-old daughter Cara are involved in a terrible car accident. At the hospital things are critical for Luke and he is unconscious. Cara has a bad break and needs surgery. Her mother, Georgie, rushes to the hospital. She also places a call to Asia to tell her son, Edward, what has happened and that he needs to come home immediately. Edward left home at 18. He hasn't spoken to his dad since. But his mother and sister need him and so he comes. There are some medical decisions that need to be made. Georgie is an ex-wife and Cara is not of legal age - so that leaves Edward. Picoult, as she has in previous books, tells the story from the perspective of each character. The most interesting characters in the book are actually the wolves! Luke has studied them all of his life. He has written about them and had a television program. He also left his family to go to Canada and live with wolves for two years without any human contact. As you might imagine the marriage fell apart soon thereafter! The story of how the wolves live in a pack is similar to how man lives with his family. Beautifully written and highly entertaining, Picoult's book also leaves you with some things to ponder long after you read the last page.