SOME OF THE MANY BOOKS I'VE READ (Paperback)
1. Time For Roses by Elaine Coffman
2. Cloak of Darkness by Helen MacInnes
3. For Love of Audry Rose By Frank De Felita
4. Chill of Fear By Kay Hooper
5. Dangerous By Nora Roberts
6. The Balance Wheel By Taylor Caldwell
7. Above the Law By J.F. Freedman
8. Easy Virtue By Janice Kaiser
9. Before the
10. Blind Alley By Iris Johansen
11. Degree of Guilt By Richard North Patterson
12. Random Winds By Belva Plain
13. The Angel Maker By Ridley Pearson
14. Happy Endings By Katherine Stone
15. Material Witness By Robert K. Tanenbaum
16. Daughters of the
17. The Ladies of
18. The Silken Web by Sandra Brown
19. The Seventh Sense By T. J. MacGregor
20. Master of the Game By Sidney Sheldon
21. The Secrets of Harry Bright By Joseph Wambaugh
22. From Potter’s Field By Patricia Cornwell
23. Comanche Rose By Anita Mills
24. Promises By Katherine Stone
25. Hooligans By William Diehl
26. Savage Desire Rosemary Rogers
27. Captive Passions By Fern Michaels
28. Threats & Promises By Barbars Delinsky & Her Secret Past by Amanda Stevens
29. Nothing Lasts Forever By Sidney Sheldon
30. The Hurricane Years By Cameron Hawley
31. Where is Love By Barbara Cartland
32. The Chase By Lynsay Sands
33. As the Crow Flies By Jeffery Archer
34. Blood Relations By Barbara Parker
35. Bloodline By Sidney Sheldon
36. The Best of Enemies By Taylor Smith
37. The Switch By Sandra Brown
Brown is one of my favorite writers
38. Dead and Gone By Dorothy Simpson
39. Love Makers By Judith Gould
40. The Last Promise By Richard Paul Evans
41. Terminal Condition By David Shobin
42. The Oath By Frank Peretti
A science fiction that will keep you glued to the pages right to the end.
Laurie McBain's books are among some of the best historical romance books I've ever read. Her writing style is extraordinarily interesting. I have saved all her books and have read most of them twice.
43. Devil's Desire By Laurie McBain
44. Tears of Gold By Laurie McBain
45. Wild Bells to the Wild Sky By Laurie McBain
46. Moonstruck Madness By Laurie McBain
47. Chance the Winds of Fortune By Laurie McBain
48. Dark Before the Rising Sun By Laurie McBain
49. When the Splendor Falls By Laurie McBain
50. Hill Towns By Anne Rivers Siddons
51. The Palace Affair By Una Mary Parker
52. Perfect Justice By William Bernhardt
53. Eyes of Perey By John Sandford
54. Final Justice by W.E.B. Griffin
55. Escape the Night By Richard North Patterson
56. Easy Prey By John Sanford
57. Retribution By Jilliane Hoffman
58. The Empty Chair By Jeffery Deaver
59. The Fifth Angel By Tim Green
60. By Reason of Insanity By Shane Stevens
61. Hit List By Lawrence Block
62. Cat & Mouse By James Patterson
63. The Burden of Proof By Scott Turow
64. Eyes of A Child By Richard North Patterson
65. Dark Lady By Richard North Patterson
66. McNally's Luck By Sawrence Sanders
67. The Outlaw Hearts By Rebecca Brandewyne
68. Chase the Wind By Janelle Taylor
69. Destiny Mine By Janelle Taylor
70. The Stars Shine Down By Sidney Sheldon
71. The Murder Book By Jonathan Kellerman
72. When A Texan Gambles By Jodi Thomas
73. Point of Impact By Stephen Hunter
74. Homecoming By Belva Plain
75. The Hearing By John Lescroart
76. Lovers By Judith Krantz
77. A Killing Frost By Michael A. Black
78. The DaVinci Code By Dan Brown
79. The Fifth Angel By Tim Green
80. Adventure of the Heart By Anne Marie Duquette
81. Juliana of Clover Hill By Benda Knight Graham
82. Interest of Justice By Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
83. Saving the World By James Patterson
84. Officer of the Court By Lelia Kelly
85. The Empty Chair By Jeffery Deaver
86. Easy Prey By John Sanford
87. Sleep Walk By John Saul
88. Cut 'N Run By Frank Deford
89. Song of Love By Rachel Elliot
90. Jewels By Danielle Steel
91. Pride's Castle By Frank Yerby
92. The Serpent and the Staff By Fran Yerby
93. Whitney, My Love By Judith McNaught
94. Paradise By Judith McNaught
95. Dark Before the Rising Sun By Laurie McBain
96. When the Splendor Falls By Laurie McBain
97. Silent Prey By John Sanford
98. Lucky's Lady By Tami Hoag
99. A Painted House By John Grisham
100. A Kingdom of Dreams By Judity McNaught
101. Tears of Gold By Laurie McBain
102. Creature By John Saul
103. Eyes of Prey By John Sanford
Some Hardback Books I've read:
1. No Greater Love By Danielle Steel
2. Prior Bad Acts By Tami Hoag
3. Kill the Messenger By Tami Hoag
4. Dark Horse By Tami Hoag
5. Dust to Dust By Tami Hoag
6. Ashes to Ashes By Tami Hoag
7. A Thin Dark Line By Tami Hoag
8. Guilty as Sin By Tami Hoag
9. Night Sins By Tami Hoag
10. Dark Paradise By Tami Hoag
11. Cry Wolf By Tami Hoag
12. Still Waters By Tami Hoag
13. Lucky's Lady By Tami Hoag
14. Sara's Sin By Tami Hoag
15. The Last White Knight By Tami Hoag
16. The Love Machine By Jacquelin Susann
17. Beulah Land By Lonnie Coleman
18. Honeymoon By James Patterson & Howard Roughan
19. Northern Lights By Nora Roberts
20. White Hot By Sandra Brown
21. Total Silence By T. J. MacGregor
22. The Alibi By Sandra Brown
23. Visions of Death By J.D. Ross (Nora Roberts)
24. The Crowd Pleasers By Rosemary Rogers
25. The King of Torts By John Grisham
26. Divided in Death By J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts)
27. The Unbidden Truth By Kate Wilhelm
28. This Stranger, My Son: A Mother's Story By Louise Wilson
29. The Last Precinct By Patricia Cornwell
30. As the Crow Flies By Jeffery Archer
31. Hour Game By David Baldacci
32. Saving Faith By Dagvid Baldacci
33. Fugitive By Phillip Margolin
34. Sleeping Beauty By Phillip Margolin
35. Northern Lights By Nora Roberts
One of her best writes and gives descriptive info about Alaska
36. Honeymoon By James Patterson
It kept my attention--a deadly thriller
Jubal Sackett
By Luis L'amour
Once I started reading this book, I truly couldn't put it down. Mr. L'amour's writing style is in first person and every sentence is filled wth interesting descriptons of the main character's experiences in the wilds of nature as he explores far-reaching lands not previously explored by the white man. He has chosen the life he wants and every day is a struggle to hunt and kill for food, to protect himself against unfriendly indians while he explores and enjoys the beauty of nature. If you love nature and the raw landscape (which we don't see much of anymore), you will love traveling with Jubal Sackett through the wilds on land and water. An absolutely wonderful book. I will be reading more of his writings (91 books in all.)
First We Have Coffee
By Margaret Jensen
This is the warmest, most inspirational book that I've read since my readings of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. It is the gentle story of a Norweigian family and their lives as they moved from place to place in the ministry. It creates the hardships of a family who knew abundancy in love--not money. Ms. Jensen shows the extraordinary strength of her mother whose love and generosity to people made her a saint to those who knew her. If you want a wonderful book to renew your faith and christianity then this is the book to read.
Flames of Glory
By Patricia Matthews
This book was a delightful read. It was about two young women, one American, one Cuban, who lived in
The Associate
By Phillip Margolin
I can’t get enough of Phillip Margolin’s thrillers.
I’ve read six of them so far and everyone I read seems just as good or better than the last one. One of the things I like about Margolin’s books is that his “good guys” (protagonists) aren’t exactly high up on the social ladder of wealth and prestige, but rather, are average Americans as noted in this book about Daniel Ames, a young attorney who has reached his dream as the associate at a prestigious law firm. His dream begins to crumble, however, when he finds himself in the fray between his law firm and another in a case involving a pharmaceutical company. There is some really twisted “stuff” in this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and reading for more.
The Chase
By Lynsay Sands
An Enjoyable Read
Ms. Sands’ historical novel, “The Chase” is a light, sometimes humorous, read. It’s a no-frills account of a young woman who feels the bite of rejection when her betrothed keeps her waiting many years without any intentions toward sealing the betrothal agreement with a wedding. Not until he is ordered by the king does he finally travel from
Undertaker's Widow
Wild Bells To The Wild Sky
By Laurie McBain
This is my second reading of Wild Bells To The Wild Sky and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. Laurie McBain only wrote about six books—that I’ve been able to find—and she is a wonderful historical romance writer that captures the period remarkably. In this book, Lilly Christian is stranded on an island with her mother, brother, half-sister, and Sir Basil, an agent to Queen Elizabeth Tudor in 1558, and is rescued seven years later by Valentine Whitelaw, the man who will later become the love of her life. With traitors plotting to overthrow
Ties That Bind
By Phillip Margolin
I simply can't get enough of Phillip Margolin's books.
"Ties That Bind" has so many twists and turns it keeps you guessing all through the book, and it keeps you turning those pages. While Margolin's introduction of many, many characters at the beginning of his books with scenes of each of their malfeasances, the story tends to be a little confusing at first; however, as you keep reading all those seemingly isolated events begin to come together into a single thrilling plot. There is a great deal of gruesome violence in his stories, but the fact that he spares nothing makes them more interesting to read. His books certainly aren't for the faint-hearted, but for those who want some of the best mystery, police work, attorney investigations, court procedures, and strong characters, then Phillip Margolin's books provide it like no other author I've read. This is another book with a carryover of characters used in previous books. Frank and Amanda Jaffe are the main characters in at least four of the books I've read so far, and they only get more interesting each time as experiences encountered in other books follow them into the new story.
Proof Positive
By Phillip Margolin
An Intriguing Page Turner, August 6, 2008
"Proof Positive" by Phillip Margolin, is another page-turner and the intricately woven plot is nothing less than brilliant. It's like a perplexing puzzle with missing pieces involving numerous characters, all either directly or indirectly related to the crime in one capacity or another. Margolin must be a mastermind in order to keep up with so many characters and subplots surrounding the main plot. Further, his writing style makes the story flow. Even as complicated as this plot is, it is bridged so the story's direction is easily discernable. This book is a sequel to "Wild Justice", which I'm glad I happened to read first. This is the fourth book I've read by Margolin, and I was so fascinated with his crime investigations that I ordered all his books from Amazon and can't wait for them to arrive. Terrific book.
Terminal Condition
By David Shobin
Suspense At Its Best
“Terminal Condition” by David Shobin, is a gripping “twisted” tale that takes you through a textbook account of medical strategies and procedures for trauma victims who become guinea pigs for a corrupt doctor who uses them for experimentation with a new drug. The plot thickens as the researcher who discovers the powerful drug is murdered. When a recent trauma patient and the doctor who previously ministered to her become involved, they set out to find answers to all the strange occurrences taking place that puts them in a dangerous arena between two factions: the mob, and the one who plans to profit from the drug. The story is interesting, well-told, and held my attention throughout. For anyone who likes mystery, suspense, and action, you’ll enjoy reading this book.
Kentucky: The Mountains I Call Home
By Joyce Bowling
A TRUE BIOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE--outstanding, remarkable, and inspirational, July 9, 2008
KENTUCKY...THE MOUNTAINS I CALL HOME, by Joyce Bowling, is a beautifully written collection of stories and poems that offer heartwarming tales of the life and times of the author and revolve around family, friends and community in the Appalachian mountains of
Joyce's book gives us a look at the geographical region of her homeland and the models for the heritage and culture that influenced her life into adulthood. Her stories and poems provide a refreshing read that is a labor of love as she shares her growing up years.
We see the early life of her relatives in a community setting where everyone knows everyone else. We see how they interact in a sharing capacity, how they make a living and provide for their own needs through planting crops, sewing clothing, making quilts, and we see their deep faith and how they worship. The stories are warm, friendly, and one feels the sense of the moment and place where Joyce's memories began and/or took place.
One story and its complementary poem drew memories from me. In 1970 I watched on television as news blasted the story of the mine explosion in
If you love history, culture, and traditions centering on peoples' lives, you will also love Joyce's book of stories and poetry that show you the gentle side of a community way of life as folks grow, share faith, joy, happiness, and pain in their warm interactions together. I thought it was a wonderful read, and I plan to revisit it often because the poetry is like folk tales that give you something new each time you read it.
"The Paradise of Revenge", by Richard Lee Orey is both fascinating and shocking inasmuch as the plot revolves around the worst kind of corruption known to decent citizens: a corrupt justice system.
The prologue grabs the reader's interest by introducing the despicable travesty of justice as seen through the eyes, thoughts, and dialogue of the evil-minded and hated antagonists. It creates a mood that prepares the reader for the horrible, traumatic, premeditated assault on an innocent young woman, in which the perpetrators of that assault later frame a decent unsuspecting family man for the crime. The man's wife, wanting to find a way to free her innocent husband from prison, gets caught up in a terrible scheme, perpetrated by the crime organization, which turns her into a prostitute.
The young rape victim of the violent assault suffers immensely, and eventually marries a man who offers her hope until the marriage turns sour. Deep inside her is such a strong need for revenge, she becomes two personalities that are marked by good and evil. The contrast describes the decent man's eternal struggle to choose good over evil and how experiences and emotions can lead to wrong choices--which in this instance, the victim's choice of committing a terrible wrong on another innocent victim, the son of her accused rapist.
Mr. Orey is a master of words, and his use and control of the English language is no less than extraordinary. His ability to describe people and places is superb, and many descriptions rang of poetic merit.
After reading "The Paradise of Revenge", I must state that the book is not for the faint-hearted or for anyone who is opposed to graphic sex. Greed and lust are at the core of the plot that centers on an organization of people within the justice system who trump up criminal charges against innocent men in order to coerce their wives into joining a lewd Prison Widows Club. The women are blackmailed into working as prostitutes; thereby filling the pockets of the crime family running the organization. In order to exemplify the overall purpose and effect of the crime organization, and the degradation felt by the victim and the coerced women, Mr. Orey consistently writes explicit sexual scenes throughout the book.
The suspense is ripe and the reader's interest peaked with the actions of all the characters, according to how they relate to each other. The resolution was handled extremely cleverly, and the introduction of McKinley Clearwater, a man of moral strength and fortitude, indirectly impacts the lives of the main characters by effecting a surprise resolution and redemption.
All in all, Mr. Orey has written a very interesting story that probably is a spin-off from incidents that actually happened during his twenty-six years in the courtroom as an official court reporter. For anyone who believes that our justice system is inviolate, "The Paradise of Revenge" will serve as a wake-up call to the fact that evil can rear its ugly head most anywhere that man resides.
Kiss Me Darlin' - A Fine Romance
By Joyce Marie Taylor
A Great Read, February 19, 2007
Joyce Marie Taylor's book, Kiss Me Darlin' is a great read. Joyce is a wonderful writer whose writing style keeps the reader turning pages and lends to a reader's perception of experiencing exactly what the characters are experiencing. I didn't want to put the book down because it had an element of suspense that kept me wanting to find out what would happen.
Jasmine, a young teenager who suffers abuse by an alcoholic mother, runs away with her boyfriend, Billy, spending the next several years with him. She is not a polished young debutante, but instead uses the language of someone who is used to hard knocks in a not too easy life. When Billy leaves her for someone else at the same time she loses her job, worry and financial concerns trouble her. Needing solace, she takes a trip to see her best friend Lisa.
Kiss Me Darlin' follows a plot similar to the cliché "from rags to riches" as Jasmine's friend, Lisa, interests Jasmine in Feng Shui (The Chinese art or practice of positioning objects..., based on a belief in patterns of yin and yang and the flow of chi that have positive and negative effects.) Lisa gives her a Scarlett Milkweed meant to draw good luck according to Feng Shui beliefs, and ironically, her luck does change considerably.
Jasmine meets CJ who embellishes her world with a shiny new car and later other things that enrich her life. CJ is at the root of some extraordinary suspense that will unfurl right on up to the very end of the book, which will offer a great surprise ending.
If you'd like a good, fast-paced read that will keep you glued to the pages, then I highly recommend Kiss Me Darlin'.
Tales Along the Way Home
By Virginia Tolles
A Travelogue Adventure
"Tales Along the Way Home", by Virginia Tolles, is a journey you won't want to miss. You will share the camaraderie of the travelers and experience the anxieties they feel as they head toward home to meet the problems that have invaded their comfortable lives. Virginia has captured the travelogue settings, the joys, fears, and anxieties of the characters and gives you a book you are bound to enjoy reading.
Destiny Mine
By Janelle Taylor
A Wonderful Native American Adventure, June 5, 2008
Janelle Taylor's "Destiny Mine" is a wonderful read. Her native American characters come alive on the page and pull us into the story to vicariously live through the traditions and trials of the period. Not only does she give wonderful descriptions of the land and nature, bringing it alive as it must have been in those days, but it encompasses a heartwarming love story that will capture your heart right up to the last page. If you like Native American novels, "Destiny Mine" is a must read.
The Last Promise
By Richard Paul Evans
A Tender Love Story to Capture Your Heart, June 5, 2008
Sarah's Sin
By Tami Hoag
A Tender Story, June 5, 2008
Tami Hoag is my hero among writers. I have read most of her books and have never been disappointed with any of them. They give me hours of reading pleasure. However, "Sara's Sin" diverged from her usual thrilling and suspenseful writes. Although I did enjoy reading it, it can not measure up to her thick, action-packed novels, but it was an interesting story that held my interest.
Wild Justice
By Phillip Margolin
A Riveting Tangled Web July 31, 2008
"Wild Justice", by Phillip Margolin, is my third read by him and I'm fascinated by his stories. He weaves a tangled web of characters and sub-plots around his main plot that is mind-boggling and keeps you guessing the outcome right to the end. This book had me suspecting who the bad guy was in this story, but I was never sure until the evidence stacked up against him. Few books I've read make me read continually to get to the end so I can learn the resolution--Margolin's does. When I finish with a book of his I can't wait to start another of his books. "Wild Justice" is a violent story and not for the tame-hearted, but for those who like police stories, court room drama, murder mysteries and thrillers, then this is a book you will find extraordinarily captivating.
The Last Innocent Man
By Phillip Margolin
Brilliant Plot Strategist July 27, 2008
I have enjoyed reading some wonderful writers over the years, but Margolin is one of the best I've read in a long time. His twisted plots will keep you turning pages.
After Dark
By Phillip Margolin
The Best Mystery I've ever Read After Dark, by Phillip Margolin, is the best mystery/thriller I’ve ever read (and believe me I’ve read many). To me the evaluation of how good a book is can be determined in how long it takes one to read it. I read After Dark in less than two days. It is a masterful work of penmanship with a twisted plot that keeps you reading to see whodunit, but the plot is so intricately woven, you never can decide what the resolution will turn out to be. Publishers Weekly called Margolin’s style “whiplash plotting”, which is an excellent description. This was a complicated story with a great deal of legalese that could only be done through Margolin’s background as an attorney. If you are a mystery/thriller buff like me, then read this book. I think it was wonderful.
Dead and Gone
By Dorothy Simpson
A Well Told Story
Dead and Gone, by Dorothy Simpson, was an interesting story that I thought the author handled well with all the interviews of witnesses and possible suspects that were made by Inspector Thanet and his partner. It was well plotted with enough suspense to keep me reading. The story could have used a bit more conflict to keep interest high, but the Inspector's personality was staid and dry and set the mood. The ending was rather a shocker and was really the height of the story. Overall, Simpson is a terrific story teller and I enjoyed reading her book.
As the Crow Flies
By Jeffery Archer
A Masterfully Told Story
As the Crow Flies, by Jeffery Archer, takes the reader on a historical journey from 1900 to 1970 in a warm and wonderful story about Charlie Trumper who follows in his grandfather's footsteps as a street vendor, eventually becoming the owner of the largest department store in the world. A continuing battle with an old enemy threatens his empire and keeps Charlie busy in battle against losing all he has worked for his entire life.
Although the book is rather long, it definitely was a masterfully told story and an interesting read, offering great characters and a strong enough plot to keep the suspense ripe and inviting. The ending was absolutely wonderful. It was the kind of occurrence one might ask, "Who would of thought of it?"
The Lake House
By James Patterson
Suspenseful Science Fiction, July 15, 2008
James Patterson's book, The Lake House, was rather a surprise since I expected a gripping murder mystery and got a science fiction story about children with wings that could fly. Nevertheless, Patterson grabbed my attention early in the story, and by keeping the chapters short for easy reading and filling the pages with action-packed happenings and/or dialogue, he kept the story moving. While I am not a science fiction fan, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. The resolution to the plot was a bit downsized--a hospital and many personnel were involved, yet, they weren't part of the resolution--only the man responsible. I think I admired Patterson's writing style more than the story itself, but then that could be because I like his thrillers best.
Ten Times Guilty
By Brenda Hill
Brenda Hill’s novel, Ten Times Guilty is a terrific read. Brenda is a wonderful writer whose writing style keeps the reader turning pages and offers them a vicarious experience, exactly like the main character experiences, through descriptive actions, images, and feelings. The plot is cohesive and leaves a trail of suspense that kept me wanting to find out what would happen, which made the novel an interesting and fast-paced read.
Tracy is a lovable character, a young woman trying to better herself in order to set the foundation of a secure future for her young son. We feel her pain and despair after her rape when her plans to start classes are brutally disrupted. However, she is fortunate to have a wonderful support group in the characters of Diana, her apartment manger; Susan Banning, rape counselor; and the group of abused women residing in a women’s shelter.
Ten Times Guilty is more than just a good novel. Brenda Hill has researched her topic well, and the book offers some interesting information other rape victims might find very helpful.
If you like to read a great story that is well written, fast-paced, and interesting, I highly recommend Ten Times Guilty.