Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst

This was very interesting.

I did feel, at times, that the author clearly had a real agenda. I generally don't like novels where authors are trying to preach to me, as opposed to allowing me to learn what I feel I need from their work.

However, this book was compelling. I found that I hated to see any of the contestants eliminated. I was interested in most of their stories. I wanted to know who these people were going to be. The contestants came to the show to supposedly, to try to win a million dollars. However, it seems that many of them are really here because the universe needs for them to come to grips with issues in their life. Watching the contestants lives unfold or unravel, is better than I can really describe let me just say, that while I was impatient to see how the book would end, I also hated to come to the end of my time with these characters. I liked them, no matter how flawed they were.

The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick

I sometimes enjoy historical romance, mysteries. I generally love Amanda Quick. I have read a number of her novels and I guess it is just time that I move on to someone else.

There are some scenes in this book that are very familiar but I enjoy the sameness of the writing. It's like a comfortable old chair. Unfortunately, when I came to one of the few "love scenes" in the book, I was amused to realize that the scene was exactly like scenes that I have read in her books before. While the scene is unique for first or second time readers of Quick, it is too familiar for someone who has read several books by the same author.
When I got to the scene, I stopped reading wrote down what I thought would happen, and then picked up the book and read exactly what I predicted. SMH

Anyway, the book was pretty good, if you have never read a Quick novel this is a nice one to start with. If you have read her before, don't expect anything new and you won't be disappointed.

A Clean Slate by Laura Caldwell

Wow, what a great book!

This is not a new book but when I saw it in my UBS (used book store), I had to have it. The back cover was intriguing.

Once you begin reading this book, it is truly hard to put down. I found it totally engrossing. Kelly McGraw is an interesting character and getting to know her and learn about her issues are totally worth your time.

I did not find the ending to be pat, nor was it neatly wrapped up as so many books are. I am trying to give you an idea that this is a great book to read without giving away the story or the mystery.

I know that what I am about to say is totally cliche' but it is really a book that one should rush out and read, ASAP.

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond.

This book promised to be riveting. The plot held me enthralled until I began reading.

As a mother I felt sorry for the heroine and the choices that she made. I could empathise with why she did what she did but as a Mom, I was also uncomfortable with what she did. I was frightened. The author did what she was supposed to do. She pulled me in and made me feel that what was happening could be real, she made me angry, fearful, sad. I did not feel manipulated. I felt like I was taking a journey and I had to know how it ended.

I have to say, that at times in the middle, even though I wanted to know what was going to happen, it was hard to stay attached. It became a little too introspective, I wanted to see movement and it did not move as quickly as I liked. I was impatient. I would try this author again. This was not one of my all time favorite books, but it did hold me. If I was grading this book it would be a solid B.

I'm glad I didn't buy this book- The Perfect Life by Robin Lee Hatcher

I am a great fan of Robin Lee Hatcher. I have read almost all of her books. I have missed some of her recent offerings. I was really impatient to read this book. I read the back cover and wanted to rush to the register with it.

I had like, a milion, books at home that I had to read. Some given to me by friends, some I had chosen. So, I decided to wait to read this book.

I sat down to read it not long ago and I have to say, I understood where she was trying to take us but I felt manipulated and preached to. I mean for me, this book felt like a long sermon. Fine, I understand that Christian novels have a point of view but please let me feel like I am immersed in a life and not just engaged in a morality lesson. While her charachters were given authentice reactions to the stimuli pressented. It felt so sterile, I couldn't connect with these charachters, which is demonstrated for me, by the fact that I read this book this week and I cannot remember the name of a single person.

I have to say, that I don't buy the ending of this book. It sounds wonderful but if you read it and think you know one person who would have done what the hero does, let me know. I don't by it

I love love love Hatcher but I didn't even like this book.

Focus, Focus, Focus,,,,Oh well, I want to Talk about Top Chef

I want this blog site to be mainly about books. However, one of the very few television shows that I watch happens to be Top Chef. I have followed every season of this show, except one, which is very unusal for me.

Anyway,,,,,

I have to say that I went into the finale very dissappointed that Lisa was still there. However, I think that she behaved in a very professional manner and I did not see nearly the amount of snarky, hostility that she exhibited all through the show. When she remained after Dale was eliminated, I was aghast. However, today, I thought she did what she was there to do, cooked well.

I TIVOed the show so I am now only finding out who won. Originally, I wanted it to be Richard. Now, I am not so sure.

I Take this Man

I think that this book was meant to be funny.

While there were times that I did laugh, those times were few and far between.

I can stretch my imagination pretty far, however, to read this book the suspension of reality that is necessary is a bit more than I can do, heck it's more than I want to do.

The plot device that we see used here is pretty familiar, girl gets left basically at the altar. Penny Frankel's fiance sends a note to her about fifteen minutes before their wedding is to begin to tell her that he can't do it. I don't mind a familiar idea, but I want to see that plot develop in a way that is fresh, interesting, and believable. For me what happens next was new and original but as the story progressed, not too believable.

I have to say that it is hard to really feel that you know these people. They seem more like caricatures than actual people. It is also hard to feel interested or sympathetic toward them.

As the book progressed, I rolled my eyes so much that I finally had to catch myself in case did myself lasting harm. One or two unbelievable occurrences in a book is probably acceptable but page after page we find people behave in ways that just are not reasonable. I would love to give examples but it is hard to without throwing out spoilers.

There is a love scene in this book that comes, for me out of no where. No real people would feel at all disposed to sharing any type of intimacy with so many unresolved issues on the table.

This book is supposed to be funny and light I am sure but I was annoyed for most of the time that I was reading. I kept saying to myself no reasonable person would be have this way. One of the characters is kidnapped, KIDNAPPED and neither he nor his father seem to harbour any real feelings about that fact. They are able to move on rather speedily with no real thoughts of revenge or even justice. I mean who are these people and on what planet do they exist??? Even in the world of novels that I generally inhabit, I expect to see emotions and thoughts that actually correspond to the events in people's lives. Not here.

I know I was supposed laugh when I read this book. However, I am telling you, if you have any ability to reason laughter is not possible. I finished it but God only knows why.