Dangerous Illusions, book #6

Marilyn chose our book this month, even though we are not officially meeting.  She went with a favorite author who never disappoints.  I had a bit of a time getting into it, but once I was in I was hooked!!  Now the temptation will be to get the rest of the books in the series, even though I have plenty of other books to read already!  

Trish Bailey is on overload trying to deal with a demanding job, an ailing mother, and a healing heart. When a series of unsettling memory lapses leads to a tragic death--and puts Trish under police scrutiny--her world is once again thrown into turmoil.  Detective Colin Flynn isn't certain what to think of the facts he uncovers during his investigation. Did Trish simply make a terrible mistake or is there more to the case than meets the eye? As he searches for answers, disturbing information begins to emerge--and if the forces at work are as evil as he suspects, the situation isn't just dangerous . . . it's deadly.  (picture and description from Amazon)

Now it's just wondering what to read next ...

O:)
Melissa

Just Mercy, book #5

Rebecca read this book last fall for a book club she was in and thought I would like it.  The movie trailers looks interesting, so I finally picked it up.  

Man this is a HARD book to read!  I mean, I watch all those police/crime/legal shows but this stuff is REAL LIFE and it gave me an eye-opening look at what is wrong with the justice system these days.  Mainly with blacks, but also with white and the poor.  I just wonder how on earth normal human beings can do the things they do and think it is ok.  Bryan has worked literally tirelessly at fixing this system for nearly 25 years and made a lot of headway, but I think there is still more to be done.  


Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.  Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Read, but be warned you won't be the same when you finish.

Now on to something lighter before I jump into our book for Book Club, which is a suspense/mystery!!  

O:)
Melissa

Stuck Together, book #4

Another wonderful read ~ finished this series up.  The only thing I didn't like about this (and #2) was how she tied in so much of what happened in the previous book(s) so you could read #2 or #3 without having read the previous ones.  But since I had it got tedious.  But other than that I'm sad to say good bye to my new friends.  Now I just need to make some more! :)

When a lawman who values order gets stuck with a feisty crusader who likes to stir things up, there's going to be trouble in Texas!  Now that she's settled in town, Tina Cahill is determined to get Broken Wheel's saloon closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.  Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is showing signs of dementia. And his surprise sister quickly falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince suddenly has a lot of people depending on him, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them.  With nearly every other man in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with strong-willed Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her crazy causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger. (picture and description at Amazon)

Curious to see where my reading will lead me next!

O:)

Melissa

Fired Up, Book #3

Another good book in the Trouble in Texas series!  

Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.  Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner--never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.  Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?  (picture and description from Amazon)

Already started the third book!  I miss my Book Club Buddies to no end through this virus mess!!  :(  

Keep Reading!

O:)

Melissa

Swept Away, Book #3

Man it feels good to read again!  I have been making some poor choices on Facebook lately but I needed to "get started" on our book club book ~ and I was hooked immediately!  Time to put down that phone and pick up that Paperwhite .... because as soon as I finished this I immediately bought the other two books in the series!  

Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't all that upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. She prayed for a chance to get away, and then came the raging flood. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone. . .so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.  Luke is heading home to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men who killed his father are working hard to ensure Luke doesn't make it alive. He has no choice but to keep moving. Still, he can't just abandon Ruthy, so she'll have to come along.  His friends--a ragtag group of former Civil War soldiers--take a fast interest in the pretty gal. Luke thinks that's rather rude--he's the one who found her. And the more time he spends around the hard-working young woman who is a mighty good cook, the more he finds himself thinking beyond revenge and toward a different future. For the first time in a long time, Luke is tempted to turn from his destructive path and be swept away by love.  (picture and description at Amazon)

Can't wait to get started on the next one!

(As a side note, I am still keeping up with the Bible reading and have also plugged all the way through Numbers!)

Keep Reading!

O:)

Melissa

Perfect Alibi ~ Book #2

Quick read, which was good since I am still plowing through the Bible as well. Not overly impressed with it, just ok.  Ready to get into something REALLY GOOD after my last two bummers ...

When her friend is murdered, journalist Mallory Myers knows the killer is coming for her next. The problem is no one believes her—in fact, she's considered a suspect. Her news anchor ex-boyfriend has everyone fooled, but Mallory knows what he's capable of. With no one to trust, she flees to her hometown, where she finds refuge and help from an unexpected source. Fire chief Logan McDaniel is the only one in town willing to believe Mallory. As the murderer toys with her, setting fires and terrorizing her, Logan and Mallory become closer. He vows to protect her and find a way to break the killer's airtight alibi if it's the last thing he does. (picture and description at Amazon)

Hoping you all are having better reading luck than me this year ...

O:)
Melissa

Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas ~ Book #1

As many of you may or may not know, last fall our dear dear friend and fellow Book Club Buddy Terezia passed away suddenly.  It was very tragic, sad, and hard to get over.  

However, her spirit lives on in her books!  She too was an avid reader and collector of books and when her sister, who is handling the affairs of Terezia's house, told us we could come and pick through her books she left behind it was like a treasure trove!  I was the only one who could go, but I got a boxful and shared with the others.

[Funny story ~ we met at BooksaMillion for Book Club last week and I had the box of books with me.  Naturally I didn't want to bring the box inside as it would be odd, since we were IN A BOOKSTORE!  So I told the others they could come out to my car afterwards and look through them.  I felt a little like a druggie or a con man selling a second rate product right outside the store of the new product! :O]

So, this is the first of her books that I read and sadly I was highly disappointed.  I've read other "Love Finds You" books that have been good (still light and easy but not cheesy) but this one seemed to be written by a teenager with a teenage plot.  Ugh!  Not a good start to the year in reading!  :(

So what if she can't hook a fish? This city girl has a plan to snag something else...and his name is Justin. Lucy Binoche is reasonably attractive, intelligent, and fit. She has French lineage and better-than-average hair. So why is she nearly 30 and still single?  Justin Gerard is the rugged hottie new to her church's singles group. When he signs up for a camping trip in the Ozarks, Lucy loses no time writing her name on the line beneath his. There's only one problem Lucy's idea of "roughing it" is suffering through a long line at Starbucks. She assumes she can rely on the grace of God and the assistance of her friend to get through.  But at the campsite in Snowball, Arkansas, Lucy bungles everything she attempts as she tries to impress Justin. She can't fish, hike, or ride a horse; caves make her hyperventilate; and hot-air balloons make her ill. Soon, events are snowballing out of control. Will Lucy pretend to be someone she's not just to snag a boyfriend? Or will she discover someone who loves her just as she is? (photo and description at Amazon)

In other reading news, our church is doing a Read the Bible Through this year together, so "technically" I'll be reading an extra 66 books as well!

Happy Reading!

O:)
Melissa