Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Killing Orders

Killing Orders
Author: Sara Paretsky
Read by Donada Peters
7 discs  (approx 8 hours)

It begins as a $3 million heist from a Dominican priory.  It spirals into a case of lethal complexity that may unite big corporate conspirators, Chicago's underworld bosses and the Church itself in a very unholy Trinity.  V.I. Warshawski's job is to find out for sure...even hough it's clear she might die trying. 

Personal Review:  I couldnt finish this book. I am a fan of the V.I. Warshawski novels, however both of the other novels I read were read by Sandra Burr-she did a great job!  This narrator isnt bad-its just She does have an English accent so after Listening to Sandra Burr read the other stories---and a BIG part of this character is that she was born/raised on the South side of Chicago it seemed odd that they would choose a reader with an English accent. 

Monday, December 20, 2010

Missing In Death

Missing In Death
Author: Nora Roberts writing under name of J.D. Robb
Reader:  Susan Ericksen
3 discs (3 hours)

Suspicious happensings on the Staten Island Ferry draw Lieutenant Eve Dallas to the New York Harbor---Investigating a woman's disappearance on a New York City ferry, Detective Eve Dallas wonders...if she didn't jump, and she's not on board, then where in the world is she?

Personal Notes:  The Eve Dallas series is just okay to me-if there is nothing else its a quick easy read to listen to,  they always seem to be more about the cop in the novel than the actual cases themselves than getting indepth into the bad guys she is trying to catch.  I will stick to Patterson's Alex Cross series or prefer Michael Connelly's detective mysteries as well.

Interlude In Death

Interlude In Death
Author:  J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb)
Read by: Susan Ericken
3 discs (3 hours)

In early spring of 2059, lieutenant Eve Dallas is called of planet ot face a grueling ordeal---giving a seminar at the largest police conference of the year, to be held in a swanky resort which just happens to be owned by her husband, Roarke of course. 

Even though Eve cant quitesee it that way it's supposed to be at least partly a vacation.  But work intrudes in the form of a bloody homicide, and Eve is off and running.  The case is complicated by Eve's personal history with the victom---and the killer's history with Roarke.  As danger closes in and the body count rises, Eve must find a way to stop the cycle of violense and revenge, and shove the past back where it belongs. 

Personal Notes:
I've listened to other Eve Dallas series and they are JUST okay to me.   When read,  the characters come off as super cheesy and even though this is a detective series mystery--its never too indepth on the mystery, it always seems more focused on Eve Dallas being sassy, pretty and fierce as a woman lieutenant,  Roarke her husband has an Irish accent so if you dont like accents on audio books that might be another reason not to pick this up. 

Happiness Sold Separately

Happiness Sold Separately
Author: Lolly Winston
Read by: Melinda Wade

Elinor Mackey has always done the right things in the right order---college, law, school, career, marriage--but now everything's going wrong.  After two painful years of trying, Elinor has learned that she can't have children.  All the doctors can tell her is that it's probably because of her age.  As she turns forty, she withdraws into an interior world of heartbreak.

Elinor's loving husband, Ted, a successful podiatrist, has always done the right thing, too.  Then he meets the wrong woman at the wrong time, and does the wrong thing.  Ted's lover, Gina--a beautiful and kindhearted nutritionist--always eats the right thing, but is unlucky in love and always falls for the wrong men.  Soon Ted has to fight to make everything right again. 

**Personal notes-Great narrator,  its a good easy read that illustrates even people who have seemingly perfect lives have problems-we all do- and we can all get through them. 

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Memory Keepers Daughter
Author: Kim Edwards
Read by Martha Plimpton
9 Discs - 11 hours

On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins.  His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. When his wife begins having contractions again to everyones suprise he delivers a baby girl, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome.  Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever.  He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. 

But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant.  Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself.  So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night. 

Personal Notes:--The reader in this book  is great! This story is definately one of my favorites I have listened to in a long time!  It was also made into a movie if you want to check that out also.


Aiding And Abetting

Aiding and Abetting

Aiding and Abetting
Author: Muriel Sparks
Read by Davina Porter
4 compact discs (4.5 hours approx.)

This novel was based on an actual murder case, becomes a fascinating mystery under Spark's sharp pen.

Lord Lucan disappeared in 1974, shortly after  murdering his children's nanny in a botched attempt to kill his wife.  Despite reports of sightings, no one konws for sure where the crafty fugitive is.  Noted psychiatrist Dr. Hildegard Wolf is intrigued when the two patients begin therapy with her---both claiming to be the notorious Lord Lucan.  It's not just the patients who have secrets, however.  The good doctor has also abandone a previous life.

*Personal notes--I had higher hopes for this book from reading the description but I found it kind've bland as far as mystery novels are concerned BUT the narrator does have an English accent which For me does make it a bit harder to get past accents sometimes when listening to books. 

Led Astray

Led Astray
Author: Sandra Brown
Read by: James Jenner
Romance Novel
8 discs (9 hours)

age Hendren has always been the black sheep of the family, while his twin brother Hal has forever been someone the family could be proud of.  Unlike most twins, they have very little in common.  Very little, that is, except thier love for Hal's fiancee, Jenny Fletcher.  When Hal dies suddenly, age's advances intensify, forcing Jenny to come to terms with her true feelings. 

Monday, December 6, 2010

The Kissing Game

The Kissing Game
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Read by: Donna Rawlins
5 discs ( 5 hrs 55 mins)
Romance/Suspense

Allowing Simon Hunt to play her partner on her latest assignment prabably wasn't Frankie Paresky's best idea ever, but the P.I. fount it just as hard  as most women did to tell him no.  When a chance to solve a long-ago mystery sparked a sizzling attraction between old friends, Frankie wavered between pleasure and panic.  Could ht ebest bad boy she'd ever known be the man she'd always love? Utterly seductive, irresistibly inventive, The kissing Game celebrates a lvoe as torrid as the Florida Sun-and as steamily passionate as a first kiss.

Cat & Mouse

Cat & Mouse
Author: James Patterson
Read by: George Guidall & Richard Ferrone
9 discs (10.5 hours)
Suspense fiction novel

Alex Cross — psychologist, single father, homicide detective — penetrated the criminal mind and solved some of the toughest cases ever.
Now comes the ultimate case of Cross's career.
In Cat & Mouse, things get too close to home. Two killers, one operating in America — one in Europe — believe Alex Cross is the only worthy opponent in the deadly game each has planned. And Alex must contend with something he hasn't known since the loss of his wife: he's falling deeply in love, and this romance will make him, and her, all the more vulnerable....
Gary Soneji is back. He vows his last act on earth will be taking the life of Alex Cross. But first he wants some fun, and Union Station, Washington, and Penn Station in New York are scenes of chaos as Soneji creates a train ride to hell. With time running out, Cross must predict Soneji's next move: the lives of thousands of innocent commuters hang in the balance.
Meanwhile, a second game of cat and mouse is being played. Thomas Augustine Pierce, referred to by the FBI and Interpol as "St. Augustine" for his uncanny ability to catch killers, has been chasing his demon, Mr. Smith, since his fiancee was brutally murdered, her heart cut out. Panic spreads through Europe when Mr. Smith strikes in London...then Paris.... But when the Soneji case takes a baffling new twist, Pierce must put the Mr. Smith case on hold to assist in a special investigation. Will Cross — or Pierce — figure out in time who is the cat and who is the mouse?

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Hawk O'Tooles's Hostage

Hawk O'Tooles's Hostage
Author: Sandra Brown
Read by: Richard Ferrone

I just started listening to Sandra Brown's Romance novels this week and can't put them down!  I picked one up just to try a new author/genre of books-she is Great!!! Just the right amount of drama and naughtiness in each of her stories! I've listened to 3 just this week! 

Miranda Price is the Ex-wife  of a prominent public figure; when she and her song are on a sight-seeing train ride her son gets kidnapped.  Refusing to let him alone she decides to go with the captors.  They get taken as hostages by a Native American tribe who are desperate to have Someone listen to them and reopen a Mine that was a huge source of income for the people.  Miranda soon finds herself in a dilemma both scared for her life that she is being held hostage; but she and her son are also being treated very fairly and likes to see the traits Hawk O'Toole-one of the Tribe's Chiefs is teaching to him on how to be a respectful young man.  Hawk and Miranda are a true case of oppisites that attract, coming from completely different worlds but finding they have much in common including the passion they feel for each other.   Knowing that they should not and were not meant for each other makes them both want each other more which makes for another great intense and passionate Sandra Brown Romance novel.

Eloquent Silence

Eloquent Silence
Author: Sandra Brown
Read by: Joyce Bean
6 hours (6 discs)
Romance Novel

Lauri is a dedicated young teacher for deaf children; when a job offer is presented to her she leaves the deaf school to be a private live-in tutor.  Lauri is suprised when she goes to meet the father of young Jennifer and learns that her dad is one of the most well known day time Soap Stars.  The job quickly becomes more than just that as she falls in love with the little girl and tries to resist falling for her father.