Please Don't Tell by Elizabeth Adler

Elizabeth Adler is noted for her romantic suspense.  She always places her stories in interesting settings and describes them so well, you'll want to visit them.

This latest entry takes place in California.  Fen Dexter, guardian of two grown women lives in a small isolated cottage on the coast.  One night during a storm a stranger arrives on her doorstep with a knife in his hand. After a bit of consternation, she invites him in and feeds him a meal.

Vivi, short for Vivian is an emergency room doctor and the niece of Fen.  One night she treats the latest victim of a serial killer who is on the loose.  When Fen's visitor arrives at the E.R. to have his wound stitches, Vivi discovers that his fiance was killed by the serial killer.  She agrees to contact the police to help him in his search for the perpetrator of the crimes.

A fast-paced thriller with a touch of romance, you'll want to read this to the end.  You may guess who the killer is but the story is worth reading completely.

Not as gripping as Harlan Coben, Ms. Adler still offers a good tale with a twist.

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Tell Me by Lisa Jackson

Some of this author's previous books include Malice, Afraid to Die and Shiver.  I have read all of these titles and enjoyed them.

This latest entry by Ms. Jackson had me stymied.  I read a full five chapters of the story but it just didn't grab me.  It was slow and seemed like I was reading a textbook.

A woman is about to be set free from incarceration and the city of Savannah is in an uproar.  Twenty years have passed since she was convicted of a terrible crime.  Her son recanted his testimony and the case fell apart.

Nikki, the friend of the murdered child has come to the forefront and is bent on investigating just what happened all those years before.

Unfortunately, the killing has begun again and the pressure is on Nikki to uncover the truth without risking her own life.

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Call the Nurse: True Stories of a Country Nurse on a Scottish Isle by Mary J. MacLeod

Mary J. MacLeod and her family move to an island in the Hebrides off the coast of Scotland to begin an adventure amid the many characters that reside there.

Filled with happy and sad stories, Ms. MacLeod introduces us to everyone and their ailments.  We read about everything from the not so joyous birth of a baby to the discovery of people living in a derelict home and in need of nourishment.

An interesting look at rural life without the benefits of modern conveniences.  This book may encourage you to visit this remote part of Scotland  

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The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

A new author, and unfortunately we won't be reading any more of her books as she passed away this year.    This is indeed unfortunate as this is this was a great story!

The story surrounds the life of Todd and Jodi.  They have been together for about 20 years but they never married.  Todd has had a very convenient life.  He comes home to Jodi but he has dalliances on the side.  He seems content with the arrangement and Jodi is aware that he is a cheater.

All this comes to a crashing end as Todd starts up a relationship with Natasha, the daughter of his life long friend.  About 20 years younger than Todd, many see this relationship as unhealthy.  Todd and Natasha give little thought to what others think and continue to pursue their desires.  This leaves Jodi in the lurch and the world as she knows it comes to an end.

You may think you know what's going to happen, but read this story to the end and you'll be surprised.

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Fin and Lady by Cathleen Schine

A delightful story by the author of The Three Weissmanns of Westport among other novels.

Fin is a small boy whose parents have died.  He is left in the care of his half-sister Lady.  He moves to Greenwich Village in Manhattan to live with her in an apartment. After a bit, they move to a house.

This is the story of their adventures with would be suitors, and life around the city.  It is a story of love between siblings and the realization of how important each is to the other.

Lady is a little unpredictable and her independent streak lands her in Capri where she discovers new love, much to Fin's chagrin.

A good story.  Read it- you'll like it.

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The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan

A novel whose main focus is the "Diamond", Ms. Sullivan takes us on a journey that spans over a hundred years.  We visit the lives of Evelyn, married for forty years;  Delphine whose life has been filled with seduction and fury; James, whose circumstances prevent him from buying the perfect ring for his wife and lastly,  Kate who is very much against the institution of marriage. We are also introduced to Frances Gerety, a copywriter who is working with the De Beers campaign to come up with the perfect slogan about diamonds.

A wonderful novel that invites us to explore all the reasons a "Diamond is Forever".  It was so refreshing to come to the end of this story and discover that parts of it really happened.

Ms. Sullivan's previous novels include:  Maine and Commencement.  You'll want to go back and read both of them.

Not to be missed---place a hold on The Engagements.

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Bomb Shell by Catherine Coulter

Agents Savich and Sherlock are back and they are embroiled in the murder of a young man who is the grandson of a prominent  former Federal Reserve Bank chairman.  The young man's body has been left at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial.

A new agent, Griffin Hammersmith has been enlisted to investigate his sister, who has been found naked and unconscious in her home after a wild party.  Griffin joins forces with an undercover agent in the same geographical area and together they try to unravel the mysterious circumstances that have been happening.

A good thriller that keeps you guessing until the end.

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The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian

This new novel by a consumate storyteller takes place in Italy.  The novel takes the reader back to 1943 and then up to 1955.  We become entranced with the Rosati family, a noble family who reside in a villa just south of Florence.

The story begins with the family's involvement with WWII.  The germans occupy the villa, several people in the family die and one member of the family falls in love with the a member of the opposition.

This novel could definitely be classified as an historical novel.  The author's attention to detail is profound.

A good read!

Ladybookbug!

Unseen by Karin Slaughter

Will Trent is an undercover agent for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He is involved with a group of hillbilly renegades and cannot blow his cover.  Unfortunately, he witnesses the shooting of two other agents and has difficulty keeping it a secret.

Sara is in love with Will.  She has no idea where he is keeping himself but he occasionally visits her to keep her calm.  Sara's stepson has been gunned down in his own home.  His wife, Lena gives Sara a bad taste in her mouth.  She feels Lena is responsible for the death of her husband.

Everyone is caught up in the drama of trying to determine who is the kingpin leading the way in this path of the destruction of lives.

An intense novel that starts out slow but builds to an astonishing conclusion.

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The Shadow Tracer by Meg Gardiner

Sarah Keller is a skip tracer.  This is a person who tracks people who have disappeared to avoid prosecution.

Sarah is also a single mother.  A school bus accident lands her daughter Zoe in the emergency room and  Sarah's life  goes downhill from there.  Fleeing the hospital with the authorities in hot pursuit after her, Sarah uses all the things she has learned in her profession to stay off the grid and keep moving.

She enlists the aid of an old friend who is a U.S. Marshal.  He helps her in every way he can by giving her a safe place to stay and helping her to rectify the situation.

This is a fast-paced thriller that is sure to keep you reading right along to the very end and if you begin reading before bedtime-don't expect to put it down to sleep!  It's that good!

Ladybookbug!