The Target by David Baldacci

There are many prolific authors out there and some of them are great.   Mr. Baldacci is one of the great ones.

Readers were first introduced to one of the main characters in this entry in the titles The Innocent and The Hit and Robie is back again.  Will Robie and his partner Jessica Reel are embroiled in a secret mission.  The preparation for the mission is treacherous in and of itself.  There are some people in power who do not want to see the pair succeed and they try everything to make that happen. 

However, Robie and Reel are cut from a different bolt of cloth and they have an inner strength that keeps them forging ahead at all costs.  While the main focus of the plot is the mission to North Korea and an invitation fromt the First Lady to accompany the family on a vacation, there is a sub plot that focuses on Jessica Reel's past.  In some instances, multiple plots can cause confusion for the reader but that is not the case here.  Everything is well organized and easy to follow.

This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep readers motivated.  My advice to this author is to keep writing. 

Ladybookbug!

NYPD RED 2 by James Patterson & Marshall Karp

Ah yes, another James Patterson series.  I read the first one in this set and the second was just as fast paced and realistic. 

The scenario takes place in New York City and involves a Mafia Family and a series of murders.  How they all tie in together is what this story is all about.  What starts out as local hometown boys setting about to make restitution in regard to a rape, ends up being a major crime situation.

I'd like to say this is typical James Patterson but many people don't believe he is writing so prolifically these days but rather just adding his illustrious name to the works of his co-authors.  Don't know but I still enjoy reading his books.

Ladybookbug!

The Husbands's Secret by Liane Moriarty

You may be familiar with this author's previous works entitled What Alice Forgot and The Hypnotist's Love Story.  Whether or not you are, you'll want to read her latest entry.

Cecilia Fitzpatrick discovers a letter written to her by her husband to be opened after his death.  She is very curious and wants to open it right away.  She muses about what her closest friends would tell her to do.  Eventually she does open it and all hell breaks loose.

In this story, we are introduced to a number of different characters.  In the beginning they lead separate lives but their lives become interconnected by the end of the story.  This is a well-written story about keeping a terrible secret and not realizing the ramifications of that decision until it is too late.

My only complaint with this book was that I had some difficulty keeping the characters straight.  I found myself stopping at the beginning of a chapter and sorting out who was who.  However, it presented an interesting plot line and was well worth the read.

Ladybookbug!

I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark

I've read most of this author's mysteries beginning with Where are the Children? In my opinion her works would fit into a category labeled "light mysteries".  Many of her works have been made into movies for television. 

This novel is about Laurie Moran, a producer for a true-crime television show.  As the story opens, Laurie's husband has been murdered and they have not yet found the perpetrator.  Her son, Timmy has identified the attacker as someone with blue eyes.

The setting of the story is in an upscale neighborhood where Laurie is filming a show based on the 20-year old unsolved murder of Betsy Powell.  All of the people who were present at the time of the murder arrive to be interviewed.   Unknown to Laurie, her husband's murderer is lurking in the background.

Readers of this prolific author will want to read this latest novel.

Lady Bookbug!

Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen

Reading this book was like visiting an old friend.  This book was published in 1997.  I first heard excerpts from it while visiting a monstery in New York.  I used to own a copy of it but it was misplaced.

It is a daybook that is to be read each day of a year.  Each entry has it's own title and speaks about faith.  While "journeying" through the book some entries held a profound meaning to me and some served as gentle reminders about life in general.  Henri Nouwen died in 1996.  He was a prolific author and many of his books reside on my bookshelves.   He was a senior pastor at a community in Canada where men and women with mental disabilities reside.

This book offers Christians a starting point to begin each day.

Ladybookbug!

Leading the Starbucks Way by Joseph A. Michelli

I am always interested in anything Starbucks.  Having visited my first store about 15 years ago, I walked away with my first frappucino.  I don't consume many of those anymore, but I still enjoy the atmosphere of the stores and the barristas.

I've read most of the books that have been written ab out the Starbucks phenomena and this latest entry is just as interesting as the previous titles have been.  This book talks about the "behind-the-scenes" operations and "point of service" in an effort to encourage new business ventures.  The book invites rising enterprenauers to compare Starbucks sucesses and failures to a new idea that they might have.

If you are into non-fiction and would like to learn a bit about Starbucks, then you won't want to miss this book.

Grab a cuppa Starbucks and settle in for a good read!

Lady Bookbug!

King and Maxwell by David Baldacci

Another hit from this prolific author.

Tyler Wingo is a distraught teenager who flees his home after learning that his father has been killed in Afghanistan. 

King and Maxwell happen to be travelling the same street Tyler is running on and they confront him to determine what is the matter.  Tyler enlists their aid and the pair become embroiled in a mystery of gigantic proportions.

The sleuths uncover many things in their search to determine if Tyler's father is really dead.  This is a fast-paced novel that is very current in this era of technological subterfuge.

I've read all of this author's books and have never been disappointed.

Ladybookbug!