The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks has written another romantic story about a former marine who carries a seemingly “lucky” photograph in his pocket that he picked up off the ground. Fellow soldiers feel the photograph carries a form of protection for the marine and suggest when he returns home that he search for the person in the picture.

The soldier finds himself looking for the person in the photograph and discovers himself in the process.

Love bears all things and this story reflects that.

If you are into romantic forays with a touch of drama, this one’s for you.

Ladybookbug!

We Bought the Zoo by Benjamin Mee

If you’ve ever had a dream and were given the opportunity to pursue it and your grabbed it—then you know what this book is about.

Benjamin Mee (along with his siblings and mother) take on the daunting task of renovating and operating a zoo in England. Benjamin, a former newspaper columnist, holds a degree in psychology and studies animal behavior. He and his family relocate to the Dartmoor Wildlife Park to operate a zoo which houses over 200 animals.

The author’s accounts of the rigorous exploits involved in getting the zoo up and running are interesting and unique. His reveries about Kevin, the boa constrictor, and Sovereign, the leopard, keep the reader interested in the story.

Colorful photographs of some of the inhabitants of the zoo, including humans just add to this delightful story.

This reader never realized all the hard work and quick-wittedness that goes into operating a successful zoo.

A good read!

Ladybookbug!

Cool Cache by Patricia Smiley

A body is found in Helen Taggart’s chocolate shop. It is the body of her cleaning woman Lupe.

Tucker Sinclair discovers the body and the investigation begins. A quetzal feather, a black vehicle, a would-be receptionist cum detective, chocolates, a street gang and Guatemala all figure into the solving of the crime.

This is a light-hearted mystery, the fourth in the Tucker Sinclair mysteries.

If you’re looking for something intriguing but not too deep, this story’s for you!

Lady Bookbug!

Leisureville by Andrew Blechman

So you’re thinking about retiring to an inexpensive community where it’s warm all year-round and a typical day may consist of playing a round of golf, pursuing a woodworking hobby and taking a nap. You may want to consider The Villages, a retirement community located in Florida. However, you may want to read this book before making a purchase.

Mr. Blechman gives an eye-opening account of what life is like in this retirement community. The fact that the author is a bit away from being eligible to live here may seem to be a bit biased but he still presents the pros and cons of living in this type of retirement haven.

This is an interesting story about a community that attracts many retirees due to its variety of homes and recreational activities, including many golf courses.

Worth the read, especially if retirement is just around the corner.

Ladybookbug!

Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown

Imagine having drinks one evening and waking up the next morning with someone lying next to you dead! This is how Ms. Brown’s latest entry begins.

This occurrence is just a “smoke screen” for the real issues at hand, a fire that occurred in police headquarters several years prior, the unfortunate demise of a man who was arrested for a crime; some alleged cover-ups and you have the makings of an intense thriller.

This story kept this reader guessing until very late in the book which is what I prefer as opposed to knowing who perpetrated the crime from the beginning.

If you like a good mystery/thriller, this one’s for you.

Ladybookbug!

Faces of Fear by John Saul

Risa and Michael have been married for about 20 years and they have a 15-year old daughter. Michael is harboring a secret which will effectively dissolve the marriage and it does.

Risa is heartbroken but over the course of a year, regains her self-esteem and remarries a plastic surgeon. It appears to be a union designed in heaven but something is not quite right.

Meanwhile a series of unusual murders are taking place and Tina Wong, consummate reporter is bent on solving them.

This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.
If they EVER make a movie out of this title, I will not be able to watch it!


Lady Bookbug!

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

It is my thought that a good story has twists and turns which sometimes lead you down a winding path to nowhere and then there are those paths that lead to a culminating profound truth. This is such a story.

Cornelia Brown moves from the city to an upscale suburb where she has a difficult time adjusting to the established friendships in the neighborhood. She finds friendship in the unlikely form of a waitress at a restaurant in town who shares her love of literature and old movies.

A tragedy in the upscale neighborhood disrupts the solid friendships and causes a change in the behavior of one of their own. It is through this tragedy that Cornelia’s personality is tested and the reader can find herself wishing she had a friend like Cornelia.

The ending of this book was not a total surprise but the author’s writing techniques keep the reader enveloped in the story to the end. A wonderful second novel and I hope just the beginning of a prolific writing career.

Ladybookbug!