Book #72 - Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

This is the fourth, and unfortunately final, book in the bride quartet series, and it was worth the wait to see how Parker's story turned out. Nora weaved another unique and believable love story with this one, and I found on the last pages I was tearing up while making a goofy smile. I feel a small sadness that the journey with these four women is over because Nora does such an exceptional job of making you feel a part of the story rather than just a spectator. Again, I want to see what the future weddings will be like, if they will have children, if they will all continue to live on the Brown Property, etc. I highly recommend the entire series for an easy yet blissful read.

Book #71 - The Confession by John Grisham

So, it took me a month, but I've finally finished this book. Please do not take that as a reflection on this book and what I thought of it. Between school, Will, and pregnancy fatigue, I just haven't been reading like I was at the start of the year. This book was excellent. Grisham makes the reader take a deep, hard look at the death penalty and the severity of executing the wrong guy. Talk about a mistake that cannot be undone. Initially, I thought the most gut-wrenching part of the book was when Donte was put to death and exonerated the next day, but I was wrong. The last page, held the most sickening realization in the book...people just don't care, and the death penalty will remain the status quo. Why is it that the conservative right sees no problem with executing adults with no remorse or feeling that they have broken one of the ten commandments, but the very same people go crazy on a woman who chooses not to carry a unwanted pregnancy to term. I'm not trying to make this blog a political statement or express my beliefs. Rather, I'm simply trying to bring to light an incredible double standard that seems to be more pronounced from day to day.

Book #70 - The Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Like the previous in this series, it is light-hearted and fairly suspenseful. Previous books always started with Hannah Swensen (local busy-body) finding a dead body within the first 2 chapters. However, the author mixed it up this time. It took nearly 200 pages for the murder to happen because the author used a little flash back flash forward to tell the story. It made it far less redundant. Ended with another near-death experience for the heroine and of course she helped catch the bad guy. Book was again loaded with new recipes for cookies and other treats, and I have to say that I was for the first time enticed enough by three of them to run copies and perhaps try them.

Book #69 - Pendragon by D.J. MacHale

This is a book that I would never have picked out for myself for two main reasons. First, it is written for middle schoolers, and second, it is sci-fi. But, when I told my students at the start of this year that I was trying to read 100 books this year, one of the young ladies asked if she brought me a book, would I read it. I said of course. It is has been sitting on my desk for about a month, and I thought I'd better read it or I'd disappoint my student. I have to say that it was a great book. Very creative and really kept me interested. Although the language was simpler, I did not get the feeling I was reading something that was too juvenile for me. This is the type of book that will keep kids reading, and I'm really glad that it was recommended to me.

Book #68 - The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

This is the third and final installment of the series starring journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Unlike going from book 1 to book 2 (which was a whole new story line), this was a continuation of book 2. And, I thought this was the best of the three book. It was absolutely fantastic. This book contained a very interesting look into the secret police of Sweden as well as their judicial system, and I have to say, I find the way they run their courtrooms far more efficient and logical than in an American courtroom. The third book ended with enough closure that you do not feel a need for another book, but I have to say that I'm going to miss reading the adventures of these characters. As I've said in my blogs of the other two books, these movies will be fantastic if done right. The problem will be fitting 600 page books into 2 hour movies. One colleague from school said the Swedish version of the movie was fantastic, so lets hope they take a look at it before cutting the final copy of the movie.

Book #67 - The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

I know it seems like my reading mission has slowed to a crawl, and it actually has. With the start of school, it seems like I don't have the energy to read like I was before. So, because it took me so long to read this book, do not use it as a judgement on what I thought of this book. It was a great adventure, but not one typical of David Baldacci. If you had given me this book with no cover or title page, I would have thought it was a Brad Thor novel. This book really got you thinking about whether our entire political structure and decisions are totally controlled by propaganda that can be totally made up if you have enough money to hit all media outlets. The story was a great cat and mouse chase and had a very unpredictable ending. I highly recommend if you are up for a page-turning thriller, but you have to be able to stomach a little bit of gore.

Book #66 - The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

This book is fantastic. 600 pages of pure adventure, intrigue, and suspense. One of my coworkers told me she didn't like it as much as the "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", but I thought it was even better. I loved how intricate the plot was and how many layers were twisted into the story. Stieg Larsson was a phenomenal talent, and I am very saddened that he did not live to write more books. He obviously wanted to be a loud voice against violence, rape, and assault on women. It is an integral portion of both of his books I've read. If his book is true to the culture of Sweden, then women are less valuable to men than their personal belongings, cars, and motorcycles. Like I said after the first book, this will be a blockbuster in the movie theater.