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.

Book #65 The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

I only made it half way through this book, and I started it a month ago. Since I've not picked it up in two weeks, I've decided it is now on the "will not finish" list. This is a very profound statement because this is a rarety for me. I thought this would be really good, and I've read several of this genre I've enjoyed, but is was like watching paint dry. Philippa Gregory wrote "The Other Boleyn Girl" (I saw the movie and loved it), so I was super excited. This book is about Mary Queen of Scots and her battle with her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Boring and drawn out. Don't even care anymore how it ends.

Book #64 - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Wow! As usual, it is worth the year wait for his next bestseller soon to be blockbuster. This book was fantastic, scary, and intense with an absolutely beautiful ending. In addition, for the first time, I felt like Nicholas Sparks had an ulterior motive in his book. The underlying, yet screaming, theme of this book was spousal battery. There were incidents in this book that literally made me want to vomit. He also demonstrated the disgustingness of alcholism. Sparks painted a picture of courage and resolve in the heroine that was able with constant planning and viligance to escape the nightmare of an alcohol and abusive husband who started beating her the first day of their honeymoon. It took her four years to escape, and yet, he still hunted her down for one last standoff. This was one of Nicholas Sparks' finest works and just like at the end of all of them, I have a great sadness that I read it so fast and am not waiting for the next one.

Book #63 - The Justice Game by Randy Singer

I recognize my avid readers (Dad) are wondering what has happened to me in the last few weeks. Simply, school has started, and I'm too tired at night to read. It took me almost a week to read this short book, and it is not because it wasn't good..just tired. I find Randy Singer to be one of the most exciting new authors I have stumbled upon. This book was totally different than the one I read previously, but just as exciting and enticing. Like the other book, I did not figure out who the bad guy was until the author clued me in, and the inside look at the courts systems in the USA was eye-opening. Are there really businesses who do nothing but investigate potential jurors? Do they then set up "mirror juries" to predict who will win big cases? And are their hedge-fund guys betting on the odds? Probably. I have to say that after reading this book, I have even less faith in the justice system and that every person can get a fair and unbiased trial. Excellent, quick read.

Book #62 - Black Hills by Nora Roberts

So I'm still struggling my way through the book about Mary Queen of Scots that I started over two weeks ago. I may finish it one day, but frankly, it is boring and way too drawn out. On Saturday morning, I decided I need to read something enjoyable for my three day weekend, and this was a great choice. Obviously since it is Nora Roberts, there is a love story that ends just like you want it to, but the thriller side of this book was intense. I need to do a little research on Nora to find out if she was born and raised in this area of our country or if she fell in love with it later in life. It was so awesome to go back to the Black Hills through the eyes of the characters of this book. I feel like the clock was rewound six years ago from when I was there with my family. The book's setting is in an area of the Black Hills where the main character, Lil, has set up a Big Cat sanctuary. The description of these beautiful panthers, leopards, tigers, and mountain lions is extraordinary. It made me flash back to the horse sanctuary we came upon while we where in the Black Hills. Overall, this was a fantastic book, and she always has you coming back for more. I was so glad that all ended well, the murderer was caught, and the lovers will be living happily ever after. As always, I feel as though I know the characters, and I was dying for an epilogue to see where they were in 10 years, but it is not Nora's style. It is for us the readers to imagine where their lives take them.

Book #61 - Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

I know my avid readers were probably wondering what happened to me. Two things have keep my reading pace less than typical. First, school has been overwhelming the last week or so. Sometimes you forget how intense the start of a school year is. Second, I've actually been reading two books at the same time. I started a historical novel last week, and although it is very good, I needed something a little lighter. So, even though I was terribly dissapointed with the last book I read of hers, I figured I had already bought it, so I might as well read it. She redeemed herself with this one. It was a much better story, and I found I did not know who did it until the very last moment. She created just enough suspects to keep me wondering. This book was just the escape I needed from the intense days at work.