Random but Great

My mom had given me a bag of "hand me down" books! I decided to try this book and was VERY pleasantly surprised. I have never heard of Alex Kava but he will now be an author in my household!

Expert Review:

Nebraskan suspense author Kava takes a break from her successful series featuring FBI Special Agent Maggie O'Dell (At the Stroke of Madness; Split Second) with this psychological thriller about the fallout from an abortive bank robbery. The principal players are Jared Barnett, just released by his shady attorney's machinations from a life sentence for murder; his docile sister, Melanie Starks; and her 17-year-old son, Charlie, to whom Jared is a father figure. Just as their lives seem to be approaching normalcy, Jared scopes out a bank heist and bullies his sister and nephew into helping him. Mel is designated driver in the high-risk chase that begins right after Jared and Charlie, empty-handed, flee the bank. In a remote state park cabin, Andrew Kane, a writer, happens to be alone when they appear and Mel, shocked, learns from his TV that four people were killed in the holdup. Then she remembers the childhood that she and Jared were cheated out of—a mother who washed down pills with vodka while their father mercilessly beat the children until Jared took matters into his own hands. Victims accumulate as fast as the escape route changes, while abbreviated chapters and truncated dialogue signal the approaching explosive climax. This is a one-night read with some unexplained loose ends that won't bother readers hooked on hair-raising car chases and gruesome murder

My Review: GREAT book for the beach! It was such an easy read and a suspense that makes you want to turn the pages! I sometimes had to keep my eyes open cause I wanted to keep on reading. A very easy read and a great suspense novel for lover's of CSI type books!

A Beautiful Boy

EXPERT REVIEW: “This story of parental love is a masterpiece of description and feeling. Sheff portrays addiction and its confusion in a way which is immediate, informative and heartbreaking. His quest for healing is a riveting suspense story which will enlighten and compel anyone who has ever dealt with addiction, and anyone who has ever raised a child."

MY REVIEW: I really LOVED this book. It was a very different take on the world of addiction than anything I have read before. I am normally prone to stories that are narrated from the actual person with the addiction versus the parent of a child with an addiction. It was heartbreaking, informative and very realistic. For anyone that has known an addict, is an addict or is questioning either this book is a great read! It is filled with real facts about rehab facilities and the statistics about drugs (mainly meth) in today's world. It is so scary especially as a parent to realize how accessible meth is in our society today. As a meth becomes a world-wide epidemic this is a very informative book on how drugs not only effect the user but the entire family! I recommend this book!

Bitter is the New Black

EXPERT REVIEW:
Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb. She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice. This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good. Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.

MY REVIEW:
This book is a laugh out loud memoir of possibly the most narcissistic person I have ever read about! Thru her narcissism she becomes endearing and you can help but cheer her on as she struggles thru really expensive life lessons! She is hilariously witty and there is absolutely NO FILTER as to what may come out of her mouth at any moment! You find yourself red with embarrassment for her and at other times you want to scream "You go girl!" This book is every bit as funny as it claims to be. Being in my very late 20's (actually almost 30) I still appreciated the humour and references to sorority living and drunken phone conversations! Great read for anyone who needs a good hearty laugh! I WILL be reading her other books. Read more sarcastic and witty writing on Jen Lancaster's website www.jennsylvania.com