Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Teaser Tuesday: Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser (from 10% in the eARC):
Vlad called, using the terra indigene form of communication.

This week I'm reading Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop. This is the fifth book in her Others series. I have really enjoyed the other books and was thrilled to be approved for this eARC. Here is the description from Amazon:
New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop returns to her world of the Others, as humans struggle to survive in the shadow of shapeshifters and vampires far more powerful than themselves...
 
After a human uprising was brutally put down by the Elders—a primitive and lethal form of the Others—the few cities left under human control are far-flung. And the people within them now know to fear the no-man’s-land beyond their borders—and the darkness...

As some communities struggle to rebuild, Lakeside Courtyard has emerged relatively unscathed, though Simon Wolfgard, its wolf shifter leader, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn must work with the human pack to maintain the fragile peace. But all their efforts are threatened when Lieutenant Montgomery’s shady brother arrives, looking for a free ride and easy pickings.

With the humans on guard against one of their own, tensions rise, drawing the attention of the Elders, who are curious about the effect such an insignificant predator can have on a pack. But Meg knows the dangers, for she has seen in the cards how it will all end—with her standing beside a grave...

Monday, February 27, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Feb. 27, 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading...

After days of spring-like weather, winter made its return to southern Minnesota. Early in the week the forecasts had us on the edge of the coming storm. Later in the week the forecasts moved it right over the top of us. In anticipation, our Superintendent called off school for Friday in the middle of Thursday afternoon. When I went to bed Thursday night, nothing had happened yet. However, I woke up to at least nine heavy, wet inches of snow. Fortunately, our snow plow crew had us plowed out by 9 AM. They kept saying that we would have a second wave of snow starting mid-afternoon but nothing happened at my house until after 4 PM when we started having snow showers of big puffy snowflakes. The wind picked up a little then but we didn't have anything approaching a blizzard at my house.

It was nice to have a day off and to find out about it before a 6 AM phone call. But now I have to find a way to make up the 7 1/2 hours I wasn't at work. I can make up 4 from home but have to be in the building to make up the rest. I still have a couple of hours to make up from our last snow day too. I have run out of things to plan. My grading is up-to-date. I am at a loss for things to do. I may just find a book for professional reading and spend some time doing that.

I used my extra day off just to relax. I did a little bit of reading but mostly lounged on the couch playing computer games. I guess days like that are needed too.

Read Last Week
Break Me by Tiffany Snow was fast-paced and entertaining romantic suspense. This is the second in a series and has a great main character. China Mack is an OCD genius who is involved in a secret government computer program. When someone from another country wants the program, China, her partner, and her boyfriend have to make things right. My review will be posted on March 23.

Currently
Next up is Gauntlet by Holly Jennings. This is also the second book in a series and is science fiction. It will be released on April 4.

Next Week
I'm taking a break from review books and reading The Sight by Chloe Neill. This is the second book in her new series set in post-apocalyptic New Orleans.

Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

I bought a combination of Kindle Deals and books I've been wanting for a while this week. All are Kindle copies.
I also bought Change Management by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller which is their most recent chapbook. I always buy their books as soon as I learn about them.

To see what Young Adult books I have been reading and plan to read, check out Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

ARC Review: Signature Wounds by Kirk Russell

Signature Wounds
Author: Kirk Russell
Publication: Thomas & Mercer (March 1, 2017)

Description: While in Las Vegas on his way to a family Fourth of July celebration, FBI bomb expert Paul Grale hears a deep blast and sees the smoke rising. In an unfolding nightmare, Grale discovers his sister, brother-in-law, and many friends were caught up in the explosion. Grief stricken, he is pulled from the main bomb investigation to sift orphan leads. Quietly he begins a relentless search for the bomb maker.

When the FBI suspects his friend and disgruntled former drone pilot for the blast, Grale thinks they’re getting it all wrong. Propelled by deep personal loss and an intense need to do the right thing, he picks his way through the smallest of leads and into a maze of twists, turns, and sudden dead ends. When he uncovers another threat, time is already quickly running out. With the lives of so many at stake, Grale won’t let himself fail—and he won’t rest until there’s justice for his family.

Adrenalized, gripping, and all too timely, Signature Wounds brings terror to Vegas and introduces FBI special agent and bomb tech Paul Grale, a man whose specialized skill and fierce determination are a lethal combination.

My Thoughts: FBI bomb expert Paul Grale is one his way to his sister and brother-in-law's Fourth of July party when the unthinkable happens. A bomb goes off using stolen C-4 and killing his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. It also leaves his sixteen-year-old niece grieving and fighting for her life.

Paul is immediately immersed in the investigation while grieving himself and worrying about his niece. The case gets complicated very quickly when agents from a variety of Federal agencies get involved. Paul feels that they are following a false trail when they target his friend Jeremy Beatty who used to be an Air Force drone pilot until he was medically discharged with PTSD. Beatty got on the DoD's radar when he was hired to teach pilots to fly drones in the Far East.

Now, Paul is trying to exonerate his friend and track down the elusive bomber before he uses the rest of the C-4 and destroys another target in Las Vegas.

This was a fast-paced thriller with a plot ripped from the headlines. Sleeper terrorist cells, Latin American drug cartels, and the whole rise in popularity of drones both in the military and as weapons for terrorists keep this story moving.

I liked Paul who had a dogged determination to find and stop the bomber. I liked that he had connections with a number of law enforcement organizations. I liked that he was at odds with his supervisor in the FBI but found ways to work around him.

Fans of thrillers will find much to enjoy in this one.

Favorite Quote:
"What's wrong with the drone pilots, Eddie?"

"Nothing is wrong. They're all good, but I need the FBI off my back. I need everything to do with you out of my life. I'm going to give you money. Ten thousand dollars and until noon today to give me an answer."
I got this one in exchange for an honest review from Kindle First. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Friday Memes: Signature Wounds by Kirk Russell

Happy Friday everybody!
Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City ReaderThe Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:
The plane was a well-cared-for Cessna 182T owned by a retired American couple. Their bodies lay on the airstrip at their ranch in Mexico as their plane flew west toward the orange sunset.
Friday 56:
"A bomb exploded in the bar area when you were in the bathroom. You and another boy are the only survivors."
This week I am reading a book I got from Kindle First. Signature Wounds by Kirk Russell is a thriller from Thomas & Mercer. Here is the description:
While in Las Vegas on his way to a family Fourth of July celebration, FBI bomb expert Paul Grale hears a deep blast and sees the smoke rising. In an unfolding nightmare, Grale discovers his sister, brother-in-law, and many friends were caught up in the explosion. Grief stricken, he is pulled from the main bomb investigation to sift orphan leads. Quietly he begins a relentless search for the bomb maker.

When the FBI suspects his friend and disgruntled former drone pilot for the blast, Grale thinks they’re getting it all wrong. Propelled by deep personal loss and an intense need to do the right thing, he picks his way through the smallest of leads and into a maze of twists, turns, and sudden dead ends. When he uncovers another threat, time is already quickly running out. With the lives of so many at stake, Grale won’t let himself fail—and he won’t rest until there’s justice for his family.

Adrenalized, gripping, and all too timely, Signature Wounds brings terror to Vegas and introduces FBI special agent and bomb tech Paul Grale, a man whose specialized skill and fierce determination are a lethal combination.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Book Review: Dragongirl by Todd McCaffrey

Dragongirl
Author: Todd McCaffrey
Series: The Dragonriders of Pern
Publication: Del Rey; 1 edition (July 27, 2010)

Description: Young Fiona, rider of the gold queen Talenth, has returned from the past, where she and a group of dragons and riders fled so that the wounded could heal from their previous battles with Thread and the younger dragons could safely grow to fighting age. Gone only three days, yet aged more than three years, Fiona is no longer a child but a woman prepared to fight against the Thread that threatens to destroy her world.

Fiona’s life takes a pivotal turn when a shocking tragedy thrusts her into a position of authority. Now she finds herself leading weyrfolk who have a hard time trusting a senior Weyrwoman who is both young and an outsider.

My Thoughts: DRAGONGIRL takes place right after DRAGONHEART. Fiona and her group of dragonriders have come back from the past to just three days later. The problems she left are still problems. There is an illness that is killing dragons and thread is starting to fall and there are not enough dragons or dragonriders to battle it.

When a tragedy takes all the dragons and riders from Telgar in a horrible event, Fiona is sent with her gold queen Talenth to be the new weyrwoman there. She brings along T'mar and his wing. She also brings her young friends. Fiona has a remarkable talent for managing her weyr and a remarkable talent for inspiring loyalty.

When Kindan and Lorana find a cure for the dragons, part of the problems are solved but they are still facing a major shortage of dragons old enough to fight thread. Talenth clutches and provides 22 eggs as does the other queen at Telgar. These clutches are light - many too small - and they don't know if it is because of the cure or just coincidence.

Kindan, T'mar, Lorana, and Fiona forge a partnership for their emotional support with Fiona at the center. She has such a big heart that she wants to love everyone. She also takes her responsibility to keep up morale at the weyr very seriously and tries to hide her fears for the future of Pern.

This was an exciting story with lots of growth for Fiona but it is clearly part of a much larger story arc. Both a cliffhanger ending and unresolved plot threads will have to wait for the next book.

Favorite Quote:
"All relationships take work," Cisca said. She shrugged. "Really, when you think about it, anything you care to do well takes work."
I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

WoW: A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers


Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for. I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist though. Be warned!

Becky Chambers
March 14, 2017

Embark on an exciting, adventurous, and dangerous journey through the galaxy with the motley crew of the spaceship Wayfarer in this fun and heart-warming space opera—the sequel to the acclaimed The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet.

Lovelace was once merely a ship’s artificial intelligence. When she wakes up in a new body, following a total system shut-down and reboot, she has no memory of what came before. As Lovelace learns to negotiate the universe and discover who she is, she makes friends with Pepper, an excitable engineer, who’s determined to help her learn and grow.

Together, Pepper and Lovey will discover that no matter how vast space is, two people can fill it together.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet introduced readers to the incredible world of Rosemary Harper, a young woman with a restless soul and secrets to keep. When she joined the crew of the Wayfarer, an intergalactic ship, she got more than she bargained for—and learned to live with, and love, her rag-tag collection of crewmates.

A Closed and Common Orbit is the stand-alone sequel to that beloved debut novel, and is perfect for fans of Firefly, Joss Whedon, Mass Effect, and Star Wars.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Teaser Tuesday: Dragongirl by Todd McCaffrey

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:
Talenth grumbled irritably as they emerged from between into the early morning heat of Igen. Fiona could hardly blame her; the heat was so great it felt like a physical blow and she wasn't straining her wings to keep them airborne.
This week, to further my goal to read all the Pern books, I am reading Dragongirl by Todd McCaffrey. Here is the description from Amazon:
Young Fiona, rider of the gold queen Talenth, has returned from the past, where she and a group of dragons and riders fled so that the wounded could heal from their previous battles with Thread and the younger dragons could safely grow to fighting age. Gone only three days, yet aged more than three years, Fiona is no longer a child but a woman prepared to fight against the Thread that threatens to destroy her world.

Fiona’s life takes a pivotal turn when a shocking tragedy thrusts her into a position of authority. Now she finds herself leading weyrfolk who have a hard time trusting a senior Weyrwoman who is both young and an outsider.

Monday, February 20, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Feb. 20, 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading... 

Yay for another normal week! This school year is just flying by. It is almost mid-quarter time of the third quarter of the year. I really enjoy all of my classes. The only thing I don't like about this whole teaching gig is getting up at 6 AM. That will certainly change in retirement.

I am very gradually getting rid of stuff as I sort through each room prior to my move this summer. Today's errands include a trip to the Salvation Army donation center to get rid of 14 pairs of shoes that I don't wear, don't like, or have outgrown.

We have been having wonderful weather for February with temperatures consistently above normal but not quite record-breaking. Of course, the long term forecast is predicting what could be a Snowmageddon for next weekend. It's a long way out still. I'm hoping that it misses us entirely. I couple more nice days should melt all the snow that wasn't piled up by plowing.
Read Last Week
The Cutaway by Christina Kovac was an intense thriller set in a Washington, DC, newsroom Intriguing characters and a twisty plot kept me reading. My review will be published on March 18.

A Twist of the Knife by Becky Masterman was also an intense thriller with lots of twists and turns. Brigid Quinn is in a race with the clock that is clicking down on the execution of a man convicted of killing his wife and children. She becomes convinced that he is innocent. But can she prove it before it's too late? My review will be posted on March 16.

The Gathering Edge by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller is the 20th Liaden novel and follows Theo Waitley and her self-aware space ship. I couldn't wait to read this one but it won't be released until May 2. My review will be posted on April 27.

Currently
Next up is Gauntlet by Holly Jennings. This is near future science fiction.

Next Week
Next week I hope to read
  • Break Me by Tiffany Snow from my review stack
  • The Sight by Chloe Neill from my TBR mountain
Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?
I added these to my Kindle:
I bought The Strangler Vine by M. J. Carter by reading about it on someone's blog. It sounded like an interesting historical mystery.

I also added two more to my Kindle late this week:
To see what Young Adult books I have been reading and plan to read, check out Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Book Review: Echoes in Death by J. D. Robb

Echoes in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Series: In Death (Book 44)
Publication: St. Martin's Press (February 7, 2017)

Description: Echoes in Death, the chilling new suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb is the perfect entry point into the compelling In Death police procedural series featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

As NY Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman―dazed, naked, and bloody―suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Roarke slams on the brakes and Eve springs into action.

Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for her husband Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil”...

While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling, and widely disliked, this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse. So Eve and her team must get started on the legwork, interviewing everyone from dinner-party guests to professional colleagues to caterers, in a desperate race to answer some crucial questions:

What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next?

My Thoughts: Coming home with Roarke after an evening being his wife complete with the fancy dress and killer shoes, Eve Dallas finds herself in a new murder investigation when a naked, disoriented woman stumbles out in front of their car. They rush her to the hospital and then Eve and Roarke go back to see where she came from. There they discover her dead husband.

Daphne Strazza is convinced that she and her husband were attacked by the devil. Her husband was assaulted and she was assaulted and raped. Eve gets vibes that all wasn't right in the Strazza marriage as she interviews Daphne and has flashbacks to her own childhood when she was assaulted and raped by her own father. She has to put her memories aside to find out who assaulted the Strazza's and killed Dr. Anthony Strazza.

Her investigation leads to two other cases that were eerily similar. Eve and her team including Peabody and McNab are in a rush to find the criminal before he strikes again since he seems to be escalating the violence each time he attacks.

This was an excellent police procedural as we follow the many threads of the investigation. It was also a wonderful romance as we see the relationship Eve and Roarke have built for themselves. I enjoy the mysteries in these stories but I think I like seeing Eve and Roarke's relationship best of all. I can't wait for their next adventure.

Favorite Quote:
"Goes without saying. I'll be home as soon as I can."

"I'll be there," he said, and kissed her.

And that, she thought as he left her, summed up the miracle of her life. She had a home with him, and he'd be there.
I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Friday Memes: Echoes in Death by J. D. Robb

Happy Friday everybody!
Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City ReaderThe Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:
Was she dead?

She felt like a ghost, untethered and insubstantial.
Friday 56: 
"Where'd you get that?"

"I just popped off to the cake factory." He set the dessert plates down on her command center. "Your AutoChef, Lieutenant."

"I had chocolate cake?" She took a bite, made a sound not dissimilar from one she'd made during sex. "I had really amazing chocolate cake?"
This week I am reading Echoes in Death by J. D. Robb. This is the 44th book in the In Death series and I have loved all of them. Here is the description from Amazon:
Echoes in Death, the chilling new suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb is the perfect entry point into the compelling In Death police procedural series featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

As NY Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman―dazed, naked, and bloody―suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Roarke slams on the brakes and Eve springs into action.

Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for her husband Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil”...

While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling, and widely disliked, this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse. So Eve and her team must get started on the legwork, interviewing everyone from dinner-party guests to professional colleagues to caterers, in a desperate race to answer some crucial questions:

What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next?

Thursday, February 16, 2017

ARC Review: I See You by Clare Mackintosh

I See You
Author: Clare Mackintosh
Publication: Berkley (February 21, 2017)

Description: The author of the New York Times bestseller I Let You Go propels readers into a dark and claustrophobic thriller, in which a normal, everyday woman becomes trapped in the confines of her normal, everyday world...

Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her...

It all starts with a classified ad. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her; a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com.

Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one every day, and Zoe realizes they’ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes—including murder. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose...A discovery that turns her paranoia into full-blown panic. Zoe is sure that someone close to her has set her up as the next target.

And now that man on the train—the one smiling at Zoe from across the car—could be more than just a friendly stranger. He could be someone who has deliberately chosen her and is ready to make his next move…

My Thoughts: This is a story told from multiple viewpoints. The first is Zoe Walker who is an ordinary woman in her late thirties. She is divorced with a new live-in boyfriend. She also has two grown children both living at home. Justin is her oldest and works in a coffee shop for a neighbor. Katie is the youngest who wants to be an actress despite Zoe's encouragement to take a secretarial course so that she has a back-up plan.

Zoe commutes each day from suburban London to central London. She takes the same busses and trains. She even sits or stands in the same places in the cars. One day she happens to glance at an add in the personals of the newspaper and sees her picture over a website URL and a phone number. At first her family tries to convince her that it is only someone who looks like her. Each day there is a new picture of a new woman.

The second viewpoint character is Kelly Swift. She is a law enforcement officer who has just come back from a long leave resulting from her assault of a prisoner. She is a great investigator but currently in disgrace. She is obsessed with the rape of her twin sister on her college campus ten years earlier even though that sister has moved on and forged a new happy life. Any sort of rape case triggers her anger. She is currently investigating a case where a woman fell asleep on her commuter train and someone stole her keys.

When Zoe sees someone she recognizes in an ad she calls the police and ends up with Kelly. Kelly is skeptical that the ads have anything to do with the crime until a young woman who is pictured in one of the ads is found murdered.

Kelly wedges her way into the task force that is investigating the murder and soon they are investigating the ads and the connections to crimes. After some detective work, the ad leads to a website that sells information about women to anyone who wants to buy a membership. It tracks details about each woman including her daily commute and where she can be found. Investigating who owns the site and who is downloading the information quickly gets involved in all sorts of complex ways of hiding data and money.

Meanwhile, Eve still feels that she is being watched and followed and becomes suspicious of everyone in her life from her live-in to her daughter's new boyfriend. The tension keeps ramping up in this one until it comes to a stunning conclusion.

Interspersed between sections from Zoe's viewpoint which is getting more tense as each day passes and Kelly's viewpoint about the frustrations of the investigation, we have the viewpoint of the person responsible for and profiting from the website. This person is perhaps the creepiest part of the whole story as they victimize women for profit.

I enjoyed this story very much and kept reading it late into the night since I couldn't sleep until I found out who the criminal was.

Favorite Quote:
FindTheOne.com cuts through all that rubbish; the pretense that anyone cares if you like opera or walks in the park. It means men can take their time. They can follow you for a while, engage you in conversation; see if you're interesting enough to take for dinner, instead of wasting their time on a garrulous airhead. It means men can get up close and personal. Smell your perfume; your breath; your skin. Feel a spark. Act on it.
I got this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

WoW: Say Nothing by Brad Parks

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for. I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist though. Be warned!

Brad Parks
March 7, 2017
Judge Scott Sampson doesn’t brag about having a perfect life, but the evidence is clear: A prestigious job. A beloved family. On an ordinary Wednesday afternoon, he is about to pick up his six-year-old twins to go swimming when his wife, Alison, texts him that she’ll get the kids from school instead.

It’s not until she gets home later that Scott realizes she doesn’t have the children. And she never sent the text. Then the phone rings, and every parent’s most chilling nightmare begins. A man has stolen Sam and Emma. A man who warns the judge to do exactly as he is told in a drug case he is about to rule on. If the judge fails to follow his instructions, the consequences for the children will be dire.

For Scott and Alison, the kidnapper’s call is only the beginning of a twisting, gut-churning ordeal of blackmail, deceit, and terror; a high-profile trial like none the judge or his wife has ever experienced. Their marriage falters. Suspicions and long-buried jealousies rise to the surface. Fractures appear. Lies are told.

Through it all, Scott and Alison will stop at nothing to get their children back, no matter the cost to themselves . . . or to each other.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Teaser Tuesday: I See You by Clare Mackintosh

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser (from 10% in the eARC):
"Oh, Kel, you need a new challenge. Have you thought any more about reapplying for a specialist unit? They can't hold it against you forever."
This week I am reading I See You by Clare Mackintosh. I got this thriller for review from NetGalley. Here is the description from Amazon:
The author of the New York Times bestseller I Let You Go propels readers into a dark and claustrophobic thriller, in which a normal, everyday woman becomes trapped in the confines of her normal, everyday world...
 
Every morning and evening, Zoe Walker takes the same route to the train station, waits at a certain place on the platform, finds her favorite spot in the car, never suspecting that someone is watching her...

It all starts with a classified ad. During her commute home one night, while glancing through her local paper, Zoe sees her own face staring back at her; a grainy photo along with a phone number and a listing for a website called FindTheOne.com.

Other women begin appearing in the same ad, a different one every day, and Zoe realizes they’ve become the victims of increasingly violent crimes—including murder. With the help of a determined cop, she uncovers the ad’s twisted purpose...A discovery that turns her paranoia into full-blown panic. Zoe is sure that someone close to her has set her up as the next target.

And now that man on the train—the one smiling at Zoe from across the car—could be more than just a friendly stranger. He could be someone who has deliberately chosen her and is ready to make his next move…

Monday, February 13, 2017

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Feb. 13, 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading... 

This was a normal week. Normal February weather. Normal days at school. The only difference was that my sixth graders were gone on a field trip on Thursday to a local ski resort to learn to ski. It was quite welcome after last week's excitement.

Some people have asked about our lockdown and suggested that it was scary. It really wasn't. We practice lockdown drills at least five times a year. Some are full lockdowns when we all go to a secure room, turn out the lights, and hunker down in silence in the safest part of the room. Others are lockdowns where we lock our classroom doors, keep teaching, and keep kids in the room until the all clear sounds. This began as the second kind of lockdown.

I had my class of sixth graders using the computers at one end of the media center. There were assorted other seventh and eighth graders from study halls using the other part of the media center along with a few senior high school students also working at tables.

We started to wonder when the lockdown wasn't lifted after a couple of minutes but figured they were just doing a longer practice. But it dragged on and on, the bell rang for the first lunch which is the lunch for seventh and eighth graders and an announcement came to stay in lockdown. My students had no idea what was going on other than that it was their lunchtime and they were hungry.

Then the bell for second lunch rang...and third lunch. We received an email saying that we were to keep the kids in lockdown after a couple of hours but had no idea why. We could see the Sheriff's cars arriving through our windows. We could also see the television stations' remote trucks gathering just off school property. Senior high students can carry their phones and informed us that the lockdown had hit social media. The TV and newspapers had put up articles about it on their webpages. They had no more information than we did about the cause.

At about 2:50 they came around with pizza and sandwiches to feed my very hungry kids. We were starting to worry that we would be keeping kids after dismissal time but the all clear sounded just a couple minutes after regular dismissal time and the kids were able to go home.

I dashed over to the Elementary for a meeting and wasn't involved in the after school debriefing for the staff but heard later that it was feared that a senior high student had brought a gun to school and was possibly threatening someone. The Sheriff was called to investigate which he and his people did. We didn't get an all clear until they had interviewed the people involved and searched the school. A week later, I still don't know any details and probably never will. The administration learned a lot and are already making plans to better handle the situation if it should happen again. Better communication with staff and a way to feed kids in a more timely manner were two big issues.

Read Last Week
I couldn't wait to read Echoes in Death by J. D. Robb. I love this series which at 44 books shows no signs of getting tired. This was another excellent mystery with great characters. My review will be posted on Feb. 18.

Signature Wounds by Kirk Russell was also enjoyable. It was an intense thriller with a main character who is complicated but easy to root for. My review will be posted on Feb. 25.

Currently
Yes, I know it won't be released until May, but I couldn't wait to begin The Gathering Edge by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. This is one of my favorite science fiction series.

Next Week

Held over from last week and all from my review stack:
Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?
To see what Young Adult books I have been reading and plan to read, check out Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.