A Rose from the Dead - Kate Collins

Title: A Rose from the Dead
Author: Kate Collins
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Flower Shop Mystery #6
Year Published: 2007
ISBN: 0451222415
Date Finished: December 28
Pages: 283
Rating: 3.5/5

From the back cover:

"Why did I, Abby Knight, agree to attend a convention of funeral directors? I was desperate to drum up more business for my flower shop, Bloomers. What I got instead was murder..."

Who knew death could be so much fun?

Abby is amused by the black humor of the usually somber "death professionals" who are attending the Midwestern Funeral Directors Association's regional convention. Even organizer Sybil Blount - known for her cutthroat business practices and the signature rose she wears in her wig - isn't what Abby expects...especially when her corpse is found in a casket. When Abby's friend Delilah Dove becomes a suspect, Abby shifts into full investigation mode and learns that Sybil's enemies included the prankster sons of a big-time funeral director, an eco friendly purveyor of "green burials," and a strange Goth girl who captures the "music" of departing souls on her tape recorder. It's up to Abby and her boyfriend, Marco, to look beyond the trappings of death and find out who really loved Sybil - and who loved her not.

Abby finds herself investigating the murder of Sybil, the event planner, during a funeral director's convention. The book opens with Abby trapped inside a casket in the shape of a phone booth. There are twins, also in attendance, who enjoy getting on everyone's nerves by playing practical jokes. Unfortunately they picked the wrong person to lock inside the casket. After Abby realizes they were the culprits, she immediately places them on her suspect list. The only problem is, this prevents her from seeing the big picture and missing the clues that are right in front of her.

A Rose from the Dead fell flat for me. The story takes place in the span of two days, during the convention. The supporting characters make minor appearances in this novel, while the plot centers around Abby and Marco trying to solve the mystery. While this is my least favorite in the series so far, I am still looking forward to reading books 7 and 8.

Acts of Violets - Kate Collins

Title: Acts of Violets
Author: Kate Collins
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Flower Shop Mystery #5
Year Published: 2007
ISBN: 0451220749
Date Finished: December 27
Pages: 309
Rating: 4/5

From the back cover:

"Ok, I'll admit it: I, Abby Knight, actually love my hometown's corny annual Pickle Fest - and I've also been hoping the event will drum up business for my flower shop, Bloomers. But when the hired clown is found dead, the festivities screech to a halt..."

SWEET OR SOUR?

Abby has been dating Marco - ex-cop, bartender, and all-around hunk - for several months when the Pickle Fest starts. But he's still a mystery to her. And after he disappears for a day, she's stunned to read in the paper: EX-COP QUESTIONED IN MAN'S DEATH. It seems the authorities have found Snuggles the Clown pushing up water-spurting daisies - and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggle's house. Abby knows in her bones that he's innocent. But why, when his life is on the line, is Marco being so secretive with her? And who is the attractive woman he escorted to the Pickle Fest? To do the legwork, she'll have to delve into the eerie clown underworld, where the smiles are fake and everyone has a trick up his sleeve...

Abby is attending the annual Pickle Fest with her best friend Nikki, when she has an encounter with one of the clowns. She innocently mentions this to Marco and then learns the clown has been murdered. With Marco as the only suspect, Abby really has to put her amateur sleuthing to work. To complicate matters, Marco is seen with a gorgeous woman at the Pickle Fest and his mother is in town. Abby knows Marco is innocent despite the evidence against him. Can Abby find the real killer and clear Marco's name?

Acts of Violets is the fifth book in A Flower Shop Mystery Series. What I liked best about this book is the reader learns more about Marco's history. Until now, the author focuses on Abby and her family, so it's a welcome change that Marco's mother and sister are introduced. I hope we'll see more of them in future books. If you're looking for a good cozy series, I recommend Abby Knight and her friends.

Snipped in the Bud - Kate Collins

Title: Snipped in the Bud
Author: Kate Collins
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Flower Shop Mystery #4
Year Published: 2006
ISBN: 0451218310
Date Finished: December 26
Pages: 286
Rating: 4/5

From the back cover:

"When I swapped the thorny problems of law school for the budding business of my flower store, Bloomers, I vowed that I, Abby Knight, wouldn't be caught dead visiting that hateful campus ever again. But sometimes a girl's got to face down her dragons..."

PLANT OF ATTACK

Someone orders a black rose for Abby's old law school nemesis, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer. But her plans for a speedy delivery are foiled when he catches her putting the bloom on his desk and sends it straight into the trash. Abby flees in terror, only to run smack into Carson Reed, the professor who recently had her arrested at an animal rights protest. After a biting exchange, Abby storms out of he building. But if there's anything she can't stand, it's injustice and bullies. So, even though she knows bad luck comes in threes, she ignores the advice of her sometimes boyfriend, hunk-a-licious Marco Salvare, and heads back in to retrieve her dignity and her flower-only to find the rose now decorating a dead professor, and herself the prime suspect...

First Sentence: "I jammed both feet on the brake and brought my old yellow convertible to a screeching halt mere inches from the groin of a dragon."

Abby Knight is back and once again finds herself involved in a murder investigation, as the number one suspect. She innocently delievers a rose to an old law school professor which leads to a confrontation between the two. Old feelings rush to the surface during their exchange and Abby runs out of his office. When she reaches her car, she realizes she's not a law student anymore and her former professor did not have the right to speak to her as such. She pulls herself together and decides to get her flower back. When she returns to his office, she discovers a dead body and soon finds herself at the top of the police suspect list.

Much of the book is spent with Abby in disguise trying to find the real killer. There's a sub-plot of animal kidnapping that eventually ties into the murder investigation. Abby's cousin, Jillian, makes another appearance when she returns from her honeymoon, only to bring drama with her. Overall I thought Snipped in the Bud is the best in the series so far.

Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins

Title: Dearly Depotted
Author: Kate Collins
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Flower Shop Mystery #3
Year Published: 2005
ISBN: 0451215850
Date Finished: December 20
Pages: 285
Rating: 4/5

From the back cover:

Well, it looks like my cousin Jillian is heading down the alter again and guess which bridesmaid is ding the flowers? Yep, me, Abby Knight, law school dropout, owner of Bloomers and-did I mention?-ex-fiancee to the best man! That's a bumper crop of trouble, even before I find a party-crashing guest dead at the reception...

PUSHING UP DAISIES

Abby has her hands full at Jillian's wedding, doing triple duty as florist, bridesmaid and grandma-sitter-all while wearing a horrendous floral print that makes her look like a clown. But the real trouble starts when the groom's ninety-year-old grandma disappears from the reception. While hunting for her, Abby discovers the body of Jack Snyder, one of the guests, behind the minister's platform in the gazebo. And when Abby's assistant's new boyfriend becomes a suspect, she decides she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.

If You Ever Tell - Carlene Thompson

Title: If You Ever Tell
Author: Carlene Thompson
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Year Published: 2008
ISBN: 031237285X
Finished: December 14
Pages: 374
Rating: 4.5/5

First sentence: "Theresa Farr never knew exactly what awakened her that warm late April night."

Theresa "Teri" wakes up one night and discovers the bodies of her father and step-mother in their bed. She immediately runs out of the room to check on her step-sister, Celeste, and runs into the killer. The killer stabs her in the arm, sparing her life, and flees into the night. A short time later, a serial killer confesses to the murders, despite the town believing Teri killed her father and step-mother.

The story takes place eight years later around July 4th weekend. The week of his execution, Roscoe Lee Byrnes recants his confession. Once again, suspicion falls on Teri. Meanwhile, Celeste is left mute after the murders and finally starts talking again. Memories flood her and soon she starts to piece together that tragic night. While she desperately attempts to recall the killer's face, the killer is watching and plotting his/her next move.

"To Teri, the news was a miracle, a reason not only for amazement but also for joy. Unfortunately, she knew that for some people, the most fascinating thing now about Celeste Warner would be what she had to say." (p. 59)

The Gift - Richard Paul Evans

Title: The Gift
Author: Richard Paul Evans
Genre: Fiction (Holiday)
Year Published: 2007
ISBN: 1416550011
Finished: December 10
Pages: 332
Rating: 5 out of 5

Nathan Hurst has had a rough life. He left home at an early age after his brother's death and his father's suicide. Nathan's mom was absent after these tragic events so the thought of leaving seemed to be the only solution.

Never letting go of his past, Nathan spends most of his adult life isolated from the rest of the world. His isolation is enabled by his career, which requires him to travel often each year. Returning home from a business trip, Nathan finds himself stranded at an airport due to a snowstorm. While waiting in line to book another flight, he meets Addison and her two children, Collin and Lizzy. This chance encounter sets in motion a chain of events that will change Nathan's life and permits him to unload the burdens of his past.

Frenemies by Megan Crane

Title: Frenemies
Author: Megan Crane
Genre: Chick Lit
Year Published: 2007
ISBN: 0446698555
Pages: 289
Finished: December 7
Rating: 3 out of 5

From the back cover:

Gus Curtis approaches the big three-o with a plan to painlessly usher herself into official adulthood. Then she walks in on her practically perfect boyfriend Nate lip-locked with her supposed friend Helen (completely breaking the girlfriend cardinal rule), and her world starts to seem more like a teen drama than a mature, grown-up life. To make mattes worse, her two best friends are acting awfully strange-is everyone having a quarter-life crisis?

Trying to distract herself with tequila, Janis Joplin, and an extremely inadvisable hook-up, Gus begins to fear that her loft goals are just fantasies. And as she searches for how all her plans went wrong, she'll discover that sometimes you have to lose your friends to find them...and that your worst enemy-and best bud-just might be yourself.

This book has been sitting on my nightstand for awhile now. I reached my renewal limit at the library and ended up returning it unread. I put myself on the wait list again and was determined to finish it this time. And I did... today. Frenemies is an easy, quick read, however I have to say I was somewhat disappointed.

Gus is heart broken after catching her boyfriend kissing her friend, Helen. I can see how upsetting this can be. The problem I had with this scenario is I just didn't believe Gus and Nate were a serious couple and Gus and Helen were really friends. I didn't feel a connection with either relationship. Actually I didn't feel a connection between any of the friends. Henry, Nate's friend, and Gus had an interested relationship and I'll leave it at that to prevent writing any spoilers. This book is very predictable, however somewhere in the middle it got interesting again only to fall flat at the end.

Honestly, I didn't care too much for any of the characters. I found them to be extremely exhausting and wondered if that was the author's intent. Gus wanted everyone to feel sorry for her regarding the break-up and wanted Helen to been seen as the "crazy" one. Funny how one can quickly judge another but cannot see the same characteristic in herself. This quote pretty much sums it up:

"She took off across the room, and I was left to stand there and really bask in the full extent of my hypocrisy. I was amazed that you could become a hypocrite without even meaning to-just like that. That it was so simple. That you could look into someone else's life and see the things they were doing with such clarity, even as you ignored those same things when you did them yourself." (p. 156-157)

I have two more books to read by this author. They will remain on my TBR list. I plan to read both in the near future.

Slay It with Flowers

Title: Slay It With Flowers
Author: Kate Collins
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Flower Shop Mystery #2
Pages: 298

From the back cover:

Me, Abby Knight, an entrepreneur! Who would have guessed when I flunked out of law school a year ago that I’d be standing here today in front of Bloomers, my very own flower shop? Even though I may be penniless, I am soundly devoted to my new profession . . .whether it means arranging a bouquet of flowers – or unearthing the seeds of murder.

NEAR MRS.

Abby’s latest gig is the perfect marriage of her talents. Not only does her bride-to-be cousin, Jillian, want Abby to be a bridesmaid – she also wants her to sign on as floral designer and sleuth . . .

Though nearly once a year Jillian has agreed to marry a different man, she has yet to make it to the altar. But this time, it’s cold dead feet that may stop the wedding. Before the couple says “I do,” one of the groomsmen disappears and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Luckily for Abby, she has plenty of help – including her brassy been-there-done-that assistant, a hunky bar owner with a penchant for love and justice, and her own family. Together, they aim to unveil the truth . . . and make sure the bride still gets her day to shine.

This is the 2nd book in the Flower Shop Mystery series. Abby Knight has been asked by her cousin, Jillian, to be a bridesmaid. Abby, not quite thrilled, agrees and will also provide the flowers for the ceremony. Honestly, Abby is more interested in receiving the paycheck to keep her business afloat than being a bridesmaid. Abby has doubts about the wedding anyway because Jillian is known for getting engaged annually and dumping her fiance before the wedding day.

Not only does Abby have to wear a hideous dress, she also has to see her former fiance, who is the groom's brother. Still, Abby wants to do the right thing and tries her best to make sure her cousin gets married. The bride and groom walking down the aisle soon becomes doubtful as one of the groomsmen goes missing and the another is found dead. Despite Abby promising not to meddle, she soon finds herself in the middle of the investigation.

I really like this series. I like Abby Knight as a main character. She's a young woman trying to move on with her life by following her dreams. She struggles with her mom (who really wants her married with children) and living in her brothers' shadows (they are extremely successful with families of their own). She lives with her best friend, Nikki, and her friend's cat, Simon. She recently met Marco, the owner of the bar across the street from her shop. Her one flaw is she can't keep her promise of not meddling. From this, she finds herself being kidnapped, stalked and threatened. I will continue to read the rest of the series. (4/5)

The Brass Verdict

From the dust jacket:

Things are finally looking up for defense attorney Mickey Haller. After two years of of wrong turns, he is back in the courtroom. When his famed former colleague Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits the biggest case he's ever had: defending Walter Elliot, a prominent Hollywood producer accused of murdering his wife and her lover. Haller has his hands full with Elliot, who seems more concerned about his movies than about a possible life sentence. With a key part of the defense's strategy missing, Mickey scrambles to prepare for trial, and the pressure only intensifies when he learns that Vincent's killer may be coming for him next.

Enter Harry Bosch. Determined to find Vincent's murderer, Bosch will do whatever it takes to crack the case, even if that means using Haller as bait. Flip sides of the same coin, Haller and Bosch rarely see eye to eye on the law. But as danger mounts and the stakes rise, these two loners realize their only choice is to work as a team.

Bringing together two of Michael Connelly's best-loved characters, The Brass Verdict is the most explosive novel yet by the author the Los Angeles Times has called "our laureate, proving again that popular fiction at its best... is also literature."

"Everybody lies. Cops lie. Lawyers lie. Witness lie. The victims lie. A trial is a contest of lies. And everybody in the courtroom know this. The judge knows this. Even the jury knows this. They come into the building knowing they will be lied to. They take their seats in the box and agree to be lied to." (p.3)

The Brass Verdict is a fast-paced murder mystery that is full of twists and turns. After a two-year break from practicing law, Mickey Haller goes from having 0 cases to 31 cases overnight. He quickly learns that some things are just too good to be true. He immediately tries to keep all his inherited clients, especially Walter Elliot. Not wanting to jeopardize Elliot's decision to keep him as his lawyer, Mickey reluctantly agrees to keep the trial date as scheduled despite not having much time to prepare. Mickey's decision will set a chain of events that will eventually lead to what really happened the night Elliot's wife and her lover were murdered.

The Lincoln Lawyer was the first book I read by Mr. Connelly. I did attend one of his book signings last year, mainly out of curiosity. I really enjoyed listening to him and wondered why I never picked up one of his books prior to The Lincoln Lawyer. Now I think I will have to add the Harry Bosch series to my TBR list. Having said that, I liked the "convenient" relationship between Mickey and Harry Bosch. Although Bosch was more of a supporting character, I was interested in learning more of his history. He appeared to be somewhat distant and often times withholding when interacting with Mickey. Overall, I really liked this book and could not figure out the motives behind the murders. Highly recommended. (4.5/5)

Harvesting the Heart

From the back cover:

Paige has only a few vivid memories of her mother, who abandoned her when she was five. Now, having left her father behind in Chicage, she dreams of art school, marries an ambitious doctor-and soon becomes a mother herself. Overwhelmed by the demands of having a family, Paige cannot forget her mother's absence and the shameful memories of her own past, which make her doubt both her ability to give and her sense of self-worth. Out of Paige's struggle to find wholeness, Jodi Picoult crafts with astonishing clarity and evocative detail an absorbing novel that explores issues and emotions we can all relate to. As The New York Times raved, "This story belongs to . . . the lucky reader."

Before I begin, I have to say that I'm very biased when it comes to Ms. Picoult. I first saw her at a book signing for Nineteen Minutes and instantly liked her. Since that book signing, I've read nine of her books, with the intention of reading her entire collection. Having said that, I have to say the first part of Harvesting the Heart was extremely difficult for me to get into. I never thought of putting it down or reading another book. At times I had to force myself to read and looking back, I'm glad that I did.

I don't want to say too much about the storyline and when things began to pick up for me, (may be a spoiler for some) but after a certain event happened, I couldn't stop reading. After I finished reading the book, I thought about my feelings regarding the first chapters. When Paige and Nicholas first meet, they are from different worlds. He has had everything handed to him and she has given up a dream that she feels she doesn't deserve. Despite their differences, they fall in love and decide to marry. During the early years of their marriage, I consider Nicholas to be extremely selfish and Paige to be very passive. Even for them, it was hard for both of them to be with the other. So, I'm wondering, as the reader, was it hard for me to be with them as well.

As I mentioned earlier, Paige comes to a crossroad in the marriage where she has to choose to move ahead or finally deal with the past she left behind. She makes a decision, that will set in motion events that will determine the fate of her marriage. Harvesting the Heart, for me, was typical Jodi Picoult. I finished the book with many questions and could not stop thinking about the characters. Actually, what was missing was a trial scene. Having read most of her recent books first, it was nice to go back and read one of her earlier works. Ms. Picoult has grown as a writer, however even then she knew how to tell a story. (4/5)

The Dead Place

From the back cover:

You Think You're Safe

The first victim is found floating in a creek-naked, beautiful, brutally garroted. Lily Slocum was a college student with everything to live for and nothing to fear...until a madman made her his obsession...

You Think He Can't See You

At first glance, a quiet campus town like Wickfield seems like the ideal place for Kate Corbin to start over after a traumatic attack. But when another young girl disappears on her way to class, Kate's fear resurfaces in earnest. She's right to be afraid. Behind Wickfield's picture-perfect facade, a nightmare is unfolding...and it's about to strike chillingly close to home...

You're Dead Wrong

A serial killer is on the loose...ruthless, twisted, and lethally smart. Now, locked in a desperate race against time, Kate's only chance of stopping a madman's grisly game is to venture deeper into a diabolical web where no one is who they seem to be...and the smallest mistake could be her last...

Kate Corbin survived a brutal sexual assault which left her depressed, shattered and absent in her life. Her husband, Ian, is offered a position at an university. He accepts thinking the move will help Kate get back on track with her life. In the meantime, their teen-age daughter, Grace, is dating an older guy and breaking every rule to be with him.

The Corbins move to the idyllic town of Wickfield to make a fresh start. What they don't know is a serial killer hides in plain sight, kidnapping and torturing college students. When Kate suspects someone, she begins her own investigation. Unfortunately for her, she accuses the wrong man and is now known as the "crazy stalker". When another girl is abducted, Kate risks everything to make sure she stops the killer before he has the opportunity to kill again.

Overall, I really liked this book. The process Kate went through (and why she gets involved in the first place) to discover the real killer was a bit predictable, but didn't ruin the story for me. The killer is sick and twisted, but manages to contain his/her psychopathology to uphold his/her status in the community. This would be a good book to curl up with during a rainy weekend. (4/5)

The Smart One and the Pretty One

From the back cover:

Smart, successful Ava Nickerson is closing in on thirty and has barely had a date since law school. When a family crisis brings her prodigal little sister Lauren back to Los Angeles, Lauren stumbles across a forgotten document - a contract their parents had jokingly drawn up years ago betrothing Ava to their friends' son.

Frustrated and embarrassed by Ava's constant lectures about financial responsibility (all because she's in a little debt. Okay, a lot of debt), Lauren decides to do some sisterly interfering of her own and tracks down her sister's childhood fiancé. When she finds him, the highly inappropriate, twice-divorced, but incredibly charming Russell Markowitz is all too happy to reenter the Nickerson sisters' lives. And always-accountable Ava will sonn realize just how binding a contract can be...

I enjoyed reading this book and I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. After I thought about it some more, I began to wonder if the author will write a sequel. I consider this book to be the beginning story for each character, setting the tone for what's to come. I don't want to include any spoilers in my review, so I'll just say I have many questions regarding the relationships that were discussed in the book. (3.5/5)

Mum's the Word

After completing one year of law school, Abby Knight realizes becoming a lawyer is just not for her. Instead she decides to focus on what she is passionate about: arranging flowers. She opens up her own flower shop, Bloomers, much to her mother's chagrin. Abby's brothers are successful doctors, with country club memberships. Abby was formerly engaged to Pryce Osborne until she realized he wasn't the man she thought he was. Her mother is constantly nagging her about the choices she has made in her life and hopes she will settle down and marry soon.

Next to her shop, her yellow corvette is her prized possession. As she arrives to work one morning, her vette is hit by a black SUV and the driver doesn't stop to see if she's ok. Abby quickly decides to take matters in her own hands when the police trivializes her report. Soon, she realizes that minutes prior to her car being hit, a murder took place blocks away from the accident. Abby puts two and two together and thinks the killer smashed her car while trying to get away from the scene of the crime. Despite her employee's, Grace, warnings about meddling in the police investigation, Abby finds herself in the middle and receives threats to back off the investigation. Abby enlists the help of her roommate and employees and not to mention, gorgeous Marco to solve the crime before anyone else is killed. (3.5/5)

Sweet Love

Julie Mueller is a single working mom trying her best to juggle raising her teenage daughter and her career. She's also trying to be an adult woman with her mother, who sometimes treats her like a five year old girl. Her mom, Betty, means well though. She has the usual concerns most others have regarding their single daughters: please marry a nice man and allow him to take care of you and your daughter so I don't have to worry that you will be alone for the rest of your life!

As Betty starts to face her own mortality, she realizes she has one regret regarding her daughter: she sabotaged her crush with Michael, who was good friends with Julie's older brother. Trying to correct this mistake, she surprises Julie with cooking classes for her Mother's Day present. Problem is, Betty loves to cook, while Julie, well... does not. Julie doesn't want to hurt her mother's feelings so she agrees to go to at least one class, while thinking of excuses to get out of the remaining classes.

To Julie's surprise, her first true love, Michael is also in the class. Funny how old feelings can rapidly come back and fill you in the present. Both Michael and Julie will realize the intensity of their feelings.

I absolutely loved this book! Julie's relationship with her mother was honest and real. What Julie considered to be nagging, Betty thought she was just being concerned for her well-being. The book not only focused on Julie's relationship with her mom, but relationships in general. I especially liked the relationship between Julie and her daughter. Highly recommended. (4.5/5)

Murder 101

In the span of a week, Alison Bergeron's divorce became final and her car was stolen. Just when things couldn't get any worse, two NYPD detectives come to her office to inform her that they found her car... with a dead body in the trunk. Alison quickly becomes the number one suspect in this case despite her numerous vomiting and fainting spells whenever she comes in close contact with the police.

Alison is an English professor at St. Thomas, located in the Bronx. The college campus is small and lacks any drama. Suddenly the news media and police have invaded the campus and brings classes and activities to a stand still. The question everyone is thinking: who killed Kathy and why?

Alison begins her own investigation, not only to clear her name, but to find out why Kathy was killed. During the course of the investigation, Alison becomes extremely close with Detective Crawford. Not sure if she's ready for another relationship, she decides to take things slowly with him and soon discovers his feelings for her mirrors her own. As soon as she begins to let her guard down, she learns Crawford has been hiding a secret. A secret that could cause their relationship to be over before it even starts.

I really liked this book and read it in one day. The mystery was light, with a touch of romance. What I liked best was Alison's character. She considers herself to be "nothing special". Just someone who is trying to move on from a divorce, pick up the pieces and wants to remain hopeful for her future. She's not flashy or snobby or conceited. She has her moments when she's not perfect and doesn't always say the right things.

This is the first book in the series. The ending left somewhat of a cliff hanger. I can't wait to read book two, Extracurricular Activities to find out what happens next. (I think number three, Quick Study, will be released sometime in December.) 4.5/5

Scot on the Rocks

Question: Your ex-boyfriend calls you (the two of you are still friends) to tell you he's engaged and wants you to attend the wedding. Do you...

(a) Tell him how excited you are for him and say you will attend (you are genuinely happy for him).

(b) Hang up on him and have a tantrum screaming repeatedly: "how can he get engaged before me?"

(c) Tell him congrats, but unfortunately you have another thing to attend on that day.

(d) Say to him, "What a coincidence! I'm engaged too!"

Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller chooses (d) which sets into motion a hilarious chain of events that will lead her to where she really wants to be. The story begins with Brooke living with her boyfriend, Douglas, who is Scottish. Brooke thinks she has it all: a great NYC apartment, a loving and committed boyfriend, a great career at one of Manhattan's prestigious law firms, and two best friends, Jack and Vanessa. Just when things can't get any better, Douglas tells Brooke it's over and kicks her out of their (well, technically it's his) apartment. Soon, she discovers he has been cheating on her and plans to marry the other woman.

When things can't get any worse, Trip, Brooke's former boyfriend from law school, calls to tell her he's engaged. Without thinking, she tells him she's engaged too and quickly concocts a plan to win Douglas back. Unfortunately, Brooke can make her plans, but can't plan her results as Douglas doesn't want to have anything to do with her. Together with Jack and Vanessa, they formulate a plan so Brooke can attend Trip's wedding with her fiance, "Douglas". Through her scheming, Brooke really learns what she has been chasing after has always been right in front of her. (4/5)

Heart on My Sleeve

Chloe Gillespie meets Julian Casper while visiting Cartwright University. It was infatuation at first sight. Chloe lives in MA and Julian is in FL. They keep in touch through e-mails and letters over the course of their senior year of high school. Chloe is already dating Eli, whom she considers her best friend, not boyfriend. Julian's friend, Tyler, wants Julian to forget about Chloe and go out with Nina, who happens to be friends with the girl Tyler likes, Inga.

Meanwhile Chloe gets relationship advice from her sister, who has a secret of her own that she hasn't told anyone, while Julian is trying to handle the conflict between his mom and sister while trying to come up tuition money so he can attend Cartwright in the fall.

I really enjoyed this book. It's written in e-mails, IMs and letters. It took me back to my senior year and how excited I was to go away to college, but at the same time sad about leaving my friends. (3.5/5)

Love the One You're With

"But maybe that's what it all comes down to. Love, not as a surge of passion, but as a choice to commit to something, someone, no matter what obstacles or temptations stand in the way. And maybe making that choice, again and again, day in and day out, year after year, says more about love than never having a choice to make at all." (p. 331)

Ellen Graham is happy. She's newly married to Andy, a successful photographer and has the love and support of her family. She doesn't question her life or the choices she has made that led her to her current life. That is until, one brief moment, she sees Leo. Just like that her past becomes an unwelcoming invasion in the present.

Ellen quickly finds herself at a crossroad. The "what if" question quickly turns into an obsession as she finds herself constantly comparing her life with Andy to what she think life would be like with Leo. Despite the warnings her head tells her about starting a friendship with Leo, she accepts a photography assignment that he set up for her. Agreeing to the shoot, will force her to finally make a decision about her marriage and the woman she really is.

I really liked this book. I have to admit, I put off reading it because so many people told me how disappointed they were with it because it wasn't as good as Something Borrowed and Something Blue. I have to say, I disagree. The reason I liked Ms. Giffin's early novels was it seemed as though the characters were telling me their stories instead of me reading them. This is how I felt while reading this book. I pictured Ellen and I catching up, over a long lunch, after not seeing each other for awhile and she wanted to inform me about her life. Ms. Giffin is very descriptive in her writing, which I thought only added to the richness of this novel.

It is quite easy to judge Ellen and wonder why she makes the decisions she does. To her, it makes sense. She needed to confirm she made the right choice. She needed to move on. Love the One You're With is about walking down the path of "what if" when it unexpectedly comes your way, however, it's also about feeling secure that the decisions you made in the past were the best decisions for you. (4.5/5)

Spying in High Heels

Maddie Springer is a twenty-something woman trying to earn an honest living so she can support her shoe habit. She's currently dating Richard, a lawyer, and thinks their relationship is heading somewhere. That is until she learns that one of his clients has embezzled $20 million dollars and Richard may be his accomplice. She's not sure what to think as Richard goes missing and his client's wife is found dead in her pool.

Maddie decides to take matters in her own hands and starts an investigation of her own. She quickly learns that Richard isn't the man she thought he was as her digging uncovers his secrets. During her investigation, she meets cute Detective Ramirez and sparks fly. The only problem is, Detective Ramirez has a warrant for Richard's arrest. Can Maddie prove that Richard is innocent?

Good start to what I'm sure will be a great series. (4/5).

It Only Takes a Moment

Eliza Blake, host of the top-rated KEY News morning show, has witnessed tragedy and danger in her career. But nothing the accomplished professional has experienced has prepared her for when her seven-year-old daughter, Janie, is snatched from summer camp. The country's viewers are glued to their television sets, anxiously awaiting the news that their favorite morning-television personality's little girl has been found.

With each passing day, the FBI and local authorities track down every lead: A profile of the kidnapper's most likely characteristics is developed, every fan letter written to Eliza over the last six months is scrutinized, every sex offender registered within a fifty-mile radius is interviewed, and psychics from around the country appear on Eliza's doorstep offering their help.

But Eliza isn't going to sit around and wait for answers. She and the rest of the Sunrise Suspense Society—brilliant producer Annabelle Murphy, cameraman extraordinaire B.J. D'Elia, and psychiatrist Dr. Margo Gonzalez—will band together to outwit a cunning criminal whose shocking motives threaten to snuff out a terrified little girl's life. (Taken from Amazon)