Incidental Daughter [Paperback]

I've finished "Incidental Daughter" by Val Stasik.

Product Description

Readers who would enjoy a family drama interwoven with romance, suspense, and a touch of the paranormal will find it hard to put down Val Stasik’s break-out novel, Incidental Daughter. When successful publisher Liz Michaels’ marriage to blue blood, Addison Tiffin Payne, fails after the loss of their baby and his growing alcoholism, she pours all her creative energy and passion into her work and finds comfort in her friendships and the appearances of the spirits of her Polish mother and grandmother, who never speak except in dreams she cannot remember. Only her feelings from those dreams linger. When her ex-husband plans to stage her suicide by pushing her off the balcony of her high-rise home, he topples to his death instead. When the police arrive, the potential victim becomes the prime murder suspect. She meets Pittsburgh Police Detective Jim Shannon, who may threaten her freedom or possibly gain her love. Her swirling feelings are complicated by the simultaneous appearance of a talented, familiar-looking intern at her workplace. Internal conflict is soon compounded by external threats created by her ex-husband and his mother as well as someone seeking revenge on Shannon and his partner. Wll Liz be destroyed by this vortex, or will she use the crisis to open the door to a second chance at love and family?

Product Details
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Armery & Hallquist Publishing (January 12, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0988584700
ISBN-13: 978-0988584709

My Review:

Liz Michaels is a successful publisher whose marriage to blue blood Addison Tiffin Payne falters after the loss their baby and his alcoholism.  She's haunted by the rejection of her father and his family and now her crumbling marriage.

This book had believable characters, an intriguing murder mystery, twists and turns and a sense of place.

3/5

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 20)

What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com

Post the books you read last week, book currently being read and books you plan on finishing this week.

Last week I read:

1.  Taking Eve - Iris Johansen
2.  Let the Dead Sleep - Heather Graham

I’m currently reading:

1.  Incidental Daughter - Val Stasik
2.  Sweet Tea Revenge - Laura Childs

Here's the link:

http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-189 

Library Haul 2013 (May 19 - 25)

Here's the list of books I picked up from the library this week:

Hardcover:

1.  Calculated in Death
2.  Against the Odds - Kat Martin

Let the Dead Sleep (Cafferty and Quinn) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Let the Dead Sleep" the 1st book in her Cafferty and Quinn series by Heather Graham.

Product Description

An object of desire? Or of fear?

It was stolen from a New Orleans grave — the centuries - old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It's an object desired by collectors — and by those with wickedness in their hearts.

One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty's antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead and Danni discovers that she's inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She'd dismissed it as a curiosity until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death.

Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn't a job — it's a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.

Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won't end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels. She's a winner of the RWA's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers' Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. For more information, check out her websites: TheOriginalHeatherGraham.com, eHeatherGraham.com, and HeatherGraham.tv. You can also find Heather on Facebook.

Product Details
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (March 26, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780778315056
ISBN-13: 978-0778315056

My Review:

Danni Cafferty inherits her dad's antique shop on Royal Street when he suddenly dies.  An old bust of an evil man was stolen from a New Orleans grave.  It is highly sought out by collectors and by man with evil in their hearts.

One day it's current owner comes into Danni's shop demanding she take the evil statue away.  Before Danni can see the statue the owner is killed, it is stolen and Danni finds out she has inherited more than she knows.  In the shop is a book filled with secret writings:  the instructions to defeat evil.

Michael Quinn is a former cop now a private investigator who believes doing the right thing is the way of life.  He has an unusual past and he believes the right thing is to find the statue and destroy it with it's evil power.

This was a very fast paced book full of suspense and mystery.  There were some interesting secondary characters like a Catholic priest, Voodoo priestess and Wolf Michael's perceptive dog.

3.5/5

In the Mail Saturday 2013 (May 18)

In the Mail Saturday is hosted every Saturday at Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received these in the mail this week.

For Review: 

Silken Prey [Hardcover]

Product Description

Murder, scandal, political espionage, and an extremely dangerous woman. Lucas Davenport’s going to be lucky to get out of this one alive.

Very early one morning, a Minnesota political fixer answers his doorbell. The next thing he knows, he’s waking up on the floor of a moving car, lying on a plastic sheet, his body wet with blood. When the car stops, a voice says, “Hey, I think he’s breathing,” and another voice says, “Yeah? Give me the bat.” And that’s the last thing he knows.

Davenport is investigating another case when the trail leads to the man’s disappearance, then — very troublingly — to the Minneapolis police department, then — most troublingly of all — to a woman who could give Machiavelli lessons. She has very definite ideas about the way the world should work, and the money, ruthlessness, and sheer will to make it happen.

No matter who gets in the way.

The Officer and the Secret (Semper Fidelis. Always Faithful.) [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Description

If There's One Thing He Hates, It's a Secret

Coming home after a rough deployment, Captain Dwayne Robertson wants some stability in his life, and finds it in the friendship he's forged with Veronica Gibson while he was away. But her past is a well-guarded mystery, and Dwayne doesn't know if he can deal with a woman who has something to hide.

And She's Filled with Them

Veronica Gibson doesn't want anyone to know about her bizarre upbringing. She's finally escaped her missionary parents and would be enjoying her independence if she didn't feel so insecure about fitting in. She can easily envision a glorious future with Dwayne — but can she build a new life on a web of lies?

Taking Eve: An Eve Duncan Novel [Hardcover]

I've finished "Taking Eve" the 15th book in her Eve Duncan series by Iris Johansen.

Product Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen is back with the first book in a chilling new Eve Duncan trilogy that asks the question: will Eve survive what lies ahead?

Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan’s mission is to bring closure to the families whose loved ones have vanished. She knows their anguish — her own beloved daughter, Bonnie, was taken from her when Bonnie was just seven years old. It is only recently that this mystery was resolved and Eve could begin her journey to peace. Now, Jim Doane wants the same kind of answers that Eve always longed for. His twenty-five-year old son may or may not be dead and he has only burned skull fragments as possible evidence. But he cannot go to the police for answers without risking his own secrets and dark past, so instead he chooses a bold step to find the truth — a truth that takes Eve down a twisted path of madness and evil and into the darkest heart of her own history. Doane needs Eve Duncan’s skills and he’ll do anything to get them.

Even if it means taking Eve.

About the Author

IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of What Doesn't Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing The Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder (with Roy Johansen), Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora's Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On The Run, Countdown, Firestorm, Fatal Tide, Dead Aim, No One To Trust and more.

Product Details
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (April 16, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250019982
ISBN-13: 978-1250019981

My Review:

Detective Joe Quinn has to appear at an important trial so he asks Jane MacGuire Eve's adopted daughter to come stay with her.  As Jane is on her way to visit Eve she gives her a call to let her know that her dog Toby is critically ill.  Jane decides to drop him off at an experimental facility to see if they can figure out what is making Toby ill.  Before she arrives at the facility she finds out the person she thought would be there isn't and she has figure out if she wants to entrust Toby's care to Margaret (a new character that is introduced) a Dog Whisper/Animal Whisper ( a person who can talk and understand how dogs are feeling by communicating with them).  She learns from Toby that he was poisoned by the scruff of his neck by a man who petted him at a Doggie daycare.  As she is waiting for Eve to arrive she is stopped by an sharpshooter and with the help of Caleb she is on a mission to find out who kidnapped Eve and who poisoned Toby.

We learn from Venables who has kidnapped Eve - one Jim Doanes who wants her to reconstruct his son's Kevin's skull.  Kevin was a sadistic child killer who really enjoyed killing little girls with the help of his father who lured them in.  Jim looks like a nice guy but hides a sick personality under his friendly facade.

Jane has her own romantic problems to deal with two men vying for her affections when one of her suitors returns Mark Trevor (one of my favorite characters) to help her find Eve and Caleb the enigmatic and mysterious man who can kill someone by using their blood.

This book was a page turner with non-stop action with a cliff-hanger ending to set up the premise of the next book.  We learn who Eve's father might be or might not be!

4.5/5

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (May 13)

What Are You Reading is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Sheila from One Persons Journey: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com

Post the books you read last week, book currently being read and books you plan on finishing this week.

Last week I read:

1.  12th of Never - James Patterson
2.  Surrender - Stephanie Tyler

I’m currently reading:

1.  Taking Eve - Iris Johansen
2.  Let the Dead Sleep - Heather Graham

Here's the link:

http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-188 

Library Haul 2013 (May 12 - 18)

Here's the list of books I picked up from the library this week:

Hardcover:

1.  Let the Dead Sleep - Heather Graham
2.  Sweet Tea Revenge - Laura Childs