Judy's Rave Reviews

The Twilight Series:  Santa got Isabella Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse, but was too cheap to buy Breaking Dawn since it was only in Hardcover still; but since Iowa, the puppy, chewed up Eclipse when I was halfway through it, I can buy Braking Dawn when I buy the new copy of Eclipse for Bell.  Thank goodness for my local library, because I was enjoying this series so much that when I was halfway through Eclipse (the third book) I requested Breaking Dawn.  This really is a great group of books with some very "cool" (once you read the books you'll get why this is funny!) characters.  I started them with the thinking that I wanted to check them out before my preteen read them.  I was a little nervous not because of the vampire and werewolf thing, because with two older brothers and a dad that all love sci-fi, she is exposed to plenty of that.  But, to be honest, I was a little more worried about the whole relationship thing, and these books handled it beautifully.  The books are always filled with such action (none of which is too scary, but on the edge of your seat thrilling) that there is no time for the wrong kind of action, if you know what I mean.  I would recommend these books to all levels of readers, but am a little glad that my ten year old has decided that they are a little hard for her and she will wait to read them for next year's reading goal!

James Patterson:  I started with The Quickie, when my sister Kelly suggested it we both giggled over the name of it and she warned me that the cover was just as bad.  When I picked it up I had to chuckle to myself, she was right; this was one that I read at home and didn't take with me to the dentist's office, didn't want anyone to think I was some kind of weirdo!!!  But, a very good book,  I believe I read that one overnight.  It is a story about a woman cop who has an affair and thinks that her affair has had trickle down affects that are beyond belief, but really what is beyond belief is what brought about the affair in the first place! 
I then moved onto Beach House, again a real page turner.  A story of the poor vs. the rich and the poor being taken out in the process!  I am not into gruesome murder stories and James Patterson does not get into gruesome but does paint the picture for the reader and then just moves right on.  The characters are ones that I really connect with and the places he takes you in this book and the others are fun places to escape to.  I don't want to give too much away, but it's always fun to see the good guy win!
Last night, while watching the Super Bowl I couldn't put down Double Cross until I was done, and it sounds like it is a series so I will be back at the library today.  I have to say, I think this was my favorite out of all of the Patterson novels, but this could just be because it is freshest in my mind.  The main character Alex cross is a detective turned therapist turned detective again because one of the bad guys that he put away broke out of a jail right here in Colorado and came back after him.  Maybe it's the Colorado connection, or the fact that my brother in law works at the prison next door to the one they mention so frequently in the book, or maybe it's just a darn good book..., but I loved it!  Alex happens to be daring the Lead Investigator on another developing case and I of course love a strong leading lady too so this book was a shoe in for me.  Can't wait to read more, I'll let you know more as I read them.  Obviously I am a new Patterson fan and I know he has been around a long time, anyone else have something to say on this subject?

Cloud Nine by Luanne Rice:  This really is a great book, very emotional.  Which is why I have to say that out of all of the books on this list it was my least favorite.  But in all fairness, that is entirely because of the frame of mind of the reader.  This is a very powerful novel.  I will say that again.  This is a very powerful novel and should be read; it talks about all kinds of relationships and how they are between children and parents at different stages in their lives and how different decisions affect different people.  Relationships with lovers and friends and even people you hardly know, and how you may affect their lives.  It is sometimes a hard book to read and sometimes a hard book to put down, but always a book that no matter what, you know you must read to the very end.  I do highly suggest you read it, but do so when you are in your happy place.  I'm just sayin'.