Happy last day of the year!
Drop Shot by Harlan Coben -- This is the second book featuring sports agent and parttime sleuth Myron Bolitar. When a young tennis star is killed at a major US event, Harlan looks into why Valerie was targeted. He and his friend Win investigate. While these books are easy reading (fast to get through) and are amusing (especially when I read about cassette tapes, VCRs, and car phones not to mention Myron's adolescent humor), I don't love the series so far.
Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins -- Lark wants to work in the oncology department, but she gets moved to emergency medicine because she cries too much when her patients die. Meanwhile Dr. Santorini aka Dr. Satan, because he's really not a friendly sort, asks for a favor in order to keep his family happy, especially his beloved Noni. Pretty cute story.
The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke -- another book in the Under Suspicion series. This time Laurie and her coworkers head to California to interview the mother, friends and acquaintances in the murder of Susan several years ago. Susan was supposed to show up to an audition, but didn't and was later found dead in a canyon.
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley -- A British civil servant is promoted to be part of a secret task: being the "bridge" for someone who is here from the past. Yes, that's right: the British have somehow been able to transport a handful of individuals from the past to current times. This narrator's charge (they call them "expats") is Commander Graham Gore known as 1847 because this is when they think he died while part of Sir John Franklin's doomed expedition to the Arctic.
My Darling Boy by Helen Cooper -- Chrissy awaits the release of her son Leo after he served a two-year sentence for manslaughter. Chrissy's former best friend's son Robbie was killed. When Chrissy goes to pick up her son, he's told Leo left a few hours earlier and now he has seemingly disappeared.
The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor -- Amelia is an actor chosen to play the romance writer Gloria Diamond, an author her mother loved. Amelia has the opportunity to live with Gloria for a few days, hoping to learn more about the world-famous author, but finds Gloria aloof at best. This book is told in a couple timelines of Gloria as a young woman (known back then as Mare short for Mary), and present time. Interesting story.
The Falling Woman by Richard Farrell -- This book was OK. I kept reading it because I was wanting to know if the NTSB officer investigating a plane crash over Kansas was able to convince Erin, the woman who allegedly survived the crash, to come forward and admit she survived.
Christmas With the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb -- Cute story featuring Olive the single mum, news reporter with the BBC circa 1950s and Jack, the Louisiana born chef who gets a job working in the royal kitchens not long after Queen Elizabeth replaces her father.
The Janes by Lousia Luna -- This book stars Alice Vega and her sidekick Cap from a previous book which I must have liked since I put this book on my list to read. And I did like certain aspects of this story, but it was so hard to get through. I think it's because I was falling asleep while reading it at night, and couldn't follow the story as well as a more-awake me would have done. After Vega and Cap are hired to help the police, they locate the missing girls and are suddenly on the run from these same officers.
Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood -- A good way to learn more about the Wright brothers as well as their sister Katharine and their father. I learned quite a bit from this novel!
Jackie by Dawn Clifton Tripp -- An interesting look at Jackie Kennedy's life just before she married JFK and beyond.
I Will Find You by Harlan Coben -- A stand-alone novel which so far I prefer from this author...no offense to Myron Bolitar as he's a pretty cool dude. David is in prison for killing his son. He doesn't remember doing this, but the jury found him guilty and he is serving his time. When his former sister in law visits him in prison with a picture that seems to show his son alive and at an amusement park, David wants to find out if that is Matthew. But he's in prison so that's going to be tricky.
Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde -- When his social studies teacher offers extra credit to any student who comes up with a plan to make the world a better place - and to put that plan into action, Trevor decides to pay it forward by helping someone down on his luck as well as setting up his mom with his social studies teacher. He also helps a lady on his paper route. He's not sure he's much of a success at implementing his plan, though.
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins -- I wasn't sure if I'd finish this one before the end of the year, but I had more time to read today and I did finish! This story is about Grace who lived on an island where her artist friend Vanessa painted and sculpted. Beck is wanting to collect the art pieces Vanessa left to the museum, but Grace isn't keen on giving up her friend's work. An OK book.
