Gauntlgrym

Gauntlgrym by R.A. Salvatore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 1 in the Neverwinter Series

Kinda sad as many of my favorite characters are now dead.King Bruenor Battlehammer of Mithral Hall fakes his own death in order to leave his throne and go look for Gauntlgrym, Drizzt of course goes with him as does Thibbledorf Pwent.

When they reach Icewind Dale Pwent realizes he is to old to continue on the adventure and chooses to stay behind, while Bruenor continues the search for Gauntlgrym.

Meanwhile Dahlia tricks Athrogate and Jarlaxle into accompanying her to Gauntlgrym and releasing the beast. At the last moment Dahlia regrets the lives that will be lost if the beast is released and tries to stop the plot but Sylora Salm overpowers Dahlia & Jarlaxle and gains control of Athrogate's mind tricking him into pulling the lever and releasing the beast. Jarlaxle promises Athrogate that they will somehow set things right.

Jarlaxle learns how to trap the beast and enlist Drizzt and Bruenor's help. Dahlia, Jarlaxle, Athrogate, Bruenor and Drizzt go to Gauntlgrym and overcome all the forces set against them, in order to cage the beast. But one of them will sacrifice his life to see the mission accomplished.

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The Plague

The Plague by Albert Camus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very well written I loved the language but had trouble getting into the book. Also very depressing.

Oran an Algerian port is isolated due to an outbreak of the bubonic plague. Many lovers and families are separated when the gates to the city are shut, during the course of the book loved ones are ripped away from their families and taken to isolation wards when they show plague symptoms and burials have become hurried affairs with few witnesses. But the courage of those who choose to fight the plague and care for their fellow man shines through.

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White Fire

White Fire by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love It!!!!!!! As an added bonus you get a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Corrie hears about miners eaten by a bear over a hundred years ago and decides to do her thesis on the tale. When she arrives in Roaring Fork she meets fierce resists to her plan to examine the remains of the miners. The miners were already exhumed in order to move the old cemetery out of the way of the proposed new club house. As usual Corrie doesn't let a little thing like lack of permission stop her and winds up in jail facing 30 years when Pendergast shows up and saves the day.

With permission granted from Stacy Bowdree (one of the miners descendants) Corrie starts to work and soon discovers the men were eaten by humans. Meanwhile the Sheriff has enlisted Pendergast's aid in uncovering the identity of the arsonist that is terrorizing Roaring Fork.

Believing the fate of the miners to be linked to the current day arson and the attempts on Corrie's life Pendergast looks to Sherlock Holmes for answers.

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Pukka's Promise: The Quest for Longer Lived Dogs

Pukka's Promise: The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs by Ted Kerasote
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kerasote's love for Pukka and Merle shine through. He offers some thought provoking information. I have to admit that I was disappointed he choose to go to a breeder for Pukka rather then adopt from a shelter. According to Nathan Winograd "17 million people are looking for new animals each year If just 20% adopted from shelters we could zero out the killing". Poverty determines how many healthy pets are KILLED. The United States ranks 27th out of 31 developed nations when it comes to overall poverty. Europe does a much better job of insuring a decent standard of living for it's citizens and thus KILLS for fewer healthy pets.

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One can only pray..............

One can only pray that Gina Miller's God will give her a brain for Christmas. In order for a President to actually be impeached he has to do something that is illegal (Impeach Obama to save America

--think 2014) and contrary to Miller's rant President Obama hasn't.

And Miller here is an idea people might not consider you a racist bigot if you didn't stoop to name calling.

Thankless in Death

Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Perfect Thanksgiving read. As Eve and Roarke are preparing to host their Irish Family and a few friends for Thanksgiving Jerry Reinhold kills his parents. What started out as an impulse to stop his Mother's nagging has turned into a vocation for Jerry. With a hit list comprised of anyone who ever crossed him in the past he sets out on killing spree. And thanks to his victims money he now has more money then he knows what to do with. But one of his victims found a way to fight back even after her death. Burying a code deep in the false ID Jerry forced her to provide for him she speaks to Eve and Roarke from the grave.

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The Thirteenth Tale

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Who is famous author Vida Winter, really? Just when you think you know the tale takes an unexpected twist. Vida Winter's life has been lived in the shadows but before she dies the "ghost child" will tell the truth about her life and family.

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Bad Luck & Trouble

Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am appalled that the poor German Shepherd died of thirst, because his owner was killed and didn't make it home. Still having nightmares about that.

When Reacher goes by the ATM to get some cash he discovers 1,030.00 has been added to his account and realizes it is a call for help. Once he tracks down Neagley he learns that a member of their special unit was murdered. After trying to contact other members of the unit they realize that 3 more of the team members are also missing. After meeting up with the remaining 2 team members they set out to find out who messed with the special unit.

Slowly they piece together what happened and uncover a terrorist plot. But when O'Donnell and Dixon are captured Reacher will have to risk everything to save them.

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Utopia

Utopia by Lincoln Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For some reason I had trouble getting into this book. Andrew Warne arrives at the amusement park on what he thinks is an offer to add to his Metanet creation, only to learn that because of "problems" they want to take the Metanet off line. He has brought his daughter Georgia with him.

The mysterious "problems" aren't a result of computer failure though a sinister plot is afoot to steal money from the park. Soon John Doe arrives with his demands for a CD of the "Crucible" (ground breaking hologram technology) and threats of mishaps at the park if his instructions aren't followed. Georgia is injured when Waterdark is sabotaged. Poole a tourist at the park who helps save many of the victims of Waterdark is hired to keep Warne safe. Soon he and Warne come to the conclusion that the CD isn't the objective but the armored car that will arrive shortly to take the money away. Slowly they realize that the head of tech security (Barksdale) is behind the plot, as he is dying he reveals what he knows of the plot. Leaving Terri to guard Georgia, Warne leaves to stop the armored car and Poole goes to disarm the bomb at the top of the Dome that has been planted to provide a distraction for the thieves escape.

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When Venus Fell

When Venus Fell by Deborah Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Venus and her younger sister Ella have spent ten years on the run after their Father was arrested for treason. Government agents seized their home, belongs and harassed the teenage girls, one low life almost raped Venus (Nellie). So when former government agent Gib Cameron shows up claiming to have money left for the girls by their Father Venus is understandably suspicious, but agrees to visit Cameron Hall, in the mountains of Tennessee.

The delicate Ella is charmed by the Cameron Family and falls under the spell of the mountains. All to fast for Venus' liking Ella falls for the smooth talking Carter. Meanwhile Venus fights her attraction to Gib. When Ella and Carter marry Venus fears disaster and her fears seem to be well founded when a secret from Ella's past threaten to destroy the new marriage.

Ella's delicate mental state leaves Venus torn between staying with the man she loves and fleeing with Ella. When a fire breaks out in the family chapel Venus prepares to flee before Ella can be blamed. Trying desperately to put out the fire Venus' hands are severely burned but she manages to save the organ and most of the chapel, she also pulls Gib's Aunt Olivia from the blaze.

Olivia's own secrets are finally revealed as Olivia finds her voice and the courage to stand up to Emory, who attempted to blackmail her out of her home.

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Cold Blooded

Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OK, I have read this one out of order so I kinda knew some of the stuff that was going to happen. It was nice to read about how Bentz and Olivia got together.

Olivia has "visions" of women being ruthless murdered. She goes to the cops and a very skeptical Bentz slowly starts to believe her. Olivia also seeks advice from a priest, Father James, unaware that he is Bentz's half brother and their very troubled history. She is sexually attracted to both men and they to her, but her heart belongs to Bentz, even though he is determined NOT to get involved with her.

Olivia begins to unravel the dark secrets in her family and discovers that she has an older brother she never knew about. Bentz believes the older brother is the killer but they have no clue as to his identity. When Olivia sees him abduct Bentz's daughter, Kristie, Bentz comes unglued. Determined to find his daughter before it is to late he shuts Olivia out. When Olivia receives a frantic phone call from her friend Sarah who is in the middle of a messy divorce she doesn't hesitate to meet her at St. Luke's. Realizing to late that Sarah is under the control of the killer Olivia is abducted, but Father James sees the abduction. Father James trails the killer and calls 911 begging the dispatcher to tell Rick Bentz what he saw and that he is following the killer who has Olivia, when his cell phone goes dead (why don't these people ever keep their phones charged?). Thankfully a suspicious and jealous Bentz had bugged Father James' car and phone so he is able to follow him to the abandoned farmhouse. Father James redeems his past mistakes by protecting Olivia and Kristie, thus earning Bentz' forgiveness.

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