Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon (Goodreads Author)

Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The book was good and I did enjoy it but I found it annoying how it kept switching between the past and present.

When Rhonda witnesses the kidnapping of a young girl, she starts thinking about her childhood and how Lizzie (her best friend) disappeared supposedly taken by her Father who disappeared a few years before Lizzie.

Slowly Rhonda is manipulated into believing the kidnapper is Peter (Lizzie's brother and Rhonda's secret crush) as the story unfolds tangled family relationships are revealed, bodies are uncovered and the identity of the real Peter Rabbit is brought to light.

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Dark Tide Rising by Anne Perry

Dark Tide Rising by Anne Perry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When Exeter ask for Monk's help after his wife is kidnapped Monk is happy to give it remembering the fear he felt when Hester was kidnapped, but when the ransom delivery goes awry Monk is left to wonder which of his men betrayed them.


Loath to believe that it was Hooper Monk digs into his past and learns of an accused mutiny that could have Hooper hanging if Monk can't find the evidence to clear him. And when Exeter uses Hooper's past to blackmail Celia Darwin (a young woman Hooper is romantically interested in and Kate Exeter's best friend) into giving him an alibi. It's only Hooper's willingness to sacrifice himself that allows justice to be served and Exeter convicted of killing his wife, as well as his accomplice Lister and the Bookkeeper (Bella Franken) that discovered Exeter's need for his wife's money.

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Knick Knacks

 Really love how well the Tempered Gray table looks against the Flood Time and with the Urban Sunrise trim.

 It's perfect for my knick knacks.

 Love how well the vase looks here.

 My Cat salt and pepper shakers.

 The Butterfly salt and pepper shakers

And the Butterfly Watering Cans salt & pepper shakers.

Past Tense (Jack Reacher, #23)

Past Tense by Lee Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reacher is headed to San Diego but decides to stop in Laconia, New Hampshire to visit his Father's birthplace. First he learns that Stan didn't actually live in Laconia but in a small mill town (Ryantown) outside the city limits and that Stan was the boy who ran away from a fight with the town bully. His cousin (together they were known as the bird watching boys) was the one who beat him up. No one seems to know his name or where he came from.

Then he learns the bird watching boys (Stan and William Reacher) wrote a paper for their bird watching club and he decides to take a gander at it when he discovers it's available at the town library. The professor who told him about the paper also insist Stan's alive and that he returned to town around 30 years ago (about the time Reacher's Father died). Deciding to stay and track down Stan Reacher, Reacher has his friend Burke drop him off at the hotel out of town, where he soon realizes somethings wrong. He tells Burke to go home and not to come back and heads off to investigate and finds that six men are hunting a young couple with bows and arrows. After rescuing the couple (who did a good bit to help themselves) he heads to town to meet Stan and discovers that Bill borrowed his birth certificate to join the Marines.

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Verses for the Dead (Pendergast #18)

Verses for the Dead by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"He remained pressed against the trunk, a shooter on the far side and alligators all around."

Have to say I love Armstrong Coldmoon, Pendergast's partner in this book I hope to see more of him either in future Pendergast novels or in a spinoff of his own.

The ambitious Pickett hopes to get rid of Pendergast so he saddles him with a partner, who he task with spying on Pendergast but Coldmoon is more loyal to his partner than Pickett had hoped. Tasked with discovering who is cutting the hearts out of women and leaving them on the graves of women who committed suicide the duo head off to Florida

Pendergast soon goes off on what Pickett sees as a waste of time when he starts investigating the deaths of the suicides, and when Pendergast has the body of one of the suicides exhumed against orders and against the family's wishes Pickett seizes the opportunity to get rid of the rouge agent. Until Pendergast is proved right about the suicide actually being a murder.

When Mr Brokenhearts starts communicating with Smithback (alas not our Bill but his brother) Pendergast goes on TV in order to address Mr Brokenhearts directly. A ploy that will pay off big time in the end.

When Commander Grove (the police liaison with the FBI) gives Pendergast and Coldmoon a folder with doctored info on John Vance. Pendergast and Coldmoon set off to the Florida Everglades to interview him too late they realize they walked into an ambush. The agents fall into a sinkhole and before they can get out Coldmoon is shot, forced to leave his partner behind Pendergast comes up with a daring plan to lure the shooter into the open but pressed against the trunk of a cypress tree, a shooter on the far side, alligators all around and out of ammo Pendergast seems to be out of options. Then Grove comes up and Pendergast gets him to confess to killing Lydia Vance the murder that started it all. Luckily for Pendergast Mr. Brokenhearts chooses that moment to emerge from the shadows to take his revenge on the man who murdered his Mother and started him and his Father on their murderous journey.

With Mr. Brokenhearts help Pendergast saves Coldmoon and takes Mr. Brokenhearts into custody.

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Dining Room Treasures

 Another picture of the Table painted Tempered Gray.

This tea set was given to me by my Grandmother so it's very special to me. It's the Moss Rose pattern. Alas you can't use it as it contains lead.

 The tea set on the bottom was made by my husbands Grandparents.

And on the top of the curio cabinet we have the flower arrangement I redid.

The Table

I got the table painted Tempered Gray, this is the same color I am using in the entryway and it's technically a cool white, it's somewhere between a buff and a gray and it works well with almost any color.

Entry way and table

 The table wasn't just a simple job of painting first I had to replace a few knobs, Bo just happened to have some handy, then it needed priming but I did get it painted.

 I replaced the light in the entryway. The old one hung down and knocked tall people in the head. I wanted something elegant but that went with the house. This simple design fit the bill. The Crystal bowl gives it a touch of elegance but it's simple design allows it to work with the house.

 I ordered it on Amazon.

Love how it looks when it's on.

An Echo of Murder (William Monk #23)

An Echo of Murder by Anne Perry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of her best, Hester reunites with her brother Charles I foresee him playing a more active role in future books, along with his ward, Candace.

When Crow needs help talking to a Hungarian patient he sends Will (formerly known as Scruff) to fetch someone and he comes back with Dr. Fitzherbert (Fitz) who not only translates for them but stays to help with several patients. He knew Hester in the Crimea and is pleased to meet Scruff and renew his acquaintance with Hester who feels tremendous guilt because she left him for dead on the battlefield.

Meanwhile Monk is investigating several grisly murders in the Hungarian community. Limited by his inability to read or speak the language he has to rely on Dobokai (who found the first victim) to translate. But for some reason Dobokai makes Monk uneasy but since he has an alibi for the first murder Monk puts his suspicions aside. But then a mob of angry Hungarians corner Fitzherbert who is covered in blood and Monk has to arrest him in order to protect him. Determined to prove his innocence Monk goes back over the evidence and discovers that Roger Haldane killed the first man after learning that Fodor slept with is wife and Fathered the son she bore. But that still leaves three of the murders unsolved.

Rathbone is giving his usual brilliant defense but it is Charles and Candace's suggestion that some news triggered the other 3 murders that has them scouring Hungarian newspapers and uncovering the scandal revolving around a mathematics teacher and the sexual favors he demanded of certain students in exchange for giving them high marks. Once they have a motive it's easy for Monk to guess that it was Dobokai that killed the other 3 men and used his photographic memory to recreate the first murder scene that he discovered. When Rathbone questions him on the witness stand Dobokai takes his own life rather then face the disgrace and charges his murderous rampage would bring him.

Charles offers to give Fitz a home until he recuperates.

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Timeless (The Legend of Drizzt #31)

Timeless by R.A. Salvatore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yvonnel has brought Zaknafein back from the dead (with the help of Lolth) and Drizzt and Jarlaxle are both disconcerted to realize their hero isn't perfect and is a tad upset that HIS SON has married a human and is expecting a half-breed child. Really think they should cut Zaknafein some slack as he has been dead for centuries and spent his entire life in Menzoberranzan and while he disapproves of his son's relationship with Catti-brie he is polite and is making an effort.

A good portion of this book is spent in the past and revolves around Zaknafein's becoming weapon master of House Do'Urden after his own house is wiped out, his growing friendship with Jarlaxle, how Jarlaxle admires him for protecting The Halflings and taking them to the surface to set them free. Zaknafein's disappointment when he thought Drizzt had killed the elf child. And Zaknafein's willingly sacrificing himself to save Drizzt not once but twice. So both seem totally thrown that Zaknafein thinks Drows are a superior race. Jarlaxle has an easier time coming to terms with Zaknafein's flaws then Drizzt does and Jarlaxle comes to realize that Zaknafein reminds him a lot of his human friend Artemis Entreri.

Meanwhile things on the surface aren't going well Clan Stoneshaft (dwarfs) shows up and purchases the ruins of Thornhold for an exorbitant sum from Lord Dagult Neverember (who hates Bruenor and his companions). In an effort to find out more Jarlaxle sends Amber Gristle O'Maul and Athrogate to spy on them. But the Stoneshaft dwarfs are downright unfriendly and catching Amber and Athrogate off guard take them prisoner. Turns out some of the dwarfs have been possessed by demons. The two are separated and Athrogate is tormented when the head of his beloved Amber Gristle O'Maul is thrown into his cell. (I have a slim hope that it wasn't really Amber's head and that she is still being held prisoner)

Jarlaxle realizes too late that the gems the dwarfs have are really phylacteries and rushes to find out what happened to Athrogate and Amber with Zaknefein by his side. While they are still doing surveillance Drizzt shows up and rushes into the Thornhold stronghold to rescue Athrogate and Amber. Outnumbered Drizzt looks to be dying but Zaknefein refuses to watch his son die and he and a "reluctant" Jarlaxle join the fight. Drizzt releases Athrogate who goes on a rampage to avenge Amber but Jarlaxle, Drizzt, and Zaknefein are forced to leave without him when a chasme demon carries him off. Drizzt managed to shoot the chasme demon out of the sky which resulted in the demon and Athrogate falling to the rocks along the waters edge. Due to the heavy pursuit and their grievous injuries they were unable to retrieve Athrogate's body (due to his injuries and the fall they believe he is dead). The trio barely make it home alive.

Unbeknownst to Drizzt Yvonnel also came to Thornhold and she has managed to save Athrogate, with Lolth's help. Yvonnel is a bit perplexed why Lolth keeps helping her.

Brevindon Margaster is headed for the Sword Coast with a pirate flotilla.

Ash'ala and Kimmuriel are taken prisoner by Matron Zhindia.

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The People V Alex Cross

Alex is on trial for murder and things look bleak when a phone surfaces with a video recording of the shooting. Forensics prove the video on the phone hasn't been tampered with and the video shows the victims were unarmed. But Ali believes his Father really did see a gun and solves the mystery when he realizes the sticky substance on the victims hands was used to create a holographic gun. Thanks to Ali's testimony Alex is found not guilty.

Alex and Sampson work with the FBI to find the missing blonds who have been kidnapped in order for a rich computer coder to make snuff films.

Not reading anymore books by James Patterson due to his teaming up with Bill Clinton.

Trim

Before we got the trim up

 The trim just made the pass through.

I love how they look from both sides. Now to get everything put back up. And the family room transformed. I can't wait for you to see all the changes we made to it.