What I read in April 2012

The Pact by Jodi Picoult (April 27)

The Best of Times by Penny Vincenzi (April 19, NOOK)

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich (read April 8)

My Reading Life* by Pat Conroy (read April 8, NOOK)

The Night Circus* by Erin Morgenstern (April 6)

Home Front by Kristen Hannah (April 4)

Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson (April 1)

* I'll be reviewing these 2 books in upcoming posts!!!

Book 26 (2011): Tick Tock

Tick Tock is the latest in the Micheal Bennett series, by James Patterson.

It's a super quick read and follows Irish- American detective Bennett, a NYC Cop and widowered father of 10 children, on his latest case: hunting a serial killer who likes to copy other famous serial killers. And in his personal life, the doting dad is juggling his new found feelings for the live in nanny Mary Catherine and those for an FBI agent, Emily. And, of course, his 10 kids and his Irish Catholic Priest grandfather is there in the middle of it all.

A quick beach read, and one of the better Patterson books of late. (448 pages)

B-

Book 15 (2011) Cross Fire

Alex Cross is back. And so is Kyle Craig. And I really wish neither one were back.

I started reading this series a few years ago and read about 10 of them in one summer vacation. I thought Cross was written as a smart, intellectual, guy, family first, and just with a nice twist of 'something' special in him. He seemed like a smart character.

Maybe Patterson doesn't like him anymore because he seems so cliched and tired. He seems whiny and not as smart of quick.

And I hate bringing back these former foes of his. Can't we have a new enemy?

Cross goes about Craig who threatens his family. His buddy Sampson plays second fiddle and guards the family. Nana gets mad. The kids are "smart". Alex gets married. He gets threatened. Blah Blah Blah...............

Nuff said. (356 pages)

D+

Book 14 (2011): Against Medical Advice

This is the story of Cory, a boy diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive disorder when he was five years old.

And no matter what medical specialist after medical specialist did, no matter the drugs nor the tests, he just kept getting worse. Nothing made him better.

Cory's dad teamed with James Patterson to tell the tale of this family's struggle as they try and save their son.

I like that it's a non- fiction story written like fiction. It keeps pace with Patterson's traditional quick writing style, simple and easy reading. It's told in four parts.

I was frustraed with the ending. It felt like an entirely different voice, like a third person stepped in the write the final section. it felt lack luster and limp.

The story is tragic and sad and harrowing. My grade is not for the story or the person or the family who suffered but it's all about the presentation, the voice, the tone, the writing style... (288 pages)

C-

Book 75- Fang

Fang is the most recent in the Maximum Ride series, about the bird kids who are supposed to save the world.

In this literary outing, Max, the leader of the bird kids, is falling in love with Fang, and he with her. Their relationship as a couple is growing but some of the other kids in the flock thinks it's hurting the safety of the group. The kids all vote that Max should leave the flock and let Angel take over.

Max does leave and Fang goes with her, but not before Angel has a premonition that Fang is going to be the first bid kid to die. A parallel plot is that someone is still trying to kill the kids and are stalking them. Suddenly a new bird kid shows up and joins the flock because he has nowhere else to go. BUT, he seems to be "perfect" for Max.

The saga of the bid kids continues. I like the extra stuff at the end: Fang's Q and A with readers as well as experts from "his" blog. Cool series that will keep young adults reading.

Book 69- The Murder of King Tut

The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson is a non-fiction book that reads like a novel. Patterson's storytelling style spilled into this story and made it interesting to read.

I was never really was one who was enthralled with Egyptians and Tut, but this was an interesting story- was he murdered or not? Patterson does a great job of jumping from her personal thoughts and research to that of the time of Tut, to the early 1900s when Tut's tomb was finally uncovered.

Not a bad way to introduce some non-fiction into my life and learn about something I never knew.

And props to Patterson for keeping with his traditions in writing: large font, little words, the book was broken into sections, and mini- cliff hangers at the end of each short chapter. This made learning fun!

Book 64- The Postcard Killers

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson is another typical thriller, beach read style of novels cranked out by Patterson and company.

In this one, young couples all over Europe are being murdered and local journalists are sent postcards as clues. The police and Interpol work with each country and the journalists to try and capture the killers. Then a murder happens in Sweden and newspaper reporter Desiree is sent a postcard. Her former lover is a cop so they hatch a plan to run an article offering the killers money in exchange for an interview. It backfires.

In the midst of all of this is Jacob, an American NYPD cop who is tracking the killers all over Europe because his daughter and her husband were of the first victims killed on this spree. He works with the local cops, offering help and insight and chasing the killers.

Then there's something about art thrown in and some romance with Desiree and Jacob.

As I said, typical Patterson. A really quick read and a decent story.

Book 62- Don't Blink

I always have high hopes for a James Patterson novel and I did with Don't Blink. But it's just another typical thriller, with poorly written dialogue. No one talks like that!

A reporter is chased by the mob and blah, blah, blah... He's in love with a girl who's his best friend and blah blah blah.

I liked that there was a reference to someone asking the main character is he ever read Alex Cross books. That gave me a giggle, since Patterson is the author of that series.

Beach read. Large font, small vocabulary, short chapters and big margins. It could be read in about 2 hours.

Book 53- Private

Typical beach read from James Patterson...

Jack Morgan owns a private security company that does PI for the rich and famous. When his best friend's wife is killed, he sets out to find the murderer, even if it means breaking the rules.

Jack's hunt for her killer brings about harm and terror; revenge is good.

Good stuff, and a super fast read.

Book 35- Worst Case

Worst Case by James Patterson is the third book in the Detective Mike Bennett series.

Bennett is a widower with 10 children, an Irish priest grandfather, an Irish nanny named Mary Catherine, and is a police detective in NYC.

In this third outing, Patterson writes with Michael Ledwidge in typical Patterson style- quick thoughts, choppy sentences, and a fast paced mystery. I like Bennett, especially in this novel, as he hunts a kidnapper and killer of New York's wealthiest children, racing against time, also a popular devise in Patterson's writing.

Also, readers are treated to possible romance between Mike and a feebie assigned to help with the case, and the home fires are burning a bit brighter as Mary Catherine finally lets Mike know that she, too, is interested.

I'm a moderate fan of Patterson, usually on a lower level because I can read his stuff quickly, it's beach quality, and it's cotton candy for my brain. I really like the Mike Bennett series, though. Mike is a more developed and a round character. he also had a neat story line. I like his almost as much as I do the Alex Cross series! This is a good one; add Mike Bennett to your reading rotation!

Book 33- The 9th Judgment

The 9th Judgment is the ninth book in the Women's Murder Club series written by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.

A cat burglar is stealing jewelry from the rich and famous and during a heist, a famous actress is killed, looking like the burglar shot her- but is that true?

Meanwhile, a sicko serial killer is on the loose, killing innocent women AND children. Lindsey Boxer is working both cases, burning the candle at both ends trying to find the killers. Of course, the rest of the woman are there: Clare the ME who has to take care of the carnage, Yuki the attorney who plays a minor role in this novel, and Cindy, the reporter who is also in love with Lindsay's partner Rich.

Personal twists and turns in the lives of the ladies as well as trying to catch a killer and a burglar all wrap together in this typical Patterson beach read mystery.

It's Patterson, so it's not great literature, but it's a fast read, bit print, small words, and a quick story. If you can over look the choppy short dialogue and the poor quality character development, then by all means, take this out for a spin, for there's nothing wrong with a few hours of mindlessness!