you can't have the good without the bad.

Call me immature, but I'm a young adult novel buff. In my high school yearbook senior year I was voted "Forever Young", I love Disney princesses and any YA novel I can get my grubby hands on, which leads me to my next review...

Good girl Axi Moore is sick of her life. She lives with her alcoholic father (as a result of her little sister dying and mother leaving) in a town she doesn't care about, with people she could do without, except for her best bud Robinson she just happens to be secretly in love with. When she decides to do something so completely out of character and leave it all behind, she invites Robinson and his wild side to join her as she travels from Oregon to New York in a very Bonnie and Clyde fashion thanks to Robinson. But of course reality will eventually catch up to our young friends, and their adventure will remind you of what it's like to be young and in love when you knew so little about how to be both.

more collaborations.

I am totally digging James Patterson's latest collaboration with Maxine Paetro in Confessions of a Murder Suspect, and I am definitely not giving Patterson all of the credit with this one.

Sixteen-year-old Tandy Angel comes from a family of outstanding achievers. Her parents are self-made millionaires. She and her three siblings surpass all other kids in strength, intelligence, performance, talents and focus. Matthew is a famous football player, ten-year-old Hugo has muscle strength beyond imagination, Tandy's twin brother, Harry, is a prodigy in art and music, and Tandy is an absolute genius. Is all this talent genetic, is it normal? Could it be their strict upbringing? Or are we missing something?

Regardless, all of this success comes crashing down when Tandy's parents are found dead in their bedroom. With no sign of forced entry, Tandy and her brothers are the main suspects for murder. Tandy decides she's going to do everything in her power to discover the truth. She begins her own investigation; interrogating the neighbors, searching through drawers and doing anything possible to shed some light and clear the family name. Along the way, she uncovers shocking secrets about everyone in the Angel household, including herself...

i, am ready for another.

I went through a very long James Patterson review drought, and then I drank, and drank, and drank up, lucky readers.

For those of you who are not already familiar with this series, Michael Bennett is a very unique character in the world of James Patterson. He is a highly decorated NYPD detective, which is normal, but he is also a widower with 10 children. Whoa. With the help of Mary Catherine, the family's full-time nanny and Seamus, his lovable grandfather (who, interestingly enough, is a priest), Bennett does a pretty amazing job juggling his professional and his personal life.

In I, Michael Bennett, Detective Bennett is up against Manuel Perrine, the head of the Mexican drug cartel, a ruthless and mega-rich sociopath. As suspenseful and riveting as the previous books in the series, this one divides the action between New York City and the Bennett's vacation house in Newburgh, NY, where the large family hides away after the capture of Perrine leads to the death of one of Bennett's closest friends and colleagues. We soon discover that there is no hiding from the violence Perrine creates, even from his jail cell. The ending is very abrupt, which leaves me wondering what kind of tricks Patterson has up his sleeve for the next installment.

for your reading pleasure...

I really like James Patterson. I like his writing style, his characterization, and the way that he collaborates with others to create all types of genres. My student's summer reading assignment was Maximum Ride, which is the first book in a young adult series by Patterson, that was really enjoyable to read and to teach.

More recently, Patterson released the novel NYPD Red, which is a collaboration with Marshall Karp, and a laugh out loud murder mystery, if that makes any sense. The writing was clever, the reading was easy, and I had a lot of fun page after page. Here's a little taste...

Detective Zach Jordan is a member of the NYPD Red squad. His unit is responsibly to protect celebrities from screen, stage and sports and anyone else rich enough to deserve special treatment. Jordan's partner has recently been injured on the job and he is 'temporarily' partnered with Kylie McDonald, which is super awkward because they used to date. McDonald attended the academy with Jordan and is (of course) drop dead gorgeous . But she is now happily married, to a Hollywood screenwriter. The novel begins as New York is hosting 'Hollywood on the Hudson' and  NYPD Red will be stretched thin to protect the stars that have descended on Manhattan. A much despised producer ends up dead, and the two Red unit detectives spend most of the novel chasing a killer who clearly has a special vendetta against the Hollywood "big wigs," and plans to carry out his murderous acts just like in the movies. And then there's Jordan trying to get a grip on his attraction for McDonald...just to make things a bit more complicated.

Patterson.

The new installment of the Alex Cross series "Alex Cross's Trial" is another hit for James Patterson. Some may even consider it a recovery from his summer book "Swimsuit." It is filled with a lot of issues of interest, focusing mostly on race in the South. If you think our government is ridiculous now, just imagine what it would be like to live in 1906 (which is the time period this book is written in).

You all should be aware that the title is a bit deceiving. It is not really about Alex Cross, but Abraham Cross, one of his ancestors and also lawyer Ben Corbett. Corbett fights a case for the Cross family. It is quite intriguing.

How ironic that we have a black president when this book comes out. It just goes to show you how we can evolve as a country.

perfect summer read.

James Patterson's latest thriller, "Swimsuit"  is a quick read, nothing too flashy. Your typical Patterson summer read. Personally, I enjoy Patterson books more when he writes them alone. I also think that people need to give the duo of Patterson and Maxine Paetro a real chance, just because this book does not follow typical thriller plot lines, doesn't mean it doesn't have the same unexpected twists we all love. "Swimsuit" is perfect for these lazy summer days we have coming up!  

Pick up a copy of this fast paced thriller, lay out in the sun & enjoy!

8th Confession

"8th Confession" is James Patterson's eighth installment of the Women's Murder Club Series. 

When a homeless man's death garners no attention, Lindsay Boxer's friend, Cindy Thomas, uses her influence as a journalist to convince San Francisco Police Department to investigate the case. Lindsay and her partner Rich Conklin have already been assigned to investigate the deaths of Ethan and Isa Bailey, however, and can't pursue the case while on duty.

As mysterious deaths begin to mount, Lindsay and Rich, find less and less time to investigate the homeless man's case. Cindy, on the other hand, continues to probe the case and bring justice to the homeless man.

As always, Patterson is the king of intrigue!

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Patterson, back in action.

A lot of people have told me that they HATED the fourth book of this series, "The Final Warning." Whatever, you know, it happens. But I have heard nothing but great things about James Patterson's newest, "Maximum Ride."

The story is focused around Max, Fang and Angel. Some of the other characters, such as Iggy and the Gasman were almost ignored. The flock seems to have a change in personality. Before they were kids trying to survive, no they are pretty bratty. The flock is still sarcastic and funny, but they were mean to almost all of the adults in the book. Which I think is a little funny, but that's just me. There is definitely more romance in this book. I wont spoil anything, but I can assure you that romance lovers will not be disappointed.

Give our man Patterson another go people.

James Patterson

Against Medical Advice: One Family's Struggle with an Agonizing Medical Mystery

It's a heart-warming story of a young boy afflicted with a severe case of Tourette's syndrome. The doctors don't know how to treat him, so they keep feeding him medical cocktails in an effort to control his behavior. The drugs don't work; they just sedate him (leading to ADD) and depress him adding depression to his list of maladies. Some of the drugs simply intensify his problems.

James Patterson displays his usual talent for good writing as he describes essential events in Cory's life. This is a story about the importance of family, of parents who dedicate themselves to helping their son, even when that means "tough love", and of the recognition that modern medicine has limits that the human spirit does not.

This story will inspire those who deal with Tourettes on a day-to-day basis and also inspire those who know little about the disease to take interest in those who do have it.

This story is true; it is personal and will pull at your heart. Everyone should read it.

Add this one to the library people, it’s a keeper.


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