Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke

I absolutely love reading culinary mysteries. Once upon a time, I didn't even know there was such a thing. Imagine my surprise the first time I opened one of my beloved mysteries and found RECIPES in it! I love mysteries. I've always loved mysteries ever since I read my first Encyclopedia Brown! lol And I love collecting recipes. I don't cook a whole lot, but I love collecting those recipes! I think it was a Diane Davidson Mott book. Don't quote me on it! Thereafter, I sought out all her books and started noting other books that would have recipes - books that would have food in the title. Then I started looking up other authors that would have books with recipes. I didn't know that there would be a whole genre of culinary mysteries. Ingenious! lol Joanne Fluke was one of those authors that I have discovered. Love her! Probaby because she has recipes. Not that I make any of them. Anyway, Joanne Fluke is the author of the Hannah Swenson mysteries. I have since read ALL her books.

Hannah Swenson is a owner of the Cookie Jar and has a penchant for finding dead bodies. In Carrot Cake Murder, a murder puts a damper on her partner's big family reunion. A long lost uncle, who apparently was not sorely missed, meets his demise while eating Hannah's carrot cake. Hannah is called upon to help solve the murder before it totally ruins the reunion. There are a bunch of suspects, of course. Those who were jilted by him, those who gyped by him, those who hated him when he left town thirty years before. Hannah solves the mystery with the help of her sisters, Andrea and Michelle, and boyfriend, Norman. One of her boyfriends, anyway. Hannah is caught between the affections of two men, Norman and Mike. Joanne Fluke throws us for a loop when at the end of the book, yet another man, a former flame, enters the picture.

Speaking of too many men, this is an seemingly unending love triangle - what is it now? a rectangle? - is a bit ridiculous. I was reminded of this as I read reviews complaining about it. Readers were having difficulty believing that this woman was able to have these two men vying for her love, and apparently get along so well. I guess I can see their point. Hmmm... I guess I'd say I'm rooting for Norman. He's my kind of guy.

Foul Play by Janet Evanovich

Aah... my feel good books... lol Janet Evanovich is one of the those authors who I turn to when I just want to read for the sake of reading, to enjoy reading and not have to think at all. Foul Play, along with a host of other funny romances, has been re-released under Janet Evanovich's name. It was originally published under a pen name - which I cannot remember. Foul Play is a fun light read. Most of Janet Evanovich's books are. And Foul Play does not disappoint.

In Foul Play, Amy aka Lulu the Clown just lost her job as a children's television host to a rooster! As she is fuming, she catches the eye of the local hottie and good guy veternarian, Jake. Jake offers her a job as a receptionist and a soft spot in his heart. When the job stealing rooster is brought to Jake's office and suddenly disappears overnight, Amy is under suspicion and tailed by reporters. While they are playing detective, Jake romances Amy.

I was a little confused at the end where Amy suddenly feels the need to run away. And ends up being a weather girl, no less. It didn't make sense.

But Janet Evanovich never fails in her entertainment value. =)

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

This is my first exposure to author, Stephenie Meyer. I only knew vaguely that she also wrote the popular Twilight series. Hmmm... come to think of it, I wasn't really aware that it was a series. Unfortunately as I began to read The Host, an article came out with an interview with Stephen King. In the article, Stephen King gave a very negative opinion of Stephenie Meyer as a writer. Interview with Stephen King Not good for me as I'm easily influenced. However, I must say that I had already begun reading The Host and had already found it difficult to follow. The writing was awkward. I thought this on my own. The article with Stephen King just cemented my opinion. It took me a very long time to get into this book. I was already 100+ pages (of a 600 page book) before I was interested in reading. It wasn't a very original idea. I just kept thinking about Invasion of Body Snatchers. Eventually I did get into the book but I did find myself skimming the pages a lot.

I had trouble with the ending. I understand that we didn't want to Wanderer to die. Of course not. I generally am not fond of having the main character die for whatever reason. Not after you've gotten to know them. But to take over another body just didn't seem right to me. It was just extending a wrong. The humans hated the souls because the souls took over their planet but yet, in this instance it was okay because they wanted it this time? Doesn't work with me. I was very uncomfortable with the idea.

As good as these souls were supposed to be, I would hope that they would eventually see that it was wrong to take over the human race or any race for that matter. But it was very different when they took over in the other planets. The Flowers, Spiders, etc didn't have a problem with begin taken over. Humans did. Okay, I didn't really know that but those "species" were vegetation or animals. Not people with intelligence and free will.

Could souls and humans co-exist? Yes. But at what cost? Someone would have to give up their body.

Jeb's and Jamie's intial reactions were believable. Jeb's kindness goes in line with his taking in all these strangers into his "home." I felt Jamie's quick love was just his love for his sister. I also felt that because Jamie was so young, he was more resilient and acceptable than the adults; therefore more able to accept Wanderer. I had a tough time with Jared's reactions. No matter if a soul had taken over Melanie's body, I just don't understand how he could have attacked her. It was still Melanie's body no matter what. He could have hated her, but to strike her just seemed wrong. How could you hit the woman you love even if it wasn't her inside anymore??

Despite being The Host touted as Stephenie Meyer's first adult book, I still felt like it was a YA book. It was the style of writing, her style of writing that made me think that. I think that Stephenie Meyer should stick to her YA genre where she really captures her audience.

Queen of Babble In the Big City by Meg Cabot

Another frivolous, fluff book by Meg Cabot, that you just can't help reading. lol This is a follow up to Queen of Babble where we first meet Lizzie. Lizzie earns her name honestly.

In the Queen of Babble in the Big City, Lizzie is now living with her "prince" of a boyfriend, Luke in New York City. She also makes headway in her career of rehabilitating vintage wedding gowns while also working as a receptionist at a prestigious law firm.

These two worlds collide when Lizzie inadvertently befriends a client of the firm while trying to help her with her wedding gown. The publicity that Lizzie brings to the firm that is known for their discretion costs Lizzie her job. Lizzie also realizes that the fantasy future she has in her head will not come to fruition as Luke gets her a sewing machine, of all things, for their first Christmas together and as they spend New Year's Eve on two different continents.

Lizzie learns to stand up for herself and gets herself her dream job and learns the man she is meant to be with is not who she thinks it is supposed to be.

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

One Thousand White Women was a book club selection for BBC. It wasn't quite what I expected. I guess I wasn't sure I would like the book. I was open to anything. I enjoyed the book much better than I thought I would.

One Thousand White Women is based on a historical event where there was an attempt at negotiations between the Native Americans and the United States. The Native Americans came up with a proposal asking for one thousand white women for brides in exchange for one thousand horses. The Native Americans considered this a viable possibility because in their culture, babies are considered a member of their mother's tribe. Therefore, any babies that resulted would be assimilated into Caucasian culture, or so they thought. This proposal was met with outrage by the American public. However, in One Thousand White Women, Fergus suggests as the premise of his story that this plan was secretly given a go ahead.

One Thousand White Women was written in journal form. It is supposedly the journal of May Dodd who was against her will placed in an asylum by her parents. She volunteers for the bride program just to get her freedom. She is joined by a number of other brides who come from various backgrounds, asylums, prisons, poor and differing backgrounds. On their way to Cheyenne tribe of Little Wolf, there are a number of stops at forts. At one of which we meet Captain Bourke who May Dodd really bonded with. Their "friendship" leads to a one night affair the night before the brides join their new family. The Cheyenne men pick their brides and Little Wolf, the chief of the tribe, selects May. The women learn the way of the Cheyenne as they teach them Christian ways. We follow as the women bond with their new families and with each other.