True Believer by Jack Carr; 2019; $28.00; 486 pages; Emily Bestler Books, New York, NY; 978-1-5011-8084-2; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Woodstock; 7/30/19-8/3/19
Why did I read this? Because I read the first book and Jack Carr has created a compelling character in James Reece.
James Reece is a wanted man in the United States after taking out the conspiracy of those who killed the members of his SEAL team and his family. It was a conspiracy that reached to the halls of power in Washington, DC. With the help of a few loyal friends he manages to flee the US and ends up living on a game preserve in Africa. He is cleared in the court of public opinion when a reporter who was involved writes a series of articles detailing the corruption. As Liam Neeson says, Reece has a particular set of skills and the US government would like to utilize those skills against an enemy who is seeking to destabilize governments and return Russia to a world superpower. Reece is given a full pardon and access to all he needs to accomplish his mission. He accomplishes what he is asked, but there is an opening for the next book.
10/10
What is with the title of the review? Even after Reece is pardoned there is not much for him to return to after his family and many of his friends were murdered.
Keep Your Love On!, Connection, Communication & Boundaries by Danny Silk; 2013;$14.99; 160 pages; Loving On Purpose, Sacramento, CA; 978-1-942306-06-1; purchased from Christianbooks.com; 7/3/19-7/12/19
Why did I read this? Someone I know heard about it on the radio and said it sounded good so I went online and ordered it.
We are trying to emulate Jesus love to those around us at all different levels of relationship. Danny Silk uses many examples of how to deal with others in your life and how they interact with you.
10/10
What is with the title of the review? This is one of those books that needs to be read on a regular basis.
The Winner by David Baldacci; 1997; $22.95; 513 pages; Warner Books, New York, NY; 0-446-52259-7; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Sellwood; 7/18/19-7/23/19
Why did I read this? Because I am trying to read all of Baldacci's books. I am now reading his stand alone stories.
A young woman in Georgia with a daughter living in a trailer with an abusive man is chosen by an anonymous man to win the national lottery. She must meet certain strident requirements set by her benefactor. She is strong willed and often runs afoul of him and others. An enterprising reporter (is there any other kind in these kinds of stories) figures out the lottery can be fixed and that jeopardizes many people. The mysterious man has no compunctions to protect as what he sees as his. He is also a master of disguise so no one really knows who he is. The characters are more important than the action, which is what makes the stories so good.
10/10
What is with the title of the review? Even though you may win $10 Million there is going to be something bad happen also. The Grateful Dead had a hit with this lyric.
Rules of War by Matthew Betley; 2019; $28.00; 360 pages; Emily Bestler Books, New York, NY; 978-1-5011-6202-2; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Belmont; 7/24/19-7/26/19
Why did I read this? I have read the previous three books in the series and really enjoy the books.
In this exciting follow up, Logan West is in hot pursuit of the traitorous US Vice President. The pursuit takes him around the world and enables him to team up with some past associates and new ones also. All the while he is having to contend with The Organizations plans for world domination. The action is awesome but best are the characters.
10/10
What is with the title of the review? The Organization has its fingers in many governments around the globe and has corrupted parts of those governments.
Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger; 2019; $26.00; 276 pages; G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, New York; 978-0-525-52580-5; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Gregory Heights; 7/16/19-7/18/19
Why did I read this? The Real Book Spy gave it a good review and some authors I like gave it good blurb on the back cover.
The main character is a female FBI agent who has been on leave because of a traumatic event in her career. She goes home and while there her father, a local policeman, dies, which set in motion all kinds of things. She is asked to help with a local homicide and at first the evidence points to her father but as the story progresses things change and she is able to find the true perpetrator of the crime and clear her fathers name. The crime has roots throughout the upper crust of the community.
9/10
What is with the title of the review? The main character experiences a lot of confusion as she begins to investigate and uncovers a lot of corruption throughout the community.
Be With by Forrest Gander; 2018;$16.95; 92 pages; A New Directions Book, New York, NY; 9780811226059; checked out from Multnomah County Library, Central; 7/13/19-7/16/19
Why did I read this? Each year I try to read all the Pulitzer Prize winning books. This year may be difficult as there are several ginormous winners, this is not one of the winners. This won for poetry.
As I have found with most books of poetry there are some poems I like, some I don't, some which make me go hmmm... and some that make me go what??. In this collection I found no complete poems that I liked, but there were lines and stanzas that I found compelling.
What is with the title of the review? Every book of poetry that I have ever read has been uneven. Some good stuff, some not so good.
