A Place Called Home

A Place Called Home by Jo Goodman Summary:  When Thea Wyndham and Mitchell Baker learn they've been named joint guardians for their late friends' three children, they're little more than acquaintances. Barely polite acquaintances, at that. Something about Mitch's forthright intensity has always left ad exec Thea feeling off-balance, while Mitch makes no secret of his disdain when Thea offers him financial assistance if he'll take sole guardianship. Thea is far from heartless. She's just plain terrified of her new parenting responsibilities. Both she and Mitch are romantically involved with other people. Yet the more time they spend together, the less certain she is of her loyalties. There are complications and missteps, tears and laughter--lots of it. And somehow, through it all, the dawning realization that the last place she thought she'd find herself could be just where she belongs. . . Angie's Comments: I thoroughly enjoyed A Place Called Home by Jo Goodman. The characters all had their strengths and flaws. The first half was slower than the second half, but it turned into a great story about family and becoming the person you want to be. Recommended for romance readers who like deeper stories about families.     Request this item

Penguins of Madagascar

Penguins of Madagascar DVD Summary:  Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it. Angie's Comments: Great movie for families. Parts of the movie were funny, while other parts not so much. The action scenes are very improbable, which makes them more entertaining. It is a light-hearted movie that reminded me of James Bond and other spy films. I consider the film to be a family friendly, penguinified James Bond movie. Recommended to viewers who want something lighthearted and fun.     Request this item

The Beige Man

The Beige Man by Helene Tursten Summary: Göteborg, Sweden: The high-speed chase of a stolen BMW takes a chilling turn when the two police officers involved witness a gruesome hit-and-run. When they finally recover the abandoned vehicle, search dogs are unable to trace the thieves, but they do uncover an entirely different horror: the half-naked corpse of a young girl in a nearby root cellar. As Detective Inspector Irene Huss and her colleagues struggle to put the pieces together, they discover the man whose car was stolen—a retired police officer—is none other than the victim in the hit-and-run. Could it be a strange coincidence? Or is something larger at play? Meanwhile, the hunt for the girl’s killer leads Irene into the dark world of sex trafficking. An international criminal has arrived in Göteborg, and he’ll stop at nothing to expand his sinister operation. Angie's Comments: Another good mystery! This is the 7th Detective Inspector Irene Huss mystery, but the first that I have read. It does well as a stand-alone novel. I liked that Huss’s personal life did not take over the novel, but instead added to the novel. The subject matter is horrifying, so be careful! It wasn’t difficult to figure out who the criminal was, but the details and the sordidness of the crime are what propels the plot. Recommended for mystery readers who don’t mind tough subjects.     Request this item

Inspector of the Dead

Inspector of the Dead by David Morrell Summary: LEGENDARY THRILLER WRITER DAVID MORRELL TRANSPORTS READERS TO THE FOGBOUND STREETS OF LONDON, WHERE A KILLER PLOTS TO ASSASSINATE QUEEN VICTORIA. The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. The Empire teeters. Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation. This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corpse the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself. Angie's Comments: Thoroughly enjoyable mystery. I would have liked the book more if I had read the Afterword first, before starting the book, as the Afterword contains some background information. However, the mystery itself is fascinating, and the psychology of the killer plays a huge role in this mystery. In some places the quirkness of the main characters seems more like Morrell is showing off his extensive research, but overall the characters are just quirky enough to make the book interesting. Recommend for readers of historical mysteries.    Request this item

Run to You

Run to You by Rachel Gibson Summary: Rachel Gibson, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Me, returns to Texas with a tale of what happens when a tough guy meets his match—and falls harder than a ton of red-hot bricks . . . There's nothing like fleeing Miami to ruin a girl's day. Stella Leon's bartending gig was going fine until gorgeous ex-Marine Beau Junger decked her mob-connected boss, spirited her out of the city, and claimed that Stella's half-sister—the one with the perfect life—sent him. Now Stella has no choice but to go along for the ride . . . and seduce Beau's military-issue socks off . . . The Marine Corps was Beau's escape from his old man's legacy of naval heroism and serial philandering, but no amount of training could prepare him for the day he looked in the mirror and saw his father staring back. The answer: swear off meaningless sex. Oh, and find a way to make Stella Leon quit being so damn hot . . . Angie's Comments: Run to You is book 4 in Rachel Gibson’s Lovett, Texas series. The book, however, is fine as a stand-alone. I enjoyed the lightheartness of the book; even though some minor bad things happened, nothing seemed serious. It was just a cute book overall. Recommended for romance readers who want a light story.     Request this item

The Ultimate Cat Book

The Ultimate Cat Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Cats, Cat Breeds, and Cat Care by Alan Edwards Summary: A visual encyclopedia of all the main cat breeds of the world, with details of their characteristics, as well as a practical guide to routine care and nutrition, grooming, breeding and showing. Angie's Comments: If you have a cat or are considering getting a cat, I recommend this book. The first part gives information about cats and human responsibilities, and the second parts discusses breeds. There are many photographs, which I enjoyed looking at. The author is British, so there are references to British customs. However, the book is a very useful reference tool for non-British cat owners.     Request this item

Trick or Treatment

Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst Summary: Whether you are an ardent believer in alternative medicine, a skeptic, or are simply baffled by the range of services and opinions, this groundbreaking analysis lays to rest doubts and contradictions with authority, integrity, and clarity. Over thirty of the most popular treatments—including acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, reflexology, chiropractic, and herbal medicines—are examined for their benefits and potential dangers. What works and what doesn’t? Who can you trust, and who is ripping you off? In its scrutiny of alternative and complementary cures, this book also strives to reassert the primacy of the scientific method as a means for determining public health practice and policy. Angie's Comments: I recommend Trick or Treatment for anyone who is interested in alternative medicine and conventional medicine. Chapter 1 is an overview of the science and the scientific method, so readers know how medicine trials are performed. I recommend reading Chapter 1 to every person.     Request this item