As promised here is the last part of my top 10 reads for 2011!
In no particular order:
(6) A CHRISTMAS CAROL – Charles Dickens
5 STARS
See review from previous post:
https://anoveladdiction.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/happy-holidays/
(7) BENEATH A MARBLE SKY – John Shors
4 STARS
Shors’ novel is set in India during the 17th century and takes a look at the reigning emperor’s family. The story is told through one of the emperor’s daughter, Jahanara. She tells us the love story between her parents – how her father built Taj Mahal in her memory and how he was slowly dying from a broken heart – and her own love affair with the architect who built her father’s dream. She shares the sorrow of her favourite brother’s weakness and demise and the hatred of her other brother and the old bitter man she eventually is wedded to that is meant to make their family stronger.
I quite liked it and thought the author did a wonderful job in creating Jahanara although most of this story is more fiction than historical fact. Jahanara was in fact never married. It was illegal for the sister of the Mughal emperor to marry.
(8) A PERFECT HUSBAND (QUINCY & RAINEY: Book 1) – Lisa Gardner
4 STARS
Tess’ husband has escaped from prison and is now coming for her. She help put him behind bars when she discovered he was the serial killer he and his police department had been hunting. Tess does not think the police can protect her and her daughter she turns to JT Dillon to help arm her. JT, after the death of his wife and child, is self-medicating himself with alcohol waiting for death to take him is first not interested in Tess’ plight. She bullies him into helping her and soon they find themselves more than mentor and student.
A brilliant suspense/thriller novel. A creepy unforgettable villain (Jim Beckett) and strong female heroine (Tess Williams) and a hot tortured hero (JT Dillon). Gardner is a strong writer and personal backgrounds are never just filler.
(9) INDEFENSIBLE (KATE LANGE: Book 2) – Pamela Callow
4 STARS
A great follow up book to Damaged. Randall Barrett is looking forward to spending time with his children this summer but things go wrong from the beginning. First his son decides to go camp instead of sailing with him, and his ex-wife reveals a devastating secret in the heat of an argument. The next morning his ex-wife is found dead from a fall of the balcony and he is the main suspect.
Kate lange is an associate at his law firm and just months ago they had sparks fly and they are still burning. Will Kate be able to help Randall when everyone else has left him to drown.
I love that these novels are set in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) versus the usual Vancouver or Toronto setting. Callow being a lawyer and from Halifax brings out the realism in the novel. It is a quick pace thriller.
(10) TIE – DUBLIN MURDER SQUAD – IN THE WOODS (Book 1) and LIKENESS (Book 2) – Tana French
IN THE WOODS (Book 1)
4 STARS
A great suspense/mystery. I love the chemistry between Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox. They have this brother/sister annoying each other aspect but yet there is a bit of sexual spark as they are both wounded from the past. Ryan’s past is weaved in fantastically with the current murder mystery.
LIKENESS (Book 2)
4 STARS
I just gobbled this suspense novel! This time we get the POV of Cassie who is called back to murder when the victim is her spitting image but has also taken her former undercover identity.. Frank talks her into going undercover again as Sam (the head detective) argues against it. Cassie bored of DV says yes and the mystery begins.
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