Jan Jones

Books and Stuff

Published by admin on Tue, 02/04/2020 - 9:58am

My book selection this week was “Sins of the Fathers” by J.A. Jance. She’s become one of my favorite authors with her series featuring J.P. Beaumont, Ali Reynolds and Joanna Brady.

This book was set in Seattle, Washington. We got to know the area while our daughter lived in Shoreline, just north of the city. So I can relate when J.P. Beaumont complains about the horrible traffic and nearly nonexistent parking.

Divorced parents deal with daughter’s anorexia

Published by admin on Wed, 01/29/2020 - 12:22pm

This week, I selected Sheryl Woods’ “Slice of Heaven.” It is one of her Sweet Magnolia books.

Serenity, South Carolina, is a small, close-knit city where folks know what everyone else is doing. Back in high school ,Helen, Maddie and Dana Sue were known as the Sweet Magnolias, but the three got into plenty of mischief.

Murder amongst friends plot of ‘A Penny for Her Heart’

Published by admin on Tue, 01/21/2020 - 1:18pm

This week, I picked up “A Penny for Her Heart” by Alretha Thomas. I really liked it. It is listed as one of her Detective Rachel Storme novels, so I know there are more like it out there.

Vanessa Johnson Rossi has always dreamed big. Long ago, she and her best friend in college, Penny Newhouse, both vowed to become the chief of staff for the president of the United States.

Murders hidden in the wrath of a tornado

Published by admin on Tue, 01/14/2020 - 3:08pm

This week, I read “The Breathtaker” by Alice Blanchard, and it was amazing. The city of Paradise, Oklahoma, boasts a population of about 22,000 but still maintains a small-town feel.

Police Chief Charlie Grover grew up there, but life hasn’t been easy. At 37, he carries many painful memories plus the scars from severe burns sustained when a fire destroyed his family’s home, killing his mother and little sister. Compounding his misery is the recent death of his beloved wife, Mia. Now he’s trying be a good dad to Sophie while working the crazy hours of a cop.

A tangled tale weaves together unsolved mysteries

Published by admin on Tue, 01/07/2020 - 11:19am

I’ve been trying to figure out how to give a thumbnail sketch of “Case Histories” by Kate Atkinson, but it is a real challenge. The cases in this book are intertwined and the characters loosely connected so one can’t give a linear narrative, but I’ll try.

This book follows British police inspector turned private detective Jackson Brodie as he struggles to solve four cases while dealing with being a divorced father. More upsetting, his ex-wife tells him she and her new lover are taking his daughter to New Zealand.

‘August Moon’ brings out bizarre behavior in community

Published by admin on Mon, 12/30/2019 - 9:19am

This week I selected another e-book. “August Moon” by Jess Lourey was a fun Midwestern mystery. Battle Lake, Minnesota is surrounded by rolling hills, dense forests and pristine lakes. Folks in Battle Lake know one another and nothing goes unnoticed.

It is the place Miranda (Mira) James grew up saddled with the stigma of being the daughter of a drunk. She went straight from high school graduation to college in the Twin Cities and never looked back until a bad relationship, alcohol and a near breakdown forced her to return.

Murder serves as a cover-up to contaminated land

Published by admin on Wed, 12/18/2019 - 11:39am

Last week I was reading a book that I really didn’t want to rush through, and I’m glad I didn’t. “Murder in the Mountains” by Helen Goodman was worth a nice, slow read.

This is one of Goodman’s seven books in the Allison Aldridge Mystery series, so I definitely want to read more of them.

Leona Whitley and her husband, Dick, ran a well-known apple orchard just outside of Upton, North Carolina. Due to Leona being a late-in-life baby, she and her niece Allison were only a few years apart in age and formed a strong bond.

Age-appropriate books make great Christmas gifts

Published by admin on Tue, 12/10/2019 - 9:33am

I’m right in the middle of a pretty good book, and I didn’t want to rush through it, so I decided to offer a few Christmas gift ideas. My suggestions always include books.

We all tend to “overgift” our kids and grandkids. We want to make their every wish come true, but sometimes that isn’t the best idea. I’ve heard people say, “My kids aren’t into books.” Even kids who are deep into video games or sports can enjoy books. The secret is selecting the right books. The following is a list of some of 2019’s best books for kids.

Romance is complicated with werewolves and magic

Published by admin on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 12:12pm

Once again, I selected a book that was second in a series. This time, it was “Spirited Legacy” by Kate Baray. Sometimes the gist of the first book becomes clear in just a few chapters, but this one wasn’t.

The story centers on the relationship between Elizabeth “Lizzie” Smith and John Braxton. In a normal situation, this would be a romance with complications, but this is a fantasy, so there’s not much normal to be found.

Forbidden love leads to hatred and revenge

Published by admin on Tue, 11/26/2019 - 8:37am

This week, I decided to read a little historical fiction and selected “The Throwback: The Girl Who Didn’t Belong” by David Canford.

The story is set in South Carolina well before the Civil War. Black Oaks Plantation has been owned by the Elwood family for several generations. The current owner, George Elwood, is determined to raise a son capable of maintaining it for future generations. He readily admits that he is terribly disappointed in his son, Thomas. The boy is bright enough, but has a crippled leg. Only a strong, healthy, aggressive son will do for George.