Review - The 9th Judgment by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Title: The 9th Judgment
Author: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Hachette Audio; Abridged edition (April 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607881772
• ISBN-13: 978-1607881773

Author web site.

Rating: 4.0 

Product Description
During an intimate dinner party, a cat burglar breaks into the home of A-list actor Marcus Dowling. When his wife walks in on the thief, the situation quickly teeters out of control, leaving an empty safe and a lifeless body.

The same night, a woman and her infant child are ruthlessly gunned down in an abandoned garage. The killer hasn't left a shred of evidence, except for a foreboding and cryptic message: WCF, the letters written in blood-red letters.

With two elusive criminals on the loose, Detective Lindsay Boxer calls on the Women's Murder Club to help her stop them before they continue their spree. But before they can break either case, the Lipstick Killer changes his act and demands a ransom--not for a single victim, but for all of San Francisco. Lindsay puts her own life on the line--but will it be enough to save the city from this deranged killer?

(This description applies to the Audio Cd Version.)

Review: This is an entertaining battle against a horrendous crime. There are a few controversial issues and a few loose ends but I found this abridged version to be a reasonably satisfying audio book.

The “Hello Kitty” cat burglaries are described from the view of the cat burglar herself who provides enough detail to give a sense of adrenaline and tension.  What bothers the burglar, Sara, is that she is falsely accused of murder at one of the jobs.  There is no evidence to link the crimes to her but she doesn’t want the murderer to get away with it.  The burglar is actually presented as a likeable character.  She does slip up on a later job and that part of the police hunt is left incomplete. The police have evidence but there is never an arrest or an explanation why they don’t tie the evidence to a perpetrator so that part of the story seems abandoned in this audio version.

The Lipstick Killer, on the other hand, is a despicable monster. He kills mothers and their small children in cold blood. As awful as this is I don’t feel it was exploitation but rather a story of a twisted killer.  This psycho uses Lindsay in a humiliating, not to mention life-threatening, way in trying to get a ransom delivered. The crime spree comes to a head more by accident than hard detective work.

I know some readers were offended and refused to read the book because the murders included the innocent babies.  There might be other readers who get upset by the love affair between the married Sara and her married female friend. In the audio book there is clearly a relationship but there are no explicit details.

I noted the Product Description for the book format referred to a love conflict between Detective Lindsay and her partner Rich Conklin.  Frankly, I am glad that the abridged audio does not include this as I would have really disliked it considering that Lindsay is living with her fiancé, Joe and Rich is in a relationship with Cindy, another member of the Women’s Murder Club.  So perhaps in this instance the abridged audio is safer than reading the full book or listening to the unabridged audio.

Review - The Brothers of Gwynedd, Book Two: The Dragon at Noonday

The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Pargeter

Book Two: The Dragon at Noonday

Paperback: Second Book 193 pages of 772 total pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition (May 2010)
ISBN-10: # 140223760X
ISBN-13: 978-1402237607

Rating 5.0

Product Description

A Burning Desire for One Country, One Love, and One Legacy That Will Last Forever.
Llewelyn, prince of Gwynedd, dreams of a Wales united against the English, but first he must combat enemies nearer home. Llewelyn and his brothers-Owen Goch, Rhodri, and David-vie for power among themselves and with the English king, Henry III. Despite the support of his beloved wife, Eleanor, Llewelyn finds himself trapped in a situation where the only solution could be his very downfall...
Originally published in England as four individual novels, The Brothers of Gwynedd transports you to a world of chivalry, gallant heroes, and imprisoned damsels; to star-crossed lovers and glorious battle scenes; and is Edith Pargeter's absorbing tale of tragedy, traitors, and triumph of the heart.

Review: This reading is not fast but the rich history just wraps around me!  I only wish that there was a map to identify the placement of the castles and towns.

Book two continues with Samson serving as clerk and friend to Prince Llewelyn. Although Llewelyn is able to gather loyalty of many of the lords of Wales, there is heartbreak as he loses the support and fealty of his own brothers.

A large part of this book revolves around the English rebellions and struggles to establish a Parliament to give voice to the common people. This reformation movement is led by Earl Leicester, Simon de Monfort.  Llewelyn assigns Samson to serve as clerk and courier to Lord Simon.


Samson describes Simon as an upright and saintly man with this wonderful vision of justice and right. There is a spiritual sense of blessing on one particular victory where Simon captures King Henry, Lord Edward and many others.  Simon is a good military strategist but he does not have a killer instinct.  Always his goal is conciliation, as he seeks peace to negotiate terms of the reform. Although Simon is honorable and steadfast, his position is weak in contrast to the envy, greed, lying and cheating that he has to contend with.

The description of the final battle is gripping and painful and I was struggling with the emotions of despair and grief.  Fortunately the story does not end in that sorrow but there is triumph for Wales.  Llewelyn and King Henry finally enter into agreement acknowledging Wales in its own sovereignty.

Another beautiful aspect of this story is the love that is acknowledged between Samson and Cristin.  In the first book when it is discovered that her husband lives, Samson was surprised to learn that it was his true brother, a fact that Cristin alone knew and a  relationship that is not revealed to anyone else.  Neither Samson nor Cristin will dishonor their love by physical longings but they agree that they cannot deny its existence and vow to always love and cherish, even if it must be apart.

This book ends with Llewelyn determined to reach his second goal: to marry Lord Simon’s young daughter, Eleanor.  This had been agreed to between Lord Simon and Llewelyn when they met before the battle that broke the reform. I look forward to watching this meeting and courtship in Book Three, The Hounds of Sunset.

 xxx

Also see my review of Book One, Sunrise in the West. 

This book was provided by Sourcebooks for review and participation in Summer Book Club. 
 

Mailbox Monday June 21, 2010

This Meme starts with Marcia at The Printed Page


Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received Risk No Secrets (Black Ops, Inc.) by Cindy Gerard.
This was a win from Romance in the Backseat.  Thank you Terry.

Product Description

A deadly international mission reunites a sexy Black Ops, Inc. hero and his sizzling former love in Cindy Gerard’s seductive new romantic thriller. A RED-HOT ATTRACTION . . .Twelve years of chasing bad guys didn’t erase beautiful Sophie Baylor from Wyatt Savage’s memory. If he had another chance, he’d never let her leave. So when she tracks him down from El Salvador and begs for help, he doesn’t ask questions—he just goes.STARTS WITH A TERRIFYING THREAT . . .Sophie is grateful her daughter survived a kidnapping attempt, but she won’t forgive herself until the girl who was mistakenly abducted is safe. Wyatt is the only man brave enough to take on the mysterious terrorists behind the crime—and the one irresistible man she wishes she had never let go. . . . AND UNLEASHES AN UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE.Sophie knows Central America’s steamy jungles and sticky politics better than anyone. Yet she refuses to hide in fear. Then she becomes the enemy’s number one target. Wyatt lost her once, and he won’t lose her again—even if he has to fight, kill, or die to save her.

I also received The Postmistress by Sarah Blake from The Book Studio. Thank you Book Studio.

What would happen if a postmistress chose not to deliver the mail?

It is 1940. While the war is raging in Europe, President Roosevelt promises he won't send American boys over to fight.

Iris James is the postmistress of Franklin, Massachusetts a small town at the end of Cape Cod. She firmly believes her job is deliver and keep people's secrets, to pass along the news of love and sorrow that letters carry. Faithfully she stamps and sends the letters between people such as the newlyweds Emma and Will Fitch, who has gone to London to help out during the Blitz. But one day she slips a letter into her pocket, and leaves it there.

Meanwhile, seemingly fearless radio gal, Frankie Bard is reporting the Blitz from London, her dispatches trinkling across the Atlantic, imploring listeners to pay attention. Then in the last desperate days of the summer of 1941, she rides the trains out of Germany, reporting on what is happening to the refugees there.

Alternating between an America on the eve of entering into World War II, still safe and snug in its inability to grasp the danger at hand, an a Europe being torn apart by war, the two stories collide in a letter, bringing the war finally home to Franklin.

I also won The Prophecy: Anslem’s Son by Gwyn Lacy at Coffee Time Romance.  Thank you Gwyn and CTR.

It is 558 B.C.E., the Throne of Anslem and its King, Alois, and his son, Prince Lukas  are prophesied to die by the Keeper’s of the Curse, the Oligsarco. The Oligsarco have tormented and tried to destroy the Throne of Anslem for centuries and failed. But each new Prince must face his death and the end of his line before his twenty first birthday. The Oligsarco have not revealed themselves to previous generations although the lineage of Anslem knew of their existence. This time the Oligsarco capture a beautiful slave, Marliele and transform themselves into her voluptuous body in order to get at the Throne of Anslem and Lukas.

 
Through Lukas lust for Marliele, he inadvertently let the Oligsarco in the Castle. The Oligsarco are a humanoid mass of shape-shifting, mucoids that capture his parents and take them to their hidden lair in a cave of bats.

Lukas has to save the King and Queen of Anslem , his parents, and the woman he loves, Marliele, from death in the Oligsarco lair. The only option he may have is to accept the dark proposition of the Oligsarco: Trade his life for the lives of his loved ones. Once the trade is made and Lukas is taken back to the lair of the Oligsarco they will kill him as the prophecy allows. At Lukas death,  the Throne of Anslem will end  and the Prophecy will be fulfilled.

Lukas must use every skill he has learned as warrior and future king to distinguish his friends and loved ones from the shape-shifting Oligsarco. If he makes a mistake the Oligsarco live or he kills a loved one by mistake. The Oligsarco have secrets that when Lukas learns of them could destroy the Throne of Anslem with or without his death. Lukas can also stay off the Curse by siring an heir to the throne, in case of his death.  He must seduce the real Marliele and conceive a child. But a man with a remarkable likeness to the Prince of Anslem brutalized this girl and then she suffered at the hands of the Oligsarco. He needs time to build her trust, but time he does not  have.  The future of the Throne of Anslem rests on Lukas’ shoulders and love and courage have to be stronger than the Curse of the Prophecy.

It's Monday! What are you Reading June 21, 2010?

This meme starts at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.


I had a good week with several closings. Seemed more productive and less stressful. I completed several reviews this week too.

I got to visit some others blogs, including some more visits with author friends at Coffee Time Romance June Jubilee where The Sweetest Romance authors are being spotlighted this month.

Finished:
PB: PART TWO The Dragon at Noonday. The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Parageter. This historical fiction is really remarkable.  Check Tuesday for the review.


Ravished by a Highlander by Paula Quinn.
I Loved this book! Review and Hachette giveaway to be posted this week.
Full Description

FORBIDDEN LOVE
Davina Montgomery is no ordinary English lady. For her own protection, she's been locked away from society, her true identity the Crown's most closely guarded secret. Until a shocking betrayal--and a bold rescue--land her in the arms of a fierce Highlander, a powerful warrior whose searing gaze and tantalizing touch awaken her body and soul.

UNDENIABLE DESIRE
As the firstborn son of a powerful Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor has no loyalty to the English throne, but he's not the kind of man to leave a woman in distress, even if she is English. He vows to deliver Davina to safety, unharmed and untouched. Yet one stolen kiss leaves them both smoldering with desire...and desperate for more. With Davina's secret threatening to destroy his clan, Rob must choose between everything he holds dear and the one woman he can't live without.

Kindle: Yikes! Kindle on the blink.  New one should be in this week - I hope.

Audio CD: The 9th Judgment (The Women's Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.  I enjoyed the latest in this series. Review and Hachette Giveaway to be posted this week.

Product Description

The most personal
A young mother and her infant child are ruthlessly gunned down while returning to their car in the garage of a shopping mall. There are no witnesses, and Detective Lindsay Boxer is left with only one shred of evidence: a cryptic message scrawled across the windshield in bloodred lipstick.

The most dangerous
The same night, the wife of A-list actor Marcus Dowling is woken by a cat burglar who is about to steal millions of dollars' worth of precious jewels. In just seconds there is a nearly empty safe, a lifeless body, and another mystery that throws San Francisco into hysteria.

The most exciting Women's Murder Club novel ever
Lindsay spends every waking hour working with her partner, Rich--and her desire for him threatens to tear apart both her engagement and the Women's Murder Club. Before Lindsay and her friends can piece together either case, one of the killers forces Lindsay to put her own life on the line--but is it enough to save the city? With unparalleled danger and explosive action, The 9th Judgment is James Patterson at his compelling, unstoppable best!

Line Edits: Finished edits on Gifts to the Goddess.

Currently reading:

PB: To Surrender To A Rogue (Circle of Sin Trilogy) by Cara Elliott.
Review and Q&A to be posted Saturday as part of Hachette Blog Tour.

Product Description

An expert in antiquities, Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath to excavate newly discovered Roman ruins-only to find herself caught in a web of evil intrigue by a blackmailer threatening to expose her scandalous past. The one man who can help her is Lord James "Black Jack" Pierson, a fellow member of the expedition and a sinfully handsome rogue whose tempting presence ignites a different sort of danger.

Jack has clashed with Alessandra in the past, so when she suddenly surrenders her body he can't help being suspicious. Is she a scheming temptress? Or is she truly a lady in trouble? As desire and deceptions swirl around them, Alessandra and Jack must find a way to win each other's trust. For if they don't work together to uncover a shocking truth, their enemy-and their own simmering passions-may destroy them and everything they cherish.

PB: The Wild Irish Sea: A windswept tale of love and magic by Loucinda McGary
I will start this later in the week. Reviewing for Sourcebooks to post in July.

Product Description

Drawn to a force he can't resist...
Former police officer Kevin Hennessey is running from his past-choosing to battle smugglers instead of dealing with his personal demons. When a desperate, rain-drenched American woman appears on his doorstep with wild tales of danger, Kevin is drawn to helping her, despite his reservations...
She never saw him coming...
Amber O'Neill knew without a doubt that her brother was in mortal danger. Rushing heedlessly to the rocky shores of Ireland, Amber was stunned to find her rescue mission derailed by a gorgeous, but deeply flawed Irishman...
The tumultuous sea, the intertwined fates of the coastal villagers, and unearthly tales of a hidden selkie prince bring Kevin and Amber together in a connection of mind, body, and soul that neither can deny...

 Kindle: --------

Audio CD:  The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker.  Just started today. Reviewing for Hachette.

Product Description

FBI Special agent Brad Raines is facing his toughest case yet. A Denver serial killer has killed four beautiful young women, leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene, and he's picking up his pace. Unable to crack the case, Raines appeals for help from a most unusual source: residents of the Center for Wellbeing and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for mentally ill individuals whose are extraordinarily gifted.

It's there that he meets Paradise, a young woman who witnessed her father murder her family and barely escaped his hand. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Paradise may also have an extrasensory gift: the ability to experience the final moments of a person's life when she touches the dead body.

In a desperate attempt to find the killer, Raines enlists Paradise's help. In an effort to win her trust, he befriends this strange young woman and begins to see in her qualities that most 'sane people' sorely lack. Gradually, he starts to question whether sanity resides outside the hospital walls...or inside.

As the Bride Collector picks up the pace-and volume-of his gruesome crucifixions, the case becomes even more personal to Raines when his friend and colleague, a beautiful young forensic psychologist, becomes the Bride Collector's next target.

The FBI believes that the killer plans to murder seven women. Can Paradise help before it's too late?

Line Edits: Continuing line edits on Fourth Son by Joy Brooks.

Upcoming books:

PB: Still the One by Robin Wells. Upcoming Hachette review and Giveaway.

Barely a Lady (The Drake's Rakes series) by Eileen Dreyer. Upcoming Hachette Blog Tour review and Giveaway - July 10, 2010.

The Fire Lord's Lover (The Elven Lords) by Kathryne Kennedy. Reviewing for Sourcebooks; to post in July.

Kindle: none in queue.

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 20, 2010

It is Father's Day - I thank my heavenly Father for my earthly father. I am glad he is still here at age 86. I love you Dad.

I found this wonderful video - A Father's Love Letter.
There are several versions. 

I chose this one because it has a wonderful song that reminds us that God says that "you're amazing!"

A Verse for today:

Proverbs 22:6 (King James Version)

⁶Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Let us pray for fathers everywhere - may they be more like our heavenly Father and remember that He is there for all of us, especially for those who do not have a good earthly father or whose father is no longer with them.