Waukegan Public Library - fiction

Have You Heard About... The Camel Club

Fran J — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

… the secret group that investigates government conspiracies in Washington, DC? In David Baldacci’s political thriller, The Camel Club*, the four members of the club find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy bigger than anything they’ve ever experienced before, when they stumble upon a murder-in-progress in a deserted part of Washington, DC. From there, the investigation leads to a group of foreign terrorists who are coming up with an elaborate plot to take down the President of the United States at an upcoming event – a plot that may link back to the federal government.

What made this book unusual was that David Baldacci used research pertaining to current political events (in this case, terrorism and Middle Eastern culture) and skillfully wove it into the plot so that I was learning while being entertained at the same time. In particular, Baldacci includes a lot of information about Islam and Middle Eastern culture, which has sparked a lot of discussion and debate amongst his readers. (Side note: if you’re particular about political views, the story takes on a more liberal perspective.)

It’s also worth mentioning that the “bad guys” of the story are not as cut-and-dry as you might expect. I won’t give too much away here, but there’s a lot more ambiguity in terms of determining who’s “good” and who’s “bad.” It gives the story an extra layer of complexity – something I didn’t expect from a political thriller.

And if you liked this book, make sure to check out The Collectors, when the Camel Club returns for another conspiracy investigation – this time, the assassination of a Supreme Court justice.

*Other books in this series include Stone Cold, Divine Justice and Hell’s Corner.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... Firefly Lane

Fran J — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:49:39 +0000

… the story of love and friendship that begins in the mid-seventies and extends into the twenty-first century? Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah tells the story of Tully and Kate, two girls who become best friends during the summer of 1974 and remain inseparable through high school, college, careers, motherhood, and all of the pitfalls and triumphs that come with a lifelong friendship.

Anyone who’s read my previous reviews knows that I tend to read novels that fall on the “dark and twisted” side of the spectrum, so this is a big departure for me. But I really enjoyed this book. The characters were created so lovingly that I felt like I was reading about my own friends. If you’re looking for a story to give you the warm fuzzies, this is it.

With that being said, I HIGHLY recommend keeping a big box of tissues next to your bed. Granted, I tear up much easier than most people (I’ve gotten bleary-eyed during a Superbowl commercial before), but the last few chapters are still extremely sad. So go grab a box of Kleenex. Heck, grab two. Better safe than sorry.

All joking aside, this was a surprising find for me, and I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to read this. Ultimately, Firefly Lane was a great affirmation of the importance of friendship – a lesson that is sure to resonate with female readers everywhere.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... The Stand

Fran J — Thu, 02 May 2013 06:59:47 +0000

… Captain Trips, a devastating flu virus that wipes out 99% of the American population? This marks the beginning of Stephen King’s epic fantasy/horror novel, The Stand, and let me tell you, this one is a doozy. The uncut version is between 1100 and 1400 pages long, depending on which edition you read, but believe me when I say that this story is well worth the effort.

The basic story involves a flu virus that wipes out most of the American people. Only a few survivors are left in the deserted country, and slowly, they begin to band together. But at the heart of the apocalypse are two opposing forces: Mother Abagail, a 108-year-old black woman from Nebraska, and Randall Flagg, the “dark man” who haunts the dreams of the plague survivors. As the survivors are drawn towards either Mother Abagail or Randall Flagg, a great confrontation between good and evil begins to coalesce, bringing a small group of men into the desert to face the growing forces of Randall Flagg.

This is a really hard book to classify - on the one hand, it’s full of apocalyptic horror, and Randall Flagg is one of the best-developed villains in any of Stephen King’s works. On the other hand, the ultimate confrontation between good and evil, as well as the epic journey the characters must take, suggest elements of fantasy. And on the OTHER hand (yes, that’s three hands now), this is just a really well-told story that goes beyond known genres.

The main drawback to the book is its extraordinary length, but the characters are so well developed and the story is so interesting that it never feels slow or boring. In fact, I’d even go so far as to call this a FAST read…it certainly kept me turning the pages late at night.

Even if you’re not a fantasy or a horror fan, I highly, highly recommend this book. This is Stephen King at his best, and it’s a perfect example of why he’s considered one of the world’s premiere story-tellers.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... Born Wicked

Fran J — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:33:01 +0000

… America being settled by witches? Born Wicked, the first book of Jessica Spotswood’s Cahill Witch Chronicles, is set at the end of the nineteenth century in an alternate history where America was founded by an organization of witches instead of pilgrims. The witches grew in power until they were overthrown by the Brotherhood, a group of misogynists who control every aspect of a woman’s life. When a young woman turns sixteen, she must either declare her intention to obey her husband forever or she must join the Sisterhood, the female arm of the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood preaches the evils of womanhood in general and witches in particular.

Cate is the eldest of three sisters, all of whom are witches. Girls all over Cate’s town are being accused of witchcraft and hanged or sent to insane asylums, a fate considered worse than death. When Cate discovers that the three of them may fulfill a prophecy that promises to end the tyrannous reign of the Brotherhood, she must choose between keeping their secret or joining the secret band of witches bent on rebellion.

The plot is complicated by Cate’s inner struggle (she isn’t convinced that witchcraft isn’t wicked after all), the urgency of keeping family secrets, and the fact that the witch resistance doesn’t have the best interest of the Cahill sisters at heart. The next book in the series doesn’t release until June – I can’t wait!

Reviewed by Sara (staff)

Have You Heard About... The Chocolate Moose Motive

Fran J — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:28:55 +0000

… chocolate being addictive? The Chocolate Moose Motive* by JoAnna Carl is as addictive as chocolate; you won’t be able to put this book down. Set in Michigan, this book has a little bit of something for everyone. Chocolate – lusciously described, so you’ll be drooling as you read. Murder – did the wife, the father, or the best friend do the dastardly deed? With all of the twists & turns you’ll need to keep your chocolate close at hand. Dotty neighbors will have you laughing, but are they part of the murder or just nosy? More chocolate. An old hippie who’s not really into refined sugar. (This is totally unbelievable to us chocoholics.)

Lee McKinney Woodyard is the business manager at Ten Huis Chocolade (where each worker is allowed 2 free pieces of chocolate a day) in Warner Pier, Michigan. She’s also an amateur sleuth. When Lee hires Forsythia ‘Sissy’ Smith to work as an account at the shop, the gossip mongers of the town descend. Did Sissy really kill her hubby? Her father-in-law sure seems to think so, but Lee isn’t so sure when all kinds of crazy things start to happen, including another murder. Wildflower, Sissy’s mom, is the older hippie who now does taxidermy, and she swears that her daughter is totally innocent. Can Lee figure out “who dunnit” before someone else is killed? This is book number twelve in the series, but it has enough back story so you know who all of the main players are and how important chocolate is to each story line. It’s a must that you eat chocolate as you read these books! You won’t want to miss a single delicious one of them .

*Other books in the series include The Chocolate Cat Caper, The Chocolate Bear Burglary, The Chocolate Frog Frame-up, The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle, The Chocolate Mouse Trap, Chocolate to Die for (combines Puppy Puzzle and Mouse Trap), The Chocolate Bridal Bash, The Chocolate Jewel Case, The Chocolate Snowman Murders, The Chocolate Cupid Killings, The Chocolate Pirate Plot, and The Chocolate Castle Clue.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Midnight Riot

Fran J — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 06:17:45 +0000

… the wizards in London? No, this isn’t a new Harry Potter book. Ben Aaronovitch’s Midnight Riot* is set in modern England, but its magic is much darker and grittier, and somehow more realistic, than J. K. Rowling’s style. Peter Grant is just finishing his training with London’s Metropolitan Police when he takes an eyewitness report from a ghost. That brings him to the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, who takes him on as an apprentice and introduces him to the wonders and horrors of the magical world. Peter’s life will never be dull, or safe, again.

Midnight Riot beautifully melds police procedurals with urban fantasy. Aaronovitch guides us through the dark side of London, where an evil spirit takes over people to commit murder and spread chaos. Along the way, he introduces us to a number of neighborhoods and institutions, filled with surprising amounts of history about both the city and police work. The result is an enthralling, beautifully-detailed book filled with rich characters and an amazing mix of humor and horror.

* Later books in the series include Moon over Soho and Whispers under Ground.

Reviewed by Fran (staff)

Have You Heard About... The Policy

Fran J — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 06:48:34 +0000

…the supernatural insurance company that uses death threats to coerce you into buying more insurance? Sounds a bit ridiculous, right? But in Bentley Little’s book, The Policy, this is an altogether believable and horrifying premise that plays upon our everyday, adult fears.

The story centers around Hunt Jackson, who has moved back home to Phoenix following a bitter divorce. Almost immediately, he runs into issues with his insurance - vandalism, harassment from his agent - until he receives an offer from a door-to-door insurance salesman who promises to take care of all his problems. But then the salesman keeps showing up, promising more and more outrageous insurance coverage, and the price of NOT accepting his offer gets steeper and steeper.

There is a sense of helplessness as the characters are drawn further and further into this nightmare, with seemingly no chance to escape the almighty force that has taken control of their lives. It’s like being strapped to an out-of-control roller coaster that’s becoming increasingly dangerous and erratic. His straightforward writing is very effective in pulling the reader directly into the heart of the story, and let me tell you, this story goes by FAST. Really, really fast.

Stephen King has praised Bentley Little’s work over the years, and for good reason: this guy writes some really scary stuff. This is a great author to try if you’re looking for a fast read to scare the pants off of you. You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by Katie (staff)

Have You Heard About... Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska

Fran J — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:50:01 +0000

… the disfigured, grumpy guy who hates Christmas and doesn’t care much for chocolate either? In my book that would make him an alien, but in Loree Lough’s book, Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska, you meet the grump himself, Bryce Stone, a former marine who was hurt during the Afghan was. He thinks that Christmas is too commercial, but he’s the owner of a kitschy Christmas shop that his parents left him. His aunt Olive runs the place, and she’s something of a mind reader. Samantha Sinclair came to North Pole, Alaska, for a job as a chef in a fancy restaurant, but when the job falls through, she ends up working for Bryce and his aunt. Aunt Olive has a secret of her own and sees in Sam something that Bryce desperately needs – a special understanding of his problems in dealing with how the war affected him and his lack of faith in God.

See how Sam gets Bryce to stop feeling sorry for himself. Sam grew up with seven older brothers, and she’s spunky and spontaneous. She knows how guys think. Can Sam and Bryce see eye to eye on running the shop, a tragedy and new found love? You won’t want to put this funny, endearing book down, so be sure to have a lot of time to just sit and read.

North Pole, Alaska is a real place, and the town is open with Christmas spirit 365 days a week, 24 hours a day.

*Love Finds You in North Pole Alaska, is part of the Love Finds You series of unconnected inspirational romance novels.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Popped off

Fran J — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 06:09:47 +0000

… the scum-bag who stole the youth soccer associations’ money? Moises Huber has a few gambling debts that he needs to pay in Jeffrey Allen’s Popped off*. He not only steals the money but also the trophies that each kid is supposed to receive at the end of the season. Deuce Winters is a stay-at-home dad, youth soccer coach of his 5-year-old daughter Carly’s team, the Mighty, Fightin’ Tiny Mermaids, and a part-time private investigator in Rose Petal, Texas. Being a stay-at-home dad is a novelty in Rose Petal. Deuce gets teased a lot, but he and his lawyer wife Julianne wouldn’t have it any other way. Deuce is asked to track down Moises and get the money and trophies back with the help of his partner Victor, who happens to be a dwarf.

The soccer scenes are hilarious. The banter between Deuce and Victor as they try to figure out where Moises is, is very politically incorrect and even more funny. The short chapters make this a very easy and fast read, but you need to really pay attention to all of the misconceptions and double talk while you are laughing, or you’ll miss the confusing yet satisfying ending. I enjoyed this book immensely.

* The previous book in this series is Stay at Home Dead.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Midnight Encounters

Fran J — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 06:49:00 +0000

… the shamelessly sexy and fun story of Maggie Reilly, the woman who thinks she has no time for love? Fans of Fifty Shades of Grey who are hungry for another story of a relatable female protagonist and powerful male hero with a dark side will devour Midnight Encounters by Elle Kennedy.

Maggie is a busy student, waitress and volunteer worker with no time for love; the only concession she makes to her needs is the occasional weekend tryst with her “special friend” Tony. Maggie bounces into a hotel room she believes belongs to Tony only to be shocked by the presence of another man: Ben. Ben is a bad boy Hollywood movie star who thinks that love has no place in his life, just like Maggie. Can you see the writing on the wall? There’s no doubt about the novel’s outcome, but the inevitability doesn’t detract from the fun read. Rather, it gives Midnight Encounters the feel of a fairy tale, modern-style.

Reviewed by Sara (staff)