Bakers Dozen 2013: 5

Secrets of the Ancient Goddess by Brenda Gates Smith

If you have never heard of Brenda Gates Smith or Secrets of the Ancient Goddess well I don't blame you.  This author is pretty much an unknown,  and I think I stumbled upon her first book Secrets of the Ancient Goddess several years ago.  It was published in 1999 but I think I read it a few years later.  I was probably around 15 years-old at the time.  This book does have a sequel, Goddess of the Mountain Harvest.  But I feel that out of the two this was the better book.  In fact I really didn't like the sequel a whole lot.  Now I just found out that this author as released a third book but I don't know if it goes with this one or the sequel or if it is a stand alone.  This was definitely more historical than anything else.  I guess I could say this book is some what similar to Clan of the Cave Bear.  But not quite.  The author took time to study the historical time period to make the setting seem authentic.

The book is set in a prehistoric land which is now Turkey.  And follows two different women.  One is the mate of a high priest of the Goddess, exiled from her people for giving birth to her second deformed son.  To survive she becomes adopted by a group of people who help straighten out her sons leg which was the deformity.  But one of their own was captured by a violent and war-driven clan.  Forced to become one of the many wives for the leader of the tribe, she's subjected to a more brutal way of life which is the opposite of the peaceful life she was brought up with.  The story follows both to where the women who was kidnapped joins back with her tribe.

This was definitely one of those books where the author didn't have to write a sequel, because the sequel didn't do anything for the book.  I wonder if maybe she felt the need to since the Clan of the Cave Bear book is in a series?  But anyway, the first book, Secrets of the ancient Goddess was amazing.  I don't know if they're still printing new copies, but if you look on amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com there are a lot of used copies that you can find cheap.  I definitely suggest picking up this book if you want to read a historical book that doesn't have romance.

Bakers Dozen 2013: 4

Mind Tryst by Robyn Carr

So this is the first and only book that I have read by Robyn Carr.  I have a lot of her other books in my collection, I just haven't had a chance to get to them.  This I believe was a suggestion from someone at the bookstore that I used to work at before I even started working there.  I think I was closer to 16 years-old when I read this.  So during this time I think I was starting to read a lot of historical romance and V.C. Andrews so this was a different type of novel that what I was use to.  This is considered to be part of the psychological/suspense/thriller/mystery genre.  While I do remember there being an intimate scene there wasn't love or romance in the story.

The book follows Jackie Sheppard who has moved to a small town in the Colorado Rockies after the tragic death of her young son.  She works at a small family law firm, meets Tom a local carpenter, but Jackie can't help distrust others.  Which hinders her relationships.  However as she moves on in this little town disturbing things start to happen to Jackie.  Objects are moved, an imprint of a body shows up on her made bed, a bouquet of wildflowers are left by her door.  Soon she find out more about Tom's checkered past and soon finds herself the next target of a sadistic killer.

This was for sure one of those stories that have kept a lasting memory just because at the time I was pretty much stuck in a rut.  I was kind of surprised by the lack of romance at the time but it fit with in the plot.  The back story for the main character was very well written so you understand where the character came from before the bulk of the story starts.  This was an enjoyable book but I have to be honest, I don't pick it up that often like I might others, but I still remember a lot of this book.

Bakers Dozen 2013: 3

Cradle and All by James Patterson

For those of you who have heard of James Patterson probably know him by his popular and successful Alex Cross series.  Well, he has done many more than just that.  He's done young adult with the Maximum Ride series, Nicholas Sparks inspired with books like Sam's Letters to Jennifer and Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas.  But he has also done some stand alone books like Cradle and All.  Now when this book was first released it was called Virgin but at some point the title was changed.  Now I don't know if there was any major editing done to the book when it was renamed or what.  This was another one of those books that my old manager at the book store suggested.  In fact I remember she bought a copy of this book at a major book sale and gave it to me.

The plot of the book is that there are two young women are pregnant, one is in Boston the other Ireland.  the key is that both are virgins.  Anne Fitzgerald, a former nun now private investigator, is hired by the Archdiocese of Boston to investigate the immaculate conceptions.  Once she gets to know the two young women she soon realizes that both are in great danger.  With both the force of good and evil beginning to play, Anne needs to discover the truth and save not just to two young women but to protect the future of all mankind.

This book was good and a quick read.  It had enough detail where I was kept interested and I couldn't put the book down, but it wasn't over saturated with so many details that you lost interest in the book.  The plot of course had a twist and while some may have seen it coming I have to be honest I didn't.  So it made the ending of the book much more enjoyable.  I do have to say that even though this is a stand alone book I wish that there was a sequel.  The ending was left kind of open-ended so I think a sequel would be perfect.  It's been 8 years since I've read this book and I just want to know what happens next.

Bakers Dozen 2013: 2

Envy by Sandra Brown

So I believe this was the first book that I had ever read by Sandra Brown.  While it does have a romantic undertone, there are so many different elements to this book that could make it part of a different genre.  Now Sandra Brown is a New Your Times bestseller author with many of her books making it on the list.  She got her start writing harlequin romance under the pen name Erin St. Claire.  So many of the books that I have read by her have been reprints from from that pen name.  But this isn't one of them.

The book is based around New York publisher Maris Matherly-Reed and author Parker Evans (whom claims to be a new author).  The manuscript catches her attention and she travels down to Georgia to meet the author.  Parker has worked hard to conceal is identity and past, but Maris is drawn to the manuscript of two young friends and betrayal.  Maris's life isn't perfect either.  Going through a divorce the chilling novel seems to be connected to her.

This was definitely one of those slow read stories.  Even though I read it fast I missed a lot of details so ever time I would be able to pick up on details that I had missed previously.  This book was a joy to read, but I do have to warn that there is some vulgar language.  Many of the newer books that Brown has written does have some form vulgarity.  But I don't think that it is added unnecessary, I think the vulgar aspects fits with the story plot pretty well.

Bakers Dozen 2013: 1

Well I hope everyone has had an amazing holiday.  Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope that everyone has taken the time to sit with family and cherish the small things.

Moving on, I'm doing a 2013 bakers dozen edition.  I planned on starting it early December but unfortunately procrastination got the better of me so be prepared for a slew of posts.

Whispers and Lies by Joy Fielding

So I'm going to start this one out with Whispers and Lies by Joy Fielding.  This is the first book that I had ever read from this author and it was a psychological thriller/mystery.  At the time that I read this I was still working at the book store so it has been about 9 years since I last read the book and I don't have this in my possession, but it still one of those book that seems to have left a lasting impression on me.  In fact I remember when I went to a book store with my sister I saw this book in the bargain book section and convinced her to buy it.

The book is about forty-year-old nurse Terry Painter who lives alone in her house after her mother passed away.  A young and vibrant girl Alison Simms rents a cottage from her and the two women become fast friends.  Terry suddenly finds herself going out, having makeovers and even flirting, but soon she becomes paranoid about her new friend.  She soon discovers stuff about Alison which thrusts her paranoia even farther.

In this novel there are so many twists and turns that if you don't pay attention to what's going on you might actually miss some important details.  The first time I read the ending I found it shocking but when I went back and re-read certain parts I picked up on clues that the author cleverly left for readers to pick up on.  And I also had my manager from the book store (who told me I had to read the book) to discuss the book about so it helped me figure out details much quicker.

I remember this book sticking with me so strongly because for one, it was much different from what I normally read (even though I read mostly romance I do actually like reading other genres also), and two I had to read this a little slower than what I normally will read a book, just because there was so many subtle hints about what was going on.

I definitely enjoyed this book and a big part of me wished that I had purchased a copy when I had the chance because I would go back to this book and re-read it when ever the mood would strike me.